Lesson 2: Food & Drinks
What Do You Like to Eat?
Everyone loves to eat and drink! Food1 is an important part of life and culture in Cambodia. This lesson will teach you the English words for some of the most common and delicious foods and drinks2 you see every day.
Common Foods
| Rice3 | បាយ | A staple food in Cambodia and Asia. Example: "I eat rice with every meal." |
| Chicken4 | សាច់មាន់ | A bird often raised for its meat. Example: "I like grilled chicken." |
| Fish5 | ត្រី | An animal that lives in water. Example: "Amok is a famous Khmer fish dish." |
| Soup6 | ស៊ុប | A liquid food, often with meat and vegetables. Example: "This chicken soup is delicious." |
| Fruit7 | ផ្លែឈើ | The sweet part of a plant, like a mango. Example: "It is healthy to eat fruit." |
Common Drinks
| Water8 | ទឹក | The clear liquid that you drink every day. Example: "Please drink a lot of water." |
| Coffee9 | កាហ្វេ | A hot, dark drink that gives you energy. Example: "My father drinks coffee." |
| Tea10 | តែ | A hot drink made from dried leaves. Example: "Do you want a cup of tea?" |
Usage Note: Talking About What You Want
You can use the verbs 'like' and 'want' to talk about food and drinks.
- Use "like to eat/drink" for something you enjoy in general.
Example: "I like to eat fish." - Use "want to eat/drink" for something you desire right now.
Example: "I am hungry. I want to eat soup now."
In a Restaurant
Bora and Srey are ordering food.
Waiter: Hello! What would you like to order?
Srey: Hello! I want to eat the fried rice with chicken. And I would like a glass of water, please.
Waiter: Of course. And for you, sir?
Bora: I would like the fish soup. I really like the soup here. And I will have an iced coffee.
Waiter: Excellent choices. Your food will be ready soon.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. Which one of these is a drink?
- a) Rice
- b) Tea
- c) Fish
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) Tea
2. Amok is a famous Khmer dish made with ______.
- a) chicken
- b) fruit
- c) fish
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) fish
3. It is morning and you feel tired. You desire a hot, dark drink. What do you say?
- a) I like to drink coffee.
- b) I want to drink coffee.
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) I want to drink coffee.
edit Your Mission
- My Favorites: Write two sentences about your favorite food and drink. (e.g., "I like to eat chicken. My favorite drink is water.")
- My Kitchen: Go to your kitchen. Find three foods or drinks from the Word Bank and say their English names.
- Speak: Your mission is to order something in English at a restaurant or cafe. (e.g., "I want a coffee, please.")
book Lesson Glossary
- Food (noun) - Khmer: អាហារ - Anything that people or animals eat to live. ↩
- Drink (noun) - Khmer: ភេសជ្ជៈ - A liquid that you drink. ↩
- Rice (noun) - Khmer: បាយ - A staple food in Cambodia and Asia. ↩
- Chicken (noun) - Khmer: សាច់មាន់ - The meat from a chicken bird. ↩
- Fish (noun) - Khmer: ត្រី - An animal that lives in water, often eaten as food. ↩
- Soup (noun) - Khmer: ស៊ុប - A liquid food, often with meat and vegetables. ↩
- Fruit (noun) - Khmer: ផ្លែឈើ - The sweet part of a plant that you can eat. ↩
- Water (noun) - Khmer: ទឹក - The clear liquid that you drink to survive. ↩
- Coffee (noun) - Khmer: កាហ្វេ - A hot, dark drink that gives you energy. ↩
- Tea (noun) - Khmer: តែ - A hot drink made by pouring water on dried leaves. ↩