Café & Drinks

1. Айраг уухыг хүсч байна

   Airag uukhyg khüsch baina

   I want to drink airag (fermented mare's milk)

   Usage

   Used when wanting to drink airag, Mongolia's traditional fermented mare's milk. Especially popular during Naadam

   Grammar Note

   "Khüsch baina" is the progressive form expressing desire. Airag is Mongolia's national beverage

2. Сүүтэй цай нэг аяга өгнө үү?

   Süütei tsai neg ayaga ögnö üü?

   Could I have one cup of milk tea?

   Usage

   Orders suutei tsai (salty milk tea), offered at every ger visit. A must-drink in Mongolia

   Grammar Note

   "Ögnö üü" is the polite request form "could you give." "Üü" is a polite question-final particle

3. Ус нэг шил өгнө үү?

   Us neg shil ögnö üü?

   Please give me one bottle of water

   Usage

   Hydration is critical when traveling Mongolia's grasslands or desert. Essential travel phrase

   Grammar Note

   "Shil" means "bottle/glass" and serves as a classifier. In Mongolian, classifiers can follow the noun

4. Монгол архи байна уу?

   Mongol arkhi baina uu?

   Do you have Mongolian vodka (arkhi)?

   Usage

   Used to check for arkhi, Mongolia's traditional grain vodka. Commonly drunk at toasts

   Grammar Note

   "Baina uu" is the polite existential question. "Uu" adds politeness. Arkhi is Mongolia's main distilled spirit

5. Энэ ундааны нэр юу вэ?

   Ene undaany ner yuu ve?

   What is the name of this drink?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar drink. Handy when exploring Mongolian traditional beverages

   Grammar Note

   "Yuu ve" is the standard content question "what is it." "Ny" is the genitive particle meaning "of/belonging to"

6. Кофе нэг аяга өгнө үү?

   Kofe neg ayaga ögnö üü?

   One coffee please

   Usage

   Used to order coffee in Ulaanbaatar. Cafe culture has grown significantly in recent years

   Grammar Note

   "Kofe" is borrowed via Russian. "Ayaga" means "cup/bowl" and is used as a classifier

7. Архи уухгүй

   Arkhi uukhgüi

   I don't drink alcohol

   Usage

   Used to politely decline alcohol. Drinks are frequently offered during ger visits

   Grammar Note

   "Güi" is the negative suffix. "Uukhgüi" means "don't drink." Mongolian negation is shown through suffixes

8. Хүйтэн ундаа байна уу?

   Khüiten undaa baina uu?

   Is there a cold drink?

   Usage

   Used to find a cold drink during summer travel in Mongolia or the Gobi Desert

   Grammar Note

   "Baina uu" is the polite existential question. In Mongolian, adjectives precede nouns

9. Энэ ундааны үнэ хэд вэ?

   Ene undaany üne khed ve?

   How much does this drink cost?

   Usage

   Used to check the price of a drink at Mongolian cafes and restaurants

   Grammar Note

   "Khed ve" is the price question "how much." "Khed" is the quantity/number interrogative

10. Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө!

    Erüül mendiin tölöö!

    Cheers! (To your health!)

    Usage

    Traditional Mongolian toast. Used at celebrations and formal gatherings

    Grammar Note

    "Tölöö" is the postposition meaning "for/in honor of." "Erüül mend" means "health" in Mongolian

11. Мөсгүй

    Mösgüi

    No ice

    Usage

    Point to order a drink without ice when you are unsure about the water

12. Ундны ус

    Undny us

    Drinking water (bottled)

    Usage

    Point when buying bottled water — it separates it from tap water

13. Буцалсан ус

    Butsalsan us

    Hot (boiled) water

    Usage

    Point to ask for boiling water for instant noodles or powdered medicine

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