Cooking & Markets

1. Хорхог хийх аргыг заана уу.

   Khorkhog khiikh argyg zaana uu.

   Please teach me how to make khorkhog.

   Usage

   Asking to learn how to make khorkhog, a traditional Mongolian stone-cooked meat dish

   Grammar Note

   "Хийх" is the infinitive of "to do/make." "Аргыг" is the accusative of "арга" (method). "Заах" (teach) + polite request suffix "-на уу."

2. Ямар орц хэрэгтэй вэ?

   Yamar orts kheregtei ve?

   What ingredients are needed?

   Usage

   Asking what ingredients are required for a recipe

   Grammar Note

   "Хэрэгтэй" = "хэрэг" (need) + "-тэй" (having) = "necessary/needed." A common Mongolian expression for necessity.

3. Тогоог дунд гал дээр халаана.

   Togoog dund gal deer khalaana.

   Heat the pot over medium heat.

   Usage

   Cooking instruction specifying heat level for a pot

   Grammar Note

   "Халаана" is the present/future form (-на) of "халаах" (heat), common in recipe steps. "Тогоо" (pot) ends in a vowel, so its accusative is "-г" (тогоог). "Таваг" means plate, not pot.

4. Цөцгийн тосыг нэмж хутгана.

   Tsötsgiin tosyg nemj khutgana.

   Add the butter and stir.

   Usage

   A recipe step instructing to add butter and stir

   Grammar Note

   "Цөцгийн тос" literally means "cream's fat" = butter. "Нэмж" is the converb of "нэмэх" (add), indicating sequential action.

5. Сонгино нарийхан хэрчиж авна.

   Songino nariikhan kherchij avna.

   Finely chop the onion.

   Usage

   Recipe instruction for finely chopping an onion

   Grammar Note

   "Хэрчиж авна" = converb of "хэрчих" (cut/chop) + "авна" (take). Mongolian compound verbs add nuance. Сонгино (onion) is essential in Mongolian cuisine.

6. Хэр удаан чанах вэ?

   Kher udaan chanakh ve?

   How long should it boil/cook?

   Usage

   Asking about cooking time for a boiled or simmered dish

   Grammar Note

   "Чанах" means "to boil/simmer" — a core cooking verb in Mongolian cuisine. "Хэр удаан" asks about duration.

7. Давсыг амтад нь тааруулж нэмнэ.

   Davsyg amtad ni taaruulj nemne.

   Add salt, adjusting to taste.

   Usage

   Instructing someone to season with salt to their taste

   Grammar Note

   "Амтад нь" = locative of "амт" (taste) + emphatic "-нь" = "to the taste." "Тааруулж" is the converb of "тааруулах" (adjust/match).

8. Үнэр нь маш сайхан байна!

   Üner ni mash saikhan baina!

   It smells really wonderful!

   Usage

   Complimenting the wonderful aroma of a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Маш" is an intensifying adverb meaning "very/extremely." "Сайхан" is a versatile Mongolian adjective meaning "good/beautiful/wonderful."

9. Гурилтай шөл хийхэд тахианы мах хэрэгтэй.

   Guriltai shöl khiikhed takhiany makh kheregtei.

   Chicken is needed to make noodle soup.

   Usage

   Explaining an ingredient needed for traditional Mongolian noodle soup

   Grammar Note

   "Хийхэд" = infinitive "хийх" (make) + dative "-д" = "for making / in order to make." Common in expressing purpose.

10. Энэ хоол маш амттай!

    Ene khool mash amttai!

    This dish is very delicious!

    Usage

    The most common compliment for a delicious Mongolian dish

    Grammar Note

    "Амттай" = "амт" (taste/flavor) + "-тай" (having) = "tasty/delicious." "Маш амттай" is the go-to compliment for food in Mongolian.

11. Давс

    Davs

    Salt

    Usage

    Point when asking for or buying salt

12. Элсэн чихэр

    Elsen chikher

    Sugar

    Usage

    Point for sugar; "chikher" on its own means sweets or candy

13. Хар чинжүү

    Khar chinjüü

    Black pepper

    Usage

    Point for pepper; "chinjüü" alone also covers chili and capsicum, so "khar" (black) pins it down

14. Ургамлын тос

    Urgamlyn tos

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Vegetable oil; "tos" alone also means butter, fat or cream, so "urgamlyn" (plant) pins it down

15. Цуу

    Tsuu

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Point when asking for or buying vinegar

16. Цөцгийн тос

    Tsötsgiin tos

    Butter

    Usage

    Point when asking for or buying butter

17. Бяслаг

    Byaslag

    Cheese

    Usage

    Point when asking for or buying cheese

18. Зөгийн бал

    Zögiin bal

    Honey

    Usage

    Point when asking for or buying honey

19. Тофу

    Tofu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Point when looking for a vegetarian option; not traditional Mongolian fare, but the loanword is understood in city shops and restaurants

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