Food & Drinks

1. Má ég fá matseðilinn?

   Can I have the menu, please?

   Usage

   For asking the staff for the menu once you are seated

   Grammar Note

   "Má ég fá ...?" ("May I have ...?") is polite without "takk". "Matseðill" is masculine; as an object it is accusative with the suffixed article: "matseðilinn". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

2. Ég er grænmetisæta

   I'm a vegetarian

   Usage

   Tell a restaurant or host about your diet

   Grammar Note

   "Grænmetisæta" is a feminine noun used by speakers of any gender. It is built from "grænmeti" (vegetables) and "æta" (eater). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

3. Verði þér að góðu

   Enjoy your meal

   Usage

   Said when serving food; it also answers thanks for a meal

   Grammar Note

   A wish in the subjunctive, literally "may it do you good". For several people say "Verði ykkur að góðu". "Þér" is dative. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

4. Þetta var ljúffengt

   That was delicious

   Usage

   Said to the cook or staff after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Ljúffengur" (delicious) takes the neuter form "ljúffengt" to agree with "þetta". "Var" is the past tense. The plainer "Þetta er gott" also works. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

5. Ég ætla að fá lax

   I'd like to have the salmon

   Usage

   The usual way to place an order; "takk" can be added at the end

   Grammar Note

   "Ætla að fá" is "intend to get", used for ordering. "Lax" is a masculine noun with the same form in the accusative; without an article it means salmon in general. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

6. Reikninginn, takk

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Said to the waiter when you have finished eating

   Grammar Note

   "Reikningur" is masculine, here accusative with the suffixed article ("reikninginn"). The final "takk" does the work of "please"

7. Má ég fá kaffibolla?

   Can I have a cup of coffee?

   Usage

   For asking for a coffee in a cafe or at breakfast

   Grammar Note

   "Kaffibolli" is masculine ("kaffi" + "bolli", cup); as the object of "fá" it is accusative: "kaffibolla". Without an article it means "a cup". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

8. Er þetta glútenlaust?

   Is this gluten-free?

   Usage

   For checking whether a dish or product contains gluten

   Grammar Note

   The neuter "glútenlaust" agrees with "þetta". The suffix "-laus" means "without". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

9. Ég er með ofnæmi fyrir hnetum

   I'm allergic to nuts

   Usage

   Say it before ordering; food labels use the word "hnetur" too

   Grammar Note

   "Vera með ofnæmi fyrir + dative" means "to be allergic to". The dative plural of "hneta" (nut) is "hnetum". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

10. Hvað mælið þið með?

    What do you recommend?

    Usage

    Ask the staff when you cannot decide from the menu

    Grammar Note

    "Mæla með" means "to recommend". "Þið" is the plural "you", addressing the staff as a group; to one person say "Hvað mælirðu með?". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

11. hrísgrjón

    Rice

    Usage

    Found as a side dish or menu item; it exists only in the plural

    Grammar Note

    A neuter plural noun with no singular. The same word covers raw and cooked rice. It is used without an article, e.g. "Ég vil hrísgrjón"

12. brauð

    Bread

    Usage

    Served at breakfast and with soup

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun with the same nominative and accusative form. "Brauðsneið" is a slice of bread and "rúgbrauð" is rye bread

13. núðlur

    Noodles

    Usage

    For ordering noodle dishes

    Grammar Note

    The plural of the feminine noun "núðla", which the dictionary marks as used mainly in the plural

14. Þetta er sætt

    This is sweet

    Usage

    Describes the taste of a dish or drink

    Grammar Note

    The neuter "sætt" of "sætur" agrees with "þetta". When "sætur" describes a person it means "cute". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

15. Þetta er hrátt

    This is raw

    Usage

    Said of food that has not been cooked

    Grammar Note

    The neuter "hrátt" of "hrár" agrees with "þetta". For a masculine noun the form is "hrár", for a feminine noun "hrá". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

16. súpa

    Soup

    Usage

    For menus and ordering

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun. As an object it takes the accusative form "súpu", as in "Ég ætla að fá súpu"

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