Arabic Words & Phrases You Need At The Bakery

Nora Nasr

Author

Nora Nasr

Arabic Words & Phrases You Need At The Bakery

Breads and baked sweets are a staple in the Middle East. In fact, the bakery is often considered the heart of the community, where people gather to catch up on the latest news and enjoy a bite to eat.

There's a variety of bread, pastries, and sweets unique to each region. 🍞

Baked goods are also a window into Middle Eastern culture: by trying different types of bread, pastries, and sweets, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the rich and diverse culinary traditions of the Middle East. Visiting a bakery is a great way to learn about the local culture and cuisine.

So for those learning Arabic, the bakery is a great place to start your language-learning journey.

It's a familiar environment that offers a lot of opportunities to practice your new Arabic skills!

Terms related to the Bakery in Arabic

Here are some of the most important words and phrases you'll need to know when visiting a bakery in an Arabic-speaking country:

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
خبازkhabbazbaker
مخبزmakhbazbakery
فرنfirnoven
عجينةajeenahdough
العجينal-ajeenthe dough
مخبوزاتmakhbuzataked goods

Bread in Arabic

It's also important to understand the different types of bread and pastries that are available in an Arabic-speaking bakery.

Here are some common types of bread that you might encounter:

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
خبزkhobzbread
خبز جديدkhobz jadeedfresh bread
عجينة زعترaajeena zaatarzaatar bread
عجينة كاملةaajeena kaamilahwhole wheat bread
عجينة بالزعتر والزيتونaajeena bil zaatar wazzaytounzaatar and olive bread
عجينة بالخبز والعسلajeena bil khobz wal asalbread with honey

Names of cakes & sweets in Arabic

Cakes and sweets play a significant role in the cuisine of the Middle East, offering a delicious and indulgent treat for any occasion.

From rich and buttery cakes to sweet and sticky pastries, there is a wide range of baked goods to choose from.

Here are some terms related to different types of cakes and sweets:

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
كعكةka'akahcake
الكعكal-ka'akthe cake
حلوىhalwasweet
كعكة تشيز كيكka'akah cheesecakecheesecake
كيك عيد الميلادka'ak eid al mawlidbirthday cake
كعكة عيد الزواجka'akah eid al zawajwedding cake
كعك عصيرka'ak asirfruit cake
كعك بالبرتقالka'ak bil bortuqalorange cake
كعكة بالكرزka'akah bil karazcherry cake
كعكة بالزنجبيلka'akah bil zanjabilginger cake
بودرةboudrapastry crust
حلوياتhalawiyatsweets / desserts
بسكويتbisqwitbiscuit
كريمةkreemacreamy dessert
ماكرونmacroonMacaron
حلويات بالشوكولاتة والزبدةhalawiyat bil shokolata wazobdatchocolate and butter sweets
حلويات بالفراولة والزبدةhalawiyat bil farawla wazobdatstrawberry and butter sweets
حلويات بالزعترhalawiyat bil zaatarzaatar sweets
حلويات بالخشبhalawiyat bil khashabcinnamon sweets
حلويات بالكراميلhalawiyat bil karameelcaramel sweets
حلويات بالزبدة الحليبhalawiyat bil zobdat al-haleebmilk and butter sweets
حلويات بالشوكولاتة البنيةhalawiyat bil shokolata al-binyahdark chocolate sweets
حلويات بالشوكولاتة الحليبhalawiyat bil shokolata al-haleebmilk chocolate sweets
حلويات بالحليب والكاكاوhalawiyat bil haleeb wakakaomilk and cocoa sweets

In the Middle East, cakes and sweets are not only enjoyed as desserts but also as a symbol of hospitality and generosity. They are often served during special occasions, such as weddings and religious celebrations, and are also given as gifts to guests and loved ones.

The art of baking and decorating cakes and sweets is considered a highly skilled and respected craft in many Arabic-speaking countries, with many bakers and confectioners spending years honing their skills to create the perfect treat!

Useful questions to ask when visiting an Arab bakery

When you visit a bakery in an Arabic-speaking country, it's important to know how to order what you want in the local language.

Here are some useful phrases that will help you do just that:

هل لديكم عجينة زعتر؟

كم تكلف كعكة تشيز كيك؟

ما هي أشهر الحلويات في المخبز؟

ما هي أشهر العجينات في المخبز؟

هل لديكم زعترية؟

هل لديكم خبز بالحليب؟

ما هو أشهر الكعك في المخبز؟

ما هي أشهر الحلويات بالشوكولاتة في المخبز؟

Whether you're looking to try a new type of bread or dessert, or whether you simply want to practice your Arabic skills, these words and phrases will help you get the most out of your visit.

Visiting a bakery in an Arabic-speaking country can be a fun and exciting experience, especially if you know some of the most important words and phrases to use.

We also have a guide on words and phrases to use when visiting the butcher shop that you might find useful.


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