Café & Drinks

1. ਇੱਕ ਗਲਾਸ ਲੱਸੀ ਦੇਣਾ

   Ikk glaas lassee denaa

   Give me a glass of lassi

   Usage

   Casual order for a glass of lassi at a dhaba or street stall

   Grammar Note

   "Denaa" at the end of a request is casual. For polite orders use "dio ji".

2. ਮਿੱਠੀ ਲੱਸੀ ਜਾਂ ਨਮਕੀਨ?

   Mithhi lassee jaan namkeen?

   Sweet lassi or salty lassi?

   Usage

   Phrase used when choosing between sweet and salty lassi

   Grammar Note

   Amritsar lassi is famously thick and rich. "Makkhan waali lassee" (butter lassi) is a local specialty.

3. ਚਾਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੰਡ ਨਾ ਪਾਓ

   Chaa vich khand naa paao

   Don't put sugar in the tea

   Usage

   Specify no sugar when ordering chai

   Grammar Note

   "Naa" creates a negative imperative. Punjabi chai is often made very sweet with milk and spices by default.

4. ਗੰਨੇ ਦਾ ਰਸ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ?

   Ganne daa ras kitthe mildaa hai?

   Where can I get sugarcane juice?

   Usage

   Find a sugarcane juice stall, a popular street drink in Punjab

   Grammar Note

   "Kitthe mildaa hai" (where is it available) is a versatile phrase for finding anything for sale.

5. ਠੰਡਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਿਓ ਜੀ

   Thandaa paanee dio ji

   Please give me cold water

   Usage

   Politely request cold water at a restaurant or stall

   Grammar Note

   Adding "ji" increases politeness. In Punjab "thandaa" can also broadly refer to cold fizzy drinks like cola.

6. ਇੱਕ ਕੱਪ ਮਸਾਲਾ ਚਾਹ

   Ikk kapp masaalaa chaa

   One cup of masala chai

   Usage

   Short order for a cup of spiced milk tea

   Grammar Note

   At dhabas, "chaa" alone is understood. Punjabi chai is characteristically strong with ginger and cardamom.

7. ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਫਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਰਸ ਹੈ?

   Ki tuhaade kol falaan daa ras hai?

   Do you have fruit juice?

   Usage

   Check if fruit juice is available at a restaurant or juice stall

   Grammar Note

   Possession in Punjabi uses "kol" (near/at): "[person] kol [item] hai" = "[person] has [item]".

8. ਲੱਸੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੱਖਣ ਪਾਓ

   Lassee vich makkhan paao

   Put butter in the lassi

   Usage

   Order the famous Amritsar butter lassi

   Grammar Note

   Amritsar's "makkhan waali lassee" (butter lassi) is a Punjabi icon — thick lassi topped with generous white butter.

9. ਬੋਤਲ ਬੰਦ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਿਓ

   Botal band paanee dio

   Give me bottled water

   Usage

   Request sealed bottled water for safe drinking while traveling

   Grammar Note

   "Botal band" literally means "bottle-sealed" — always request this to ensure you get sealed, safe drinking water.

10. ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੋਲ ਆਮ ਦਾ ਰਸ ਹੈ?

    Ki tuhaade kol aam daa ras hai?

    Do you have mango juice?

    Usage

    Order mango juice, a popular drink in Punjab especially in summer

    Grammar Note

    Punjab mango season runs May–July. "Dussehri" and "Chaunsa" varieties are especially prized.

11. ਬੋਤਲ ਵਾਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ

    Botal vaalaa paanee

    Bottled water

    Usage

    Point to ask for a sealed bottle rather than tap water

12. ਬਰਫ਼ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾਂ

    Baraf ton binaan

    No ice

    Usage

    Point when you cannot vouch for the ice — a common cause of stomach trouble

13. ਬਰਫ਼

    Baraf

    Ice

    Usage

    Ice for drinks; the same word also means snow (use "barafbaaree" for snowfall)

14. ਗਰਮ ਪਾਣੀ

    Garam paanee

    Hot water

    Usage

    Ask for hot water for medicine, instant noodles, or just to drink

15. ਦੁੱਧ

    Dudh

    Milk

    Usage

    Milk; also useful for checking when avoiding dairy

16. ਚਾਹ

    Chaah

    Chai (milk tea)

    Usage

    In Punjab "chaah" means sweet milk tea by default; plain black tea must be requested separately

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