Café & Drinks

1. ఫిల్టర్ కాఫీ ఒక్కటి ఇవ్వండి

   Philṭar kāphī okkati ivvanḍi

   Please give me one filter coffee

   Usage

   Used to order the iconic South Indian filter coffee at a café or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   South Indian filter coffee: strong dark-roast decoction mixed with hot milk. Traditionally drunk from a "dabara" metal tumbler set.

2. చెరకు రసం రుచిగా ఉంది!

   Ceraku rasaṃ rucigā undi!

   Sugarcane juice is delicious!

   Usage

   Used to express appreciation for freshly pressed sugarcane juice sold at roadside stalls

   Grammar Note

   "-gā" is the adverbial suffix. "Ruci" (taste) + "-gā undi" = "it is in a state of being tasty". A versatile expression pattern.

3. లస్సీ చేయగలరా?

   Lassī ceyagalarā?

   Can you make a lassi?

   Usage

   Used to order a lassi (yogurt-based drink) at a restaurant or juice shop

   Grammar Note

   "Ceyagalarā" = "can you make (politely)?". Variants: sweet (tīpi), salted (uppu), mango lassi. All popular in Andhra Pradesh.

4. మజ్జిగ ఒక్క గ్లాస్ ఇవ్వండి

   Majjiga okka glās ivvanḍi

   Please give me one glass of buttermilk (majjiga)

   Usage

   Used to order majjiga, the traditional spiced buttermilk drink popular in Telugu cuisine

   Grammar Note

   Majjiga is yogurt diluted with water, spiced with cumin and coriander. A digestive drink typically consumed at the end of a Telugu meal.

5. లేత కొబ్బరి నీళ్ళు ఇవ్వగలరా?

   Lēta kobbari nīḷḷu ivvagalarā?

   Can you give me tender coconut water?

   Usage

   Used to order tender coconut water — a refreshing drink popular in coastal Andhra Pradesh

   Grammar Note

   "Nīḷḷu" is the plural of "nīru" (water). Tender coconuts are abundant and cheap along the Andhra Pradesh coast.

6. చల్లని నీళ్ళు కావాలి

   Callani nīḷḷu kāvāli

   I want cold water

   Usage

   Basic phrase to request cold water, essential in the hot climate of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

   Grammar Note

   "Kāvāli" is the standard "want/need" expression. Buy bottled water for drinking — tap water is not safe for tourists.

7. ఆమ్ పన్నా తెప్పించగలరా?

   Ām pannā teppiñcagalarā?

   Can you get me Aam Panna (green mango drink)?

   Usage

   Used to order Aam Panna, the cooling summer drink made from raw green mango

   Grammar Note

   "Teppiñcu" is a causative verb (make/have brought). "-galara" makes it a polite question. Aam Panna is believed to prevent heat stroke.

8. పండ్ల రసం తాజాగా ఇవ్వగలరా?

   Panḍla rasaṃ tājhāgā ivvagalarā?

   Can you give me fresh fruit juice?

   Usage

   Used at juice stalls or restaurants to order freshly pressed fruit juice

   Grammar Note

   "Tāzhā" (fresh) is from Urdu. At juice shops, specify: "māmidi rasaṃ" (mango) or "nimma rasaṃ" (lemon/lime) etc.

9. టీ లో పంచదార వేయకండి

   Tī lō pañcadāra vēyakanḍi

   Please don't put sugar in the tea

   Usage

   Indian tea is typically pre-sweetened. Used when requesting tea without sugar

   Grammar Note

   "-kanḍi" marks polite negative imperative. Indian tea (chai) is traditionally made very sweet with milk and spices pre-mixed.

10. మంచి నీళ్ళు ఇక్కడ భద్రంగా తాగవచ్చా?

    Mañci nīḷḷu ikkada bhadraṃgā tāgavaccā?

    Is the water here safe to drink?

    Usage

    Important phrase to check water safety when travelling in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana

    Grammar Note

    "Tāgavaccā" asks about possibility/permission to drink. Tourists should always buy bottled water in India.

11. మినరల్ వాటర్

    minaral vāṭar

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Sealed bottled water; this English-derived wording works in both shops and eateries

12. ఐస్ వద్దు

    ais vaddu

    No ice

    Usage

    Asks for a drink without ice; ice is often made from tap water and is a common cause of stomach trouble

13. వేడి నీళ్ళు

    vēḍi nīḷḷu

    Hot water

    Usage

    For asking for hot water to take medicine or to make instant noodles

14. కాచిన నీళ్ళు

    kācina nīḷḷu

    Boiled water

    Usage

    Used to check that the water has been boiled when no bottled water is available

15. పాలు

    pālu

    Milk

    Usage

    Milk; also useful for showing that you want it left out if you avoid dairy

16. టీ

    ṭī

    Tea

    Usage

    What you ask for at a stall; unless you say otherwise you get sweet milk tea

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