How do you say "What would you like to drink?" in Japanese?

"What would you like to drink?" in Japanese is "飲み物は何にしますか。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "飲み物は何にしますか。" mean in English?

"飲み物は何にしますか。" means "What would you like to drink?" in English. Usage tip: Full question: [飲み物は何にしますか。] You can answer with just the drink name + [で].

🥤❓

How to Say ‘What would you like to drink?’ in Japanese

飲み物は何にしますか。

nomimono wa nani ni shi masu ka

[noh-mee-moh-noh wah nah-nee nee shee mah-soo kah]

💬 Usage Tip: Full question: [飲み物は何にしますか。] You can answer with just the drink name + [で].

🇯🇵 In Japan: Many Japanese fast-food orders are structured step-by-step: main item → side → drink → confirmation.

Phrase Breakdown

飲み物

nomimono

[noh-mee-moh-noh]

drink / beverage

飲み物 sets the category being chosen (the drink for a set meal, etc.).

Example

飲み物は何にしますか。

What would you like for your drink?

は

[wah]

topic marker (“as for…”)

は marks the topic: “As for the drink…”. (Pronounced わ.)

Example

飲み物はコーラでお願いします。

For the drink, cola please.

何

nani

[nah-nee]

what

何 means “what”; used by staff to ask your choice.

Example

飲み物は何にしますか。

What will you have for your drink?

に

[nee]

to / into

に marks the selected option: “make it into/choose it as ~.”

Example

コーラにします。

I’ll choose cola.

し

shi

[shee]

do / choose (stem)

し (する) in this pattern means “to choose/decide” in ordering contexts.

Example

それにします。

I’ll take that.

ます

masu

[mah-soo]

polite ending

ます makes the verb polite; standard in customer service.

Example

飲み物は何にしますか。

What would you like for your drink?

か

[kah]

question marker

か signals a question; together: “What will you choose?”

Example

飲み物は何にしますか。

What will you have for a drink?

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager