Order anything by pointing in Urdu
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. Play the ten Urdu words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Urdu phrases in this lesson
- مجھے... چاہیےmoo-JHAY CHAA-hi-yay
- I would like...
- یہ والاyeh WAA-la
- This one
- کتنے کا ہے؟KIT-nay KAA hay
- How much is it?
- بل لے آئیں، براہ کرمBIL lay AA-een, ba-RAH ka-RAM
- The bill, please
- کارڈ سےKAARD say
- By card
- نقد میںNAQ-d mein
- In cash
- پانیPAA-nee
- Water
- کافیKAA-fee
- Coffee
- چائےchaai
- Tea
- بیئرbee-ar
- Beer
- ... کے بغیرkay ba-GHAIR
- Without...
Put the thing you want in the gap.
Essential for pointing at what you want when you don't know the word. Use "yeh wali" for feminine nouns, but "yeh wala" is widely understood either way in market settings.
The essential price question. In markets and smaller shops, bargaining is expected and starting with this question opens the negotiation. In fixed-price shops, it is simply informational.
You can also simply say "bill" with a questioning look and it will be understood. In more casual dhabas, you may need to ask proactively as waiters do not always bring it automatically.
Card payments are accepted in larger shops, restaurants, and hotels in cities. In bazaars and smaller establishments, cash is king. Always ask "kya card chalta hai?" (does card work here?) before ordering.
"Naqd" means cash or liquid money. Most informal transactions in Pakistan are cash-based. Carrying smaller notes is helpful as vendors often struggle to break large bills.
Tap water is not reliably safe to drink in most of Pakistan. Ask for "botal ka pani" (bottled water) or "saaf pani" (clean water). Most restaurants serve filtered water to guests automatically.
The word is understood even where alcohol is not served.
The thing to leave out comes before this phrase.