Minangkabauic language spoken predominantly by the Minangkabau ethnic group
Phrasebooks > Minangkabau phrasebook

Minangkabau or simply Minang (known natively as Bahaso Minangkabau or Bahaso Minangkabo) is a language spoken predominantly by the Minangkabau people, native to the western and central hemisphere of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Pronunciation guide

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Vowels

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Consonants

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Common diphthongs

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Phrase list

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Basics

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Common signs


OPEN
Bukak
CLOSED
Tutuik
ENTRANCE
Masuak
EXIT
Kalua
PUSH
Doroang
PULL
Tariak
MEN
Laki
WOMEN
Padusi
Hello!
!
How are you?
Ba'a kaba ang? (to male) / Ba'a kaba kau? (to female)
I'm well
Ambo ...
What is your name?
Sapo namo ang? (to male) / Sapo namo kau? (to female)
My name is ______
Namo ambo ______
Please
Thank you
You're welcome (in response to 'thank you')
Samo-samo
Yes
Iyo, Yo
No
Indak, Ndak
Excuse me
I'm sorry
I can't speak Minangkau [well]
Ambo indak bisa mangecek bahaso Minangkabau [dangan baiak]
Do you speak English?
Bisa mangecek bahaso Inggris ang/kau?
Is there someone here who speaks English?
Siko ado nan bisa mangecek bahaso Inggris?
Help!
Toloang!
Look out!
Awas!
Good evening
Salamaik patang
Good night
Salamaik malam
I don't understand
Ambo indak paham
Where is the toilet?
Dima yo toilet?
Where are you from?
Dai mano nga/kau barasa?

Problems

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Leave me alone.
. ( .)
Don't touch me!
 ! ( !)
I'll call the police.
. ( .)
Police!
 ! ( !)
Stop! Thief!
 ! ! ( ! !)
I need your help.
. ( .)
It's an emergency.
. ( .)
I'm lost.
. ( .)
I lost my bag.
. ( .)
I lost my wallet.
. ( .)
I'm sick.
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I've been injured.
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I need a doctor.
. ( .)
Can I use your phone?
 ? ( ?)

Numbers

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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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21
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22
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23
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30
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40
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50
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60
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70
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80
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90
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100
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200
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300
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1,000
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2,000
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1,000,000
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1,000,000,000
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1,000,000,000,000
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number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
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half
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less
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more
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Time

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now
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later
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before
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morning
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afternoon
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evening
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night
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Clock time

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one o'clock AM
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two o'clock AM
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noon
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one o'clock PM
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two o'clock PM
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midnight
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Duration

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_____ minute(s)
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_____ hour(s)
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_____ day(s)
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_____ week(s)
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_____ month(s)
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_____ year(s)
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Days

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today
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yesterday
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tomorrow
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this week
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last week
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next week
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Months

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January
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February
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March
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April
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May
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June
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July
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August
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September
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October
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November
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December
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Writing time and date

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Colors

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black
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white
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gray
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red
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blue
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yellow
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green
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orange
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purple
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brown
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Transportation

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Bus and train

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How much is a ticket to _____?
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One ticket to _____, please.
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Where does this train/bus go?
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Where is the train/bus to _____?
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Does this train/bus stop in _____?
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When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
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When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
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Directions

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How do I get to _____ ?
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...the train station?
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...the bus station?
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...the airport?
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...downtown?
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...the youth hostel?
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...the _____ hotel?
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...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
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Where are there a lot of...
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...hotels?
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...restaurants?
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...bars?
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...sites to see?
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Can you show me on the map?
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street
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Turn left.
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Turn right.
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left
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right
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straight ahead
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towards the _____
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past the _____
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before the _____
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Watch for the _____.
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intersection
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north
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south
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east
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west
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uphill
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downhill
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Taxi

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Taxi!
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Take me to _____, please.
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How much does it cost to get to _____?
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Take me there, please.
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Lodging

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Do you have any rooms available?
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How much is a room for one person/two people?
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Does the room come with...
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...bedsheets?
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...a bathroom?
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...a telephone?
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...a TV?
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May I see the room first?
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Do you have anything quieter?
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...bigger?
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...cleaner?
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...cheaper?
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OK, I'll take it.
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I will stay for _____ night(s).
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Can you suggest another hotel?
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Do you have a safe?
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...lockers?
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Is breakfast/supper included?
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What time is breakfast/supper?
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Please clean my room.
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Can you wake me at _____?
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I want to check out.
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Money

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Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
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Do you accept British pounds?
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Do you accept Euros?
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Do you accept credit cards?
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Can you change money for me?
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Where can I get money changed?
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Can you change a traveler's check for me?
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Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
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What is the exchange rate?
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Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
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Eating

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A table for one person/two people, please.
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Can I look at the menu, please?
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Can I look in the kitchen?
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Is there a house specialty?
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Is there a local specialty?
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I'm a vegetarian.
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I don't eat pork.
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I don't eat beef.
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I only eat kosher food.
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Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
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fixed-price meal
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a la carte
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breakfast
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lunch
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tea (meal)
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supper
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I want _____.
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I want a dish containing _____.
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chicken
ayam
beef
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fish
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ham
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sausage
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cheese
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eggs
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salad
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(fresh) vegetables
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(fresh) fruit
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bread
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toast
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noodles
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rice
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beans
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May I have a glass of _____?
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May I have a cup of _____?
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May I have a bottle of _____?
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coffee
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tea (drink)
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juice
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(bubbly) water
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(still) water
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beer
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red/white wine
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May I have some _____?
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salt
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black pepper
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butter
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Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
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I'm finished.
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It was delicious.
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Please clear the plates.
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The check, please.
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Bars

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Do you serve alcohol?
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Is there table service?
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A beer/two beers, please.
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A glass of red/white wine, please.
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A pint, please.
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A bottle, please.
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_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
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whiskey
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vodka
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rum
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water
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club soda
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tonic water
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orange juice
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Coke (soda)
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Do you have any bar snacks?
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One more, please.
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Another round, please.
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When is closing time?
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Cheers!
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Shopping

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Do you have this in my size?
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How much is this?
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That's too expensive.
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Would you take _____?
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expensive
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cheap
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I can't afford it.
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I don't want it.
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You're cheating me.
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I'm not interested.
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OK, I'll take it.
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Can I have a bag?
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Do you ship (overseas)?
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I need...
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...toothpaste.
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...a toothbrush.
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...tampons.
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...soap.
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...shampoo.
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...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
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...cold medicine.
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...stomach medicine.
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...a razor.
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...an umbrella.
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...sunblock lotion.
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...a postcard.
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...postage stamps.
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...batteries.
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...writing paper.
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...a pen.
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...English-language books.
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...English-language magazines.
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...an English-language newspaper.
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...an English-English dictionary.
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Driving

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I want to rent a car.
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Can I get insurance?
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stop (on a street sign)
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one way
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yield
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no parking
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speed limit
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gas (petrol) station
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petrol
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diesel
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Authority

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I haven't done anything wrong.
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It was a misunderstanding.
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Where are you taking me?
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Am I under arrest?
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I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
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I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
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I want to talk to a lawyer.
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Can I just pay a fine now?
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