Telugu phrase guide
Telugu phrases for food and eating out, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Telugu phrases for food and eating out, taken from real conversations in Shinar's Telugu course, set in Hyderabad. Each phrase is written in English letters with Telugu script alongside, and its English meaning. A good one to start with: “Oka chicken biryani ivvandi.” (ఒక చికెన్ బిర్యానీ ఇవ్వండి.), which means “One chicken biryani, please.”.
14 Telugu phrases for food and eating out
Real lines from 6 Shinar scenes: Ordering biryani, Buying mangoes, Is lunch ready?, Chai at the tea stall, Pani puri stall and more.
| English | Telugu |
|---|---|
| One chicken biryani, please. | Oka chicken biryani ivvandi.ఒక చికెన్ బిర్యానీ ఇవ్వండి. |
| Are these mangoes sweet? | Ee mamidi pandlu teeyaga unnaya?ఈ మామిడి పండ్లు తీయగా ఉన్నాయా? |
| Amma, I'm so hungry! | Amma, chaala aakaliga undi!అమ్మా, చాలా ఆకలిగా ఉంది! |
| Brother, give us two teas. | Anna, rendu tea ivvandi.అన్నా, రెండు టీ ఇవ్వండి. |
| Anna, one plate of pani puri. | Anna, oka plate pani puri.అన్నా, ఒక ప్లేట్ పానీ పూరీ. |
| Atthamma, how do you make tomato pappu? | Atthamma, tomato pappu ela chestaru?అత్తమ్మా, టమాటో పప్పు ఎలా చేస్తారు? |
| Do you want it spicy? | Kaaram kaavala?కారం కావాలా? |
| Very sweet, madam. Banginapalli. | Chaala teeyaga untayi madam. Banginapalli.చాలా తీయగా ఉంటాయి మేడమ్. బంగినపల్లి. |
| Lunch is ready. Wash your hands. | Bhojanam ready. Chetulu kadukko.భోజనం రెడీ. చేతులు కడుక్కో. |
| More sugar or less? | Sugar ekkuva aa, takkuva aa?షుగర్ ఎక్కువా, తక్కువా? |
| Spicy or sweet? | Kaarama, teeyagana?కారమా, తీయగానా? |
| First, cook the dal in the cooker. | Mundu pappu cooker lo udikinchu.ముందు పప్పు కుక్కర్ లో ఉడికించు. |
| Medium. And one cool drink too. | Medium. Inka oka cool drink.మీడియం. ఇంకా ఒక కూల్ డ్రింక్. |
| How much for a dozen? | Dozen entha?డజన్ ఎంత? |
Key Telugu words in these phrases
| Telugu | Meaning |
|---|---|
| oka | one |
| ivvandi | please give |
| mamidi | mango |
| pandlu | fruits |
| teeyaga | sweet |
| unnaya | are they? |
| amma | mother |
| aakaliga | hungry |
| undi | it is |
| anna | elder brother (friendly) |
| rendu | two |
| atthamma | mother-in-law |
| pappu | dal |
| ela | how |
| chestaru | do you make |
| kaaram | spicy / chilli |
Questions about Telugu for food and eating out
How do you say “One chicken biryani, please.” in Telugu?
“Oka chicken biryani ivvandi.” (ఒక చికెన్ బిర్యానీ ఇవ్వండి.). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “Ordering biryani”.
What are common Telugu words for food and eating out?
Some of the first Telugu words you will hear in these conversations: oka (one), ivvandi (please give), mamidi (mango), pandlu (fruits), teeyaga (sweet), unnaya (are they?).
Are these Telugu phrases formal or everyday?
They are everyday spoken Telugu as heard in Hyderabad, including the English words people naturally mix in, not textbook-formal Telugu.
How can I practise these Telugu phrases?
Each phrase comes from a full conversation in Shinar (Ordering biryani, Buying mangoes, Is lunch ready?, Chai at the tea stall). You hear the scene in English first, then in Telugu, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.