Wine & Spirits

1. Mei ik de wynkaart sjen?

   May I see the wine list?

   Usage

   Asking to see the wine list at a restaurant or bar

   Grammar Note

   "Mei ik ...?" is the standard way to ask permission. "wynkaart" is a compound of "wyn" (wine) and "kaart" (card, menu), a common-gender noun

2. Kinne jo in lokale wyn oanrekommandearje?

   Can you recommend a local wine?

   Usage

   Asking for a recommendation of a local wine

   Grammar Note

   The polite "jo" takes the plural verb form ("jo kinne"). "To recommend" is "oanrekommandearje" or "oanbefelje"

3. Ik wol graach in glês reade / wite / rosee wyn.

   I'd like a glass of red / white / rosé wine.

   Usage

   Ordering a glass of wine; choose red, white or rosé

   Grammar Note

   "Ik wol graach" is a polite way to state a wish. Rosé is spelled "rosee" in Frisian. "Reade" and "wite" take the ending -e before "wyn"

4. In glês / in flesse wyn, asjebleaft.

   A glass / bottle of wine, please.

   Usage

   Ordering wine by the glass or by the bottle

   Grammar Note

   "Please" is "asjebleaft", not Dutch "alstublieft"

5. Wat past goed by dit gerjocht?

   What pairs well with this dish?

   Usage

   Asking which wine goes well with a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Gerjocht" is a neuter noun, so the demonstrative is "dit". "To go with" is "passe by"

6. Wat is it alkoholpersintaazje?

   What is the alcohol content?

   Usage

   Asking about the alcohol content of a drink

   Grammar Note

   "Persintaazje" is a neuter noun, hence "it"

7. Dizze wyn is droech / fruitich / soepel.

   This wine is dry / fruity / smooth.

   Usage

   Describes the character of a wine with a choice of adjectives

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives used as predicates take no ending. "Dry" is "droech", the same word as for "not wet"

8. Kinne jo in lokaal bier of in sterke drank oanrekommandearje?

   Can you recommend a local beer or spirit?

   Usage

   Asking for a local beer or spirit recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "Bier" is neuter, so the adjective takes no ending ("lokaal bier"); "drank" is common-gender, so "sterke" takes -e

9. Ik wol graach meidwaan oan in wynpriuwerij.

   I'd like to do a wine tasting.

   Usage

   Saying you would like to join a wine tasting

   Grammar Note

   "Meidwaan" is a separable verb that stays in the infinitive after "wol". "Wynpriuwerij" combines "wyn" (wine) and "priuwerij" (tasting)

10. Kin ik in priuwke fan dizze wyn krije?

    Can I get a small taste of this wine?

    Usage

    Asking for a small taste of a wine before choosing

    Grammar Note

    "Priuwke" is the diminutive of "priuwe" (to taste), a small sample. "Krije" means "to get"

11. Net te swiet, asjebleaft.

    Not too sweet, please.

    Usage

    Asking for something that is not too sweet

    Grammar Note

    Negation is "net"; "too" is "te" before the adjective

12. Wat is de húswyn?

    What is the house wine?

    Usage

    Asking what the house wine is

    Grammar Note

    "Húswyn" is "hûs" (house) plus "wyn"; the vowel changes from û to ú in the compound. It is a common-gender noun

13. Út hokker regio komt dizze wyn?

    What region is this wine from?

    Usage

    Asking where a wine comes from

    Grammar Note

    "Which" is "hokker", not Dutch "welke". "Komt" is the 3rd person singular of "komme"

14. Ik wol graach in cocktail mei jenever.

    I'd like a cocktail made with Dutch gin (jenever).

    Usage

    Ordering a cocktail made with jenever, the Dutch gin

    Grammar Note

    "Mei" means "with"; the month May is "maaie", not "mei"

15. Proast!

    Cheers!

    Usage

    A toast when glasses are raised

    Grammar Note

    "Proast" is the word for a toast; "sûnens" (health) can be used in the same situation

16. Is dizze wyn kâld?

    Is this wine cold?

    Usage

    Checking whether the wine has been served cold

    Grammar Note

    In a yes/no question the verb "is" comes first. Note the circumflex in "kâld"

17. Hawwe jo ek alkoholfrije dranken?

    Do you also have non-alcoholic drinks?

    Usage

    Asking whether non-alcoholic drinks are available

    Grammar Note

    The polite "jo" takes the plural verb ("jo hawwe"). The plural of "drank" is "dranken"

18. Mei ik de wynkelder besykje?

    Can I visit the wine cellar?

    Usage

    Asking to visit the wine cellar

    Grammar Note

    "Besykje" means "to visit"; "besjen" would mean "to look at"

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