Local Drinks

1. Ҡымыҙ

   Qymydh

   Kumiss (fermented mare's milk)

   Usage

   A white drink of fermented mare's milk with a very small amount of alcohol; a symbol of Bashkortostan, also drunk for health at sanatoria

   Grammar Note

   The initial "ҡ" is far back in the throat; the final "ҙ" is voiced with the tongue between the teeth. Not "ҡумыҙ" (mouth harp).

2. Сәй

   Säy

   Tea

   Usage

   Tea, an essential part of Bashkir hospitality

   Grammar Note

   Spelled with "с", unlike Tatar "чәй".

3. Самауыр

   Samawyr

   Samovar

   Usage

   A metal urn for boiling water for tea, brought to the tea table

   Grammar Note

   Borrowed from Russian "самовар", with "в" changed to "у".

4. Ҡатыҡ

   Qatyq

   Qatyq (soured milk drink)

   Usage

   A drink made of soured milk, one of the main Bashkir dairy products

   Grammar Note

   Both "ҡ" are far back in the throat. It is served with soups such as "өйрә".

5. Һөт

   Höt

   Milk

   Usage

   Milk as a drink

   Grammar Note

   It begins with the breathy "Һ". "Ө" is a rounded "e".

6. Миңә эҫе сәй кәрәк.

   Miñä ethe säy käräk.

   I need hot tea.

   Usage

   Asking for hot tea

   Grammar Note

   "Миңә … кәрәк" means "I need …"; the thing needed is the subject. Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

7. Сәйгә һөт өҫтәгеҙ әле, зинһар.

   Säygä höt öthtägedh äle, zinhar.

   Please add some milk to my tea.

   Usage

   Asking for milk in your tea

   Grammar Note

   The ending -гә marks the target: "сәйгә" = "to the tea". Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

8. Сәйгә шәкәр һалмағыҙ, зинһар.

   Säygä shäkär halmaghydh, zinhar.

   Please do not put sugar in my tea.

   Usage

   Asking for tea without sugar

   Grammar Note

   The negative imperative adds -мағыҙ/-мәгеҙ (һал- → һалмағыҙ). Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

9. Сәйгә бал өҫтәргә буламы?

   Säygä bal öthtärgä bulamy?

   May I add honey to the tea?

   Usage

   Asking to sweeten tea with honey

   Grammar Note

   "Infinitive + буламы?" asks "may I …?". "Бал" means "honey". Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

10. Был сәй бик тәмле.

    Byl säy bik tämle.

    This tea is very tasty.

    Usage

    Praising the tea

    Grammar Note

    The adjective stands at the end as the predicate. Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

11. Мин ҡымыҙ эсеп ҡарарға теләйем.

    Min qymydh esep qarargha teläyem.

    I would like to try some kumiss.

    Usage

    Saying you want to try the local drink

    Grammar Note

    "… -ып ҡарарға теләйем" means "I want to try …ing". Composed with regular grammar; a native check is advisable.

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