Cooking & Markets

1. ఈ వంటకం ఎలా చేస్తారు?

   Ī vaṃṭakaṃ elā cēstāru?

   How do you make this dish?

   Usage

   Asking how to prepare a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Cēstāru" is the polite / 3rd-person-plural present of "cēyu" (to do/make). The verb "cēyu" is the standard verb for cooking.

2. కారం తక్కువ వేయండి

   Kāraṃ takkuva vēyaṃḍi

   Please use less spice (make it less spicy)

   Usage

   Requesting less spicy seasoning

   Grammar Note

   "Veyandi" is the polite imperative of "veyadam" (to add/put in). "Takkuva" (less) is an adverb of quantity.

3. నేను శాకాహారిని

   Nēnu śākāhārini

   I am a vegetarian

   Usage

   Informing that you are vegetarian

   Grammar Note

   "Shaakaahaari" is from Sanskrit (shaaka=vegetable, aahaari=one who eats). "-ni" marks the 1st person predicate form.

4. ఉప్పు ఎక్కువైంది

   Uppu ekkuvaindi

   It is too salty

   Usage

   Pointing out that a dish is too salty

   Grammar Note

   "Ekkuvayindi" = "ekkuva" (more/too much) + "ayindi" (became). Expresses a resultant state.

5. వేపుడు వంటకం నచ్చింది

   Vēpuḍu vaṃṭakaṃ naccimdi

   I liked the stir-fry dish

   Usage

   Expressing that you enjoyed a cooked dish

   Grammar Note

   "Nachchu" (to like) takes a dative subject. Full sentence: "naaku nacchindi" (I liked it). Subject is omitted here.

6. ఇది ఏ పదార్థంతో చేస్తారు?

   Idi ē padārthaṃtō cēstāru?

   What ingredient is this made with?

   Usage

   Asking what ingredient a dish is made with (e.g. for allergy reasons)

   Grammar Note

   "-to" (with/using) is the instrumental postposition. "E" (which/what) modifies a noun as an interrogative determiner.

7. వేరుశనగ నూనెలో వేయాలి

   Vēruśanaga nūnelō vēyāli

   It should be fried in peanut oil

   Usage

   Explaining that a dish should be cooked in peanut oil (traditional Andhra style)

   Grammar Note

   "-lo" (in) is the locative postposition indicating medium. Peanut oil is traditional in Andhra cuisine.

8. పాలు మరిగాయి

   Pālu marigāyi

   The milk has boiled

   Usage

   Announcing that milk or liquid has come to a boil

   Grammar Note

   "Paalu" (milk) is always treated as plural in Telugu. "-gayi" is the neuter plural past suffix.

9. ఈ వంట నేర్చుకోవాలనుంది

   Ī vaṃṭa nērcukōvālanundi

   I want to learn this cooking

   Usage

   Expressing desire to learn a type of cooking

   Grammar Note

   "Nerchukovaalanundi" = "nerchukovaali" (to learn) + "anundi" (feels like). An indirect expression of desire.

10. చింతపండు పులుసు ఇక్కడ ప్రసిద్ధం

    Ciṃtapaṃḍu pulusu ikkaḍa prasiddhaṃ

    Tamarind pulusu (sour stew) is famous here

    Usage

    Introducing a locally famous dish

    Grammar Note

    "Prasiddham" (famous) is from Sanskrit. Andhra and Telangana pulusu (sour stew) uses generous tamarind for sourness.

11. వెన్న

    venna

    Butter

    Usage

    Butter; ghee (neyyi) is a different thing and is used far more often in Telugu cooking

12. చీజ్

    cīj

    Cheese

    Usage

    Western cheese; the Indian fresh cheese paneer is a separate item and a separate word

13. తేనె

    tēne

    Honey

    Usage

    Honey; also useful when asking for it instead of sugar

14. పెరుగు

    perugu

    Yogurt (curd)

    Usage

    The curd that closes every Telugu thali; ask for it when the food is too hot to handle

15. టోఫు

    ṭōphu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Sold in city supermarkets under this English name; ordinary eateries do not stock it and will offer paneer instead

16. సూప్

    sūp

    Soup

    Usage

    Western or Chinese-style soup; the Telugu sour stews pulusu and cāru are separate dishes with their own names

17. అల్లం

    allaṃ

    Ginger

    Usage

    Fresh ginger; dried ginger is a different word, śoṇṭhi

18. కొత్తిమీర

    kottimīra

    Coriander leaves

    Usage

    The fresh leaf; pair it with vaddu ("no") if you dislike it. Coriander seed is a different word, dhaniyālu

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