Salam alikoum.
[sa-lam a-lay-koom]Hello / peace be upon you.
A warm general greeting.Speak at the table · Algeria
French + Algerian Darija
French works widely in restaurants and cafés. A few words of Algerian Darija add warmth and show genuine interest.
Restaurant survival kit
Eight phrases that do the work
Wa alikoum salam.
[wa a-lay-koom sa-lam]And peace be upon you.
The traditional reply.Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît.
[ewn tah-bluh poor duh]A table for two, please.
French is perfectly natural in many restaurants.Nheb…
[n-hebb]I would like…
A simple Darija ordering starter.Wash kayen lyoum ?
[wash ka-yen lee-yoom]What is available today?
Useful in a small restaurant.Mashi har, من فضلك.
[ma-shee harr, min fad-lak]Not spicy, please.
When you want less heat.L’addition, s’il vous plaît.
[lah-dee-syohn, seel voo pleh]The bill, please.
The clearest way to ask.Saha !
[sa-ha]Thanks / enjoy / good health.
A flexible friendly expression around food.Frequent culinary words
Read the menu with confidence
Local word
chorba
soup
Local word
frik
green cracked wheat
Local word
kesra
semolina flatbread
Local word
mhajeb
filled layered flatbread
mechoui
slow-roasted meat
merguez
spiced sausage
har
spicy / hot
hlou
sweet
ma
water
qahwa
coffee
atay
tea
jus
juice
poisson
fish
viande
meat
sans alcool
alcohol-free
sur place
to eat here
The one rule