In Arabic, the interpersonal relationship is very evolved, and above all, politeness is highly regarded in case of an invitation to be accepted or refused.

Whatever the situation may be-whether it would be to refuse an invitation, food, or help-you got to thank and appreciate this person so at least the relationship remains intact.

Here is a list of Arabic troubleshooting phrases for saying no in a polite manner-so you would be as polite and considerate as necessary.

Here are some phrases which will enable you to get out of tactfully any situation which may make it imperative upon you to say the polite “no” and yet keep the door open for any future relationship.

Order Food in Arabic?

Ordering food in Arabic can be fun, and it is so much easier if you learn a few phrases. Here is your simple guide to ordering food in Arabic: common phrases, common vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Greetings and Politeness

If you start with a polite greeting, you will set a good mood:

Hello: مرحبا (Marhaban) or السلام عليكم‎ (Assalamu Alaykum)

Good evening: مساء الخير‎ (Masa’ al-khayr)

Please: من فضلك (Min fadlik – for females) / من فضلك (Min fadlak – for males)

Thanks: شكراً (Shukran)

1. Can I have the menu, please? 

هل يمكنني الحصول على القائمة من فضلك؟ 

(Hal yumkinuni al-husool ‘ala al-qā’imah min fadlik?)

2. I would like. 

أريد. (Ureed.)

Example: I want a chicken sandwich.

( Ureed shateerat dajaj)

Or if you are ordering more than one thing: I want a chicken sandwich and a salad. 

أريد شطيرة دجاج وسلطة

(Ureed shateerat dajaj wa salatah)

Quantity Order

To say how many portions or items you want, here are the words that you need to know:

One: واحد (Wahid)

Two: اثنان (Ithnān)

Three: ثلاثة (Thalātha)

Example: I would like two cups of tea.

( Ureed koobayn min al-shay)

Asking About the Food

If you have dietary or need to know more helpful phrases are listed below:

1. Is it spicy? 

هل هو حار؟ 

(Hal huwa harr?)

1. Does it contain. (meat, nuts etc.)?

هل يحتوي على.؟ 

(Hal yahtawi ‘ala.?)

1. Do you have vegetarian dishes? 

هل لديكم أطباق نباتية؟ 

(Hal ladaykum atbaq nabatiyah?)

Making Additional Requests

You may want to ask for something specific with the meal. Here is how you ask in most commonly needed things in different ways:

1. No sugar, please.  

بلا سكر، من فضلك 

(Bidoon sukhar, min fadlak/fadlik)

1. Extra spicy, please.

.هار جيدّان، من فضلك/فضليك

Paying the Bill

If you are ready to pay, use these phrases:

1. Can I have the bill, please?  

 هل يمكنني الحصول على الفاتورة من فضلك؟

tener acceso al descanso, por favor?

1. Oh, keep the change.

 احتفظ بالباقي

(Ihtafith bil-baqi)

Key Phrases to Use When Ordering

English	Arabic	Pronunciation
Menu	قائمه	Qā’imah
Appetizer	مقبلات	Muqabilāt
Course/ Main Course	وجبة / وجبة رئيسية	Al-ṭabaq al-ra’eesi
Dessert	حلوى	Halwa
Water	ماء	Ma’
Coffee	قهوة	Qahwa
Tea	شاي	Shay
Chicken	دجاج	Dajaj
Beef	لحم بقر	Lahm baqar
Fish	سمك	Samak
Vegetables	خضروات	Khudrawat

 

Example Conversation:

Customer: 

مرحباً، هل يمكنني الحصول على القائمة من فضلك؟ 

(Hello, can I have the menu, please?)

Waiter: 

تفضل.

Here it is.

Customer:

I would like a chicken sandwich and a cup of tea, please.

نادل:

حسناً، هل تريد السكر في الشاي؟

Alright, do you want sugar in your tea?

الزبون:

بدون سكر، من فضلك.

Without sugar, please.

Now, go practice those phrases, and in no time, confidently order food in Arabic!

How to Order Drinks in Arabic?

Ordering drinks in Arabic can be quite easy with a few key phrases. Here is a quick guide to get you ordering in no time!

1. Starting with Polite Phrases

Being polite sets a good tone:

Please: من فضلك Min fadlak-to a male / من فضلك Min fadlik- to a female

Thank you: شكراً Shukran

2. Common Phrases for Ordering Drinks

To order a drink, use:

I would like. 

أريد… Ureed…

Examples:

I would like coffee: أريد قهوة Ureed qahwa

I would like tea: أريد شاي Ureed shay

I would like a glass of water: أريد كوب ماء Ureed koob ma’amIde 

One cup: كوب واحد Koob wahid

Two cups: كوبان Kooban

Three cups: ثلاثة أكواب Thalāthat akwāb

Example:

I would like two cups of coffee: أريد كوبين من القهوة Ureed koobayn min al-qahwa

3. Ordering Specific Types of Drinks

Drink	Arabic	Pronunciation
Water	ماء	Ma’
Tea	شاي	Shay
Coffee	قهوة	Qahwa
Juice	عصير	Aseer
Soda	مشروب غازي	Mashroob ghazi
Milk	حليب	Haleeb
sparkling water	ماء غازي	Ma’ghazi

 

4. request changes

With sugar:عذ سكر ( Ma ‘sukkar )

Without sugar: بَينَ سَکر ( Bidoon suk kar )

With ice: مع ثلج (Ma’ thalj)

Without ice: من غير ثلج (mn ghair thalj)

Examples:

I would like tea with sugar: أريد شاي مع سكر (Ureed shay ma’ sukkar)

Unsweetened coffee, please. 

 هل يمكنني الحصول على قهوة بلا سكر من فضلك؟

(Hal yumkinuni al-husool ‘ala qahwa bidoon sukkar min fadlak?)

5. Requesting the Bill

To have the bill brought to you when you are ready to pay:

• Can I have the bill, please?
• Can I have the bill, please?

Hal yumkinuni al-husool ‘ala al-fatoorah min fadlak?

Sample Dialogue:

Customer:

أريد كوب شاي من فضلك.

(I would like a cup of tea, please.)

Waiter: 

حسناً، مع سكر أو بدون؟

(Alright, with or without sugar?)

Customer: 

بدون سكر، من فضلك.

(Without sugar, please).

These phrases will get you through your drink-ordering experience smoothly and pleasurably in Arabic!

What Should You Say Before Drinking or Eating?

Whenever the mention of some sort of food and drink that one wants to have is made, then one has got to say praise in the Arabic tongue for such a thing. Below are listed some phrases and expressions which one can utter before the food and drinks.

1. Before Eating:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim

Translation: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

This said before having a meal in His name for the good of food and to invite from God who provided him with the things he needs.

2. After Eating:

الحمد لله Alhamdulillah

All praise is due to Allah.

The phrase “All praise is due unto Allah” almost always follows every meal once it has been concluded. As one says this, he is thanking for whatever food he consumed.

3. For Special Occasions:

Before drinking,

بسم الله

In the name of Allah.

This also can be said for the drink to bless it before drinking.

4. Polite Phrases:

Thank you for the meal.

 شكراً على الطعام 

This says thank you after finishing the meal.

Example Dialogue:

Before Eating:

Person A: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) 

B: الحمد لله

(All praise is due to Allah.)

After Eating:

A: شكرا لك علي الوجبة

(Thank you for the meal.)

B: العفو

You’re welcome.

Those expressions also showed respect to food, and at a table created a great atmosphere of gratitude and sharing.

How to Ask Nicely for Something?

It is assumed that politeness is in all the Arabic-speaking cultures, and one can request many things politely; how do you ask respectfully in Arabic for something? Look below, from the simplest phrases to the more particular polite way of asking for something.

1. The word “Please” in Arabic

The word “Please” is the keyword in making polite requests:

من فضلك Min fadlak-to a male

من فضلك Min fadlik-to a female

Example:

Would you bring me the menu, please?

هل يمكنني الحصول على القائمة من فضلك؟

Hal yumkinuni al-husool ‘ala al-qā’imah min fadlak/fadlik?

The responses below explain how to construct all types of requests in as polite a manner as possible.

2. Forming Requests Polite

Requests in Arabic-when made indirectly-sound softer and more polite. Following are a few forms of polite requests among many more ways one can ask politely.

Can I have a glass of water, please?

هل يمكنك إحضار كوب من الماء من فضلك؟  

(Hal yumkinuka ihdhar koob min al-ma’ min fadlak?)  

Info  

3. “I would like… “

 Using “I would like…” is another good way of asking for something:

I would like.

أريد (Ureed…)

Examples :

I’d like some tea, thank you.

(Ureed ba’d al-shay min fadlak)

I would like to know…

أود أن أعرف

(Awadd an a’rif)

4. Polite requests with “Could I…”

In Arabic, to soften the tone you can say “Could I…?”

Could I…? هل أستطيع.؟ (Hal astaṭīʿ.)

Example:  

Could I take a look at that document, please?  

هل أستطيع الاطلاع على هذا المستند من فضلك؟

(Hal astaṭīʿ al-iṭṭila’ ‘ala hātha al-mustanad min fadlak?)

5. Thanks in advance

It would be polite if thanks were given in advance:

Thanks in advance

شكراً مقدماً Shukran muqaddaman

Example:

Can you help me with this task? Thanks in advance.

هل يمكنك مساعدتي في هذه المهمة؟ شكراً مقدماً

(Hal yumkinuka musāʿadati fī hathihi al-muhimma? Shukran muqaddaman)

6. Jazil Phrases for Seeking Permission

If permission needs to be asked for, the following can be used:

May I…?

هل لي أن…؟ Hal li an…?

Example:

Would you mind if I sat down here?

هل لي أن أجلس هنا؟

(Hal li an ajlis hunā?) Example Dialogues

1. Asking the Way

Excuse me, please; which is the nearest metro station?

 عفواً، هل يمكنك أن تخبرني أين تقع أقرب محطة مترو من فضلك؟

Afwan, hal yumkinuka an tukhbirni ayna taqa’ aqrab mahatat metro min fadlak?

2. Asking For Help

Can you please help me take this? Thank you so much in advance!

Can you help me carry this, please? Thanks in advance!

(Hal yumkinuka musāʿadati fī haml hāthā, min fadlak? Shukran muqaddaman!)

These phrases will provide you with appropriate kinds of words to sound polite and respectful in Arabic-speaking scenarios, thus getting a positive response to your requests.

How to Refuse An Offer Politely?

In refusing Arabic, politeness can be expressed in using certain phases that express your appreciation yet decline at the same time. How to decline offers respectfully is going to be introduced in the succeeding parts.

1. Using “Thank You” as Your First Word

First of all say “thank you” because though you are refusing the offer, you appreciate him offering it to you:

Thank you: شكراً (Shukran)

Thank you very much: شكراً جزيلاً (Shukran jazeelan)

Example:

Thank you, but I’m okay.

Thank you, I am fine” (Shukran, laken ana bikhayr)

2. How to Say “No” in Arabic Polite

The direct negative response can be softened by using polite words in Arabic:

No, thanks: لا، شكرا (La, shukran)

No, thanks, I don’t need anything: لا، شكراً، لا أحتاج شيئا (La, shukran, la ahtaaj shay’an)

Sample:

No thanks, I am fine, which means I have everything I need.

نعم، شكراً، لدي كل ما أحتاجه

( Naʿam, shukran, ladaya kull ma ahtajuh )

3. By Using a Soft Excuse

Using a soft reason for not accepting the offer makes you sound polite:

I’d love to, but.

أود ذلك، لكن. ( Awadd dhalik, laken. )

I wish I could, but.

أتمنى أن أستطيع، لكن. ( Atamanna an astaṭīʿ, laken. )

Example:

I’d love to, but today I am busy.

أود ذلك، ولكني مشغول اليوم

(Awadd dhalik, lakenni mashghool al-yawm )

4. Expressing Something as Possible in the Future

If you want to leave open the door for future offers, then you will say: Maybe next time: ربما في المرة القادمة (Rubbama fil marra al-qadimah)

Another time, God willing: في وقت آخر، إن شاء الله (Fi waqt akhar, inshallah)

Example: Thank you, maybe next time. شكراً، ربما في المرة القادمة.

5. Partial Acceptance (Where Applicable)

If you would like to accept part of what is offered, then you will use this polite phrase:

Just a little, thank you.  

فقط قليلاً، شكراً  

(Faqat qaleelan, shukran)

Example:  

Just a small piece, thank you.  

فقط قطعة صغيرة، شكراً  

(Faqat qit’ah sagheerah, shukran)

Example Conversions:

1. Refusal of an Invitation  

Host: هل تود القدوم معنا؟

Would you like to join us?

2. Snack Declination

Host: هل تريد بعض الشاي؟

Would you like some tea?

Guest: لا، شكراً، لا أحتاج شيئاً

No, thank you, I don’t need anything.

These phrases will allow you to say no in a manner that would be considered respectful and mannerly by Arabic-speaking cultures.