Wine & Spirits

1. Naweza kuona orodha ya divai?

   May I see the wine list?

   Usage

   Requesting wine list at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Naweza kuona" = "Can I see"

2. Unaweza kupendekeza divai ya hapa nchini?

   Can you recommend a local wine?

   Usage

   Asking for local wine recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "hapa nchini" = "here in the country"

3. Nataka divai nyekundu / nyeupe / ya rosé / yenye povu.

   I'd like red / white / rosé / sparkling wine.

   Usage

   Ordering wine by type

   Grammar Note

   Color adjectives agree with noun class

4. Nataka glasi moja / chupa moja, tafadhali.

   I'd like a glass / bottle, please.

   Usage

   Ordering by glass or bottle

   Grammar Note

   "moja" = numeral "one"

5. Divai gani inaendana na chakula hiki?

   What pairs well with this dish?

   Usage

   Asking for food and wine pairing

   Grammar Note

   "gani" = interrogative "which/what"

6. Kiasi cha pombe ni ngapi?

   What is the alcohol content?

   Usage

   Asking about alcohol percentage

   Grammar Note

   "ngapi" = "how much"

7. Divai hii ni kavu / ina ladha ya matunda / ni laini.

   This wine is dry / fruity / smooth.

   Usage

   Describing wine tasting notes

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives follow the noun in Swahili

8. Unaweza kupendekeza bia au pombe ya asili ya hapa?

   Can you recommend a local beer or spirit?

   Usage

   Asking about local beverages

   Grammar Note

   "ya asili" = "of natural/traditional origin"

9. Ningependa kuonja divai.

   I'd like to do a wine tasting.

   Usage

   Requesting a wine tasting experience

   Grammar Note

   "Ningependa" is the polite conditional and is followed by an infinitive (ku-). Onja is a verb stem, not a noun, so a noun phrase like "onja la divai" cannot be formed; the infinitive kuonja ("to taste") takes divai as its object directly.

10. Je, mna sampuli za kuonja?

    Do you offer tasting samples?

    Usage

    Asking if samples are available

    Grammar Note

    "mna" = "you (pl) have"

11. Tafadhali, si tamu sana.

    Not too sweet, please.

    Usage

    Requesting less sweetness

    Grammar Note

    "si" = negative copula

12. Divai ya nyumba ni ipi?

    What's the house wine?

    Usage

    Asking about house wine

    Grammar Note

    "ya nyumba" = "of the house"

13. Divai hii inatoka mkoa gani?

    What region is this wine from?

    Usage

    Asking about wine region of origin

    Grammar Note

    "inatoka" = "it comes from"

14. Nataka cocktail iliyotengenezwa na rum / vodka.

    I'd like a cocktail made with rum / vodka.

    Usage

    Ordering a cocktail with specific spirit

    Grammar Note

    "iliyotengenezwa" = relative past passive

15. Afya! / Tunywe pamoja!

    Cheers! / Let's toast!

    Usage

    Toasting expression

    Grammar Note

    "Tu-" = 1pl prefix "let us"

16. Je, divai hii imepozwa?

    Is this wine chilled?

    Usage

    Checking if wine is chilled

    Grammar Note

    "imepozwa" = passive perfect of "poza"

17. Je, mna vinywaji visivyo na pombe?

    Do you have non-alcoholic options?

    Usage

    Asking for non-alcoholic options

    Grammar Note

    "visivyo na" = relative negative for VI-class

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