Everyday Staples
The basics
These words come up at every meal. Learn them first and you will understand most of what is on a Pakistani table.
Drinks
What's in the cup
Tea is practically a national institution in Pakistan. You will be offered چائے (chai) almost everywhere you go.
Popular Dishes
Names you'll hear
These dishes appear at Pakistani gatherings, restaurants, and family dinners. Knowing the names helps you join the conversation and make a good choice.
The star of celebrations. Layered rice cooked with meat and aromatic spices. If you are served biryani, you are being treated well.
An everyday comfort food. Cooked lentils, often eaten with روٹی (roti) or چاول (chaawal). Simple, warming, and on most tables.
A general word for a curry, whether meat or vegetable, in a spiced sauce. گوشت کا سالن (gosht ka saalan) = meat curry.
Spiced minced meat, grilled or fried. A favourite at gatherings and a popular street food across Pakistan.
A crispy triangle filled with spiced potatoes or meat. Especially popular in Ramadan and at teatime.
A general word for traditional sweets. Brought out for happy occasions: weddings, births, exam results, and Eid.
At the Table
Ordering and offering
In a Pakistani home, food is offered constantly. These phrases let you ask for what you want and respond politely when you are offered more.
مجھے (mujhe) = to me / I, چاہیے (chahiye) = is wanted / needed. Swap پانی (paani) for any food or drink. A polite, all-purpose way to ask.
مہربانی (meharbaani) = kindness / please. Combine with the numbers from Lesson 02: دو چائے (do chai) = two teas.
Useful when you are served something you do not recognise. Point and ask. People love explaining their food.
بہت (bohat) = very, مزیدار (mazedaar) = delicious. Saying this to a Pakistani host will genuinely make their day.
You will hear this a lot. Hosts insist on refilling your plate. اور (aur) = more, لیں (lain) = take (polite).
بس (bas) = enough / stop, شکریہ (shukriya) = thank you. You may need to say it a few times. Gentle insistence is part of the hospitality.
کھاتا (khaata) is said by a man; a woman says کھاتی (khaati). نہیں (nahin) = not. Swap گوشت (gosht) for anything you avoid.
For restaurants. دے دیں (day dain) = please give. A simple, polite way to signal you are ready to pay.
Quick Reference
Everything at a glance
Use this to drill the full set of words.
Food is how Pakistanis show love
In Pakistani culture, feeding guests is a point of pride. If you visit a Pakistani home, you will be offered food almost immediately, and refusing outright can feel cold. The polite dance is to accept a little, enjoy it, and praise it. Saying کھانا بہت مزیدار ہے (khaana bohat mazedaar hay) is the perfect response.
You will also be offered more, again and again. Saying بس، شکریہ (bas, shukriya) once is rarely enough. A gentle back and forth is expected and is part of the warmth. It is not pushiness; it is care, expressed through food.
Practice
Try it yourself
Picture each situation, say the Urdu out loud, then check your answer.
What would you say?
Imagine you are at a Pakistani dinner table.
Order, offer, and chat over a meal with confidence.
The dinner table is where real Urdu happens. Practise ordering, complimenting, and the polite back and forth with someone who can guide you. Book a free call.