At the Café and the Bakery
Order a coffee, bread and a pastry, then pay without the exact change.
In the morning, in a neighbourhood café-bakery. The customer orders, says how they want their coffee, adds bread and a pastry, asks the price and pays — without the exact change.
Dialogue
A
The customer
صباح الخير
sba7 el khir
Good morning.
B
The waiter
صباح النور، واش تحب؟
sba7 en‑nour, wach t7ebb?
Good morning, what would you like?
A
The customer
قهوة من فضلك
9ahwa men fadlek
A coffee, please.
B
The waiter
بالسكر ولّا بلا سكر؟
bes‑sokkar wella bla sokkar?
With or without sugar?
A
The customer
بلا سكر. وعطيني زوج خبزات وحلوة.
bla sokkar. w 3tini zouj khobzat w 7elwa.
Without sugar. And give me two loaves and a pastry.
B
The waiter
هاك.
hek.
Here you go.
A
The customer
بشحال؟
bch7al?
How much is that?
B
The waiter
خمسطاش ألف
khamstachen alf
Fifteen thousand (150 DA).
A
The customer
هاك عشرين ألف
hek 3achrin alf
Here's twenty thousand (200 DA).
B
The waiter
ما عنديش الصرف، عندك خمستلاف؟
ma 3andich es‑serf, 3andek khamstalaf?
I don't have change, do you have five thousand (50 DA)?
A
The customer
صحا، هاك.
sa7a, hek.
All right, here.
B
The waiter
بارك الله فيك، بالصحة
barak allah fik, bes‑sa77a
Thank you, enjoy.
Exercises
1
What does the customer order to drink?
2
How much does the order come to?
3
The waiter asks « bes-sokkar wella bla sokkar? ». What do you answer?
4
Someone says « sba7 el-khir » to you. You reply:
5
Listen again to line 10 of the dialogue and choose what you hear.
6
You want a coffee without sugar. How do you ask for it?
7
The waiter has no change. What does he say?