Wine & Spirits

1. Megnézhetem a borlapot?

   May I see the wine list?

   Usage

   Standard phrase to request the wine list at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "megnézhetem" combines megnéz (look at) + het (can) + em (1st person)

2. Tudna ajánlani egy helyi bort?

   Could you recommend a local wine?

   Usage

   Polite way to ask for a local wine recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "tudna" is the conditional of tud (can), expressing politeness

3. Egy pohár vörösbort kérek.

   I'd like a glass of red wine.

   Usage

   Ordering a glass of red wine

   Grammar Note

   "kérek" is the 1st-person form of kér (to request), used for polite orders

4. Fehérbort vagy rozét kérek.

   I'd like white wine or rosé.

   Usage

   Ordering white wine or rosé

   Grammar Note

   "vagy" means "or" (conjunction)

5. Egy üveg pezsgőt kérnék.

   I'd like a bottle of sparkling wine.

   Usage

   Ordering a bottle of sparkling wine

   Grammar Note

   "kérnék" is the conditional form, slightly more polite than kérek

6. Mi illik ehhez az ételhez?

   What pairs well with this dish?

   Usage

   Asking for a pairing recommendation with a specific dish

   Grammar Note

   "ehhez" is "ez" (this) + the allative suffix -hez. "Illik" takes -hoz/-hez/-höz to mean "suits / goes with"

7. Mennyi az alkoholtartalma?

   What is the alcohol content?

   Usage

   Checking the alcohol percentage

   Grammar Note

   "mennyi" is the interrogative for quantity (how much)

8. Ez a bor száraz és gyümölcsös.

   This wine is dry and fruity.

   Usage

   Tasting note describing a dry, fruity wine

   Grammar Note

   "és" means "and"

9. Kóstolót szeretnék kérni.

   I'd like to do a wine tasting.

   Usage

   Requesting a wine tasting at a winery or bar

   Grammar Note

   "szeretnék kérni" is a polite request form meaning "I would like to ask for"

10. Ne legyen túl édes, kérem.

    Not too sweet, please.

    Usage

    Requesting a less sweet wine

    Grammar Note

    "ne legyen" is the negative imperative/subjunctive of "lenni" (to be)

11. Mi a ház bora?

    What's the house wine?

    Usage

    Asking about the restaurant's house wine

    Grammar Note

    "A ház bora" literally means "the house's wine" and is the usual way to say house wine in a restaurant (bora = bor + 3rd person singular possessive -a)

12. Melyik régióból való ez a bor?

    What region is this wine from?

    Usage

    Asking about the wine's region of origin

    Grammar Note

    "-ból/-ből" is the ablative suffix indicating origin

13. Egészségére! / Egészségedre!

    Cheers!

    Usage

    Toast; egészségére is formal, egészségedre is informal

    Grammar Note

    The suffix "-ére/-édre" means "for your"; literally "to your health"

14. Hűtve van ez a bor?

    Is this wine chilled?

    Usage

    Checking if the wine is properly chilled (esp. white/rosé)

    Grammar Note

    "van" is the copula (to be)

15. Van alkoholmentes italuk?

    Do you have non-alcoholic options?

    Usage

    Looking for non-alcoholic drink options

    Grammar Note

    "Italuk" = ital (drink) + 3rd person plural possessive -uk, "their drink": a polite way to address staff in the third person. "Van ~?" means "Do you have ~?"

16. Meglátogathatjuk a borpincét?

    Can we visit the wine cellar?

    Usage

    Requesting a wine cellar tour at a winery or restaurant

    Grammar Note

    "meglátogathatjuk" is a compound: meg (perfectivizing prefix) + látogat (visit) + hat (can) + juk (we)

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