How to Say ‘Would you like something to drink?’ in Japanese
お飲み物はいかがですか。
o nomimono wa ikaga desu ka
[oh noh-MEE-moh-noh wah ee-KAH-gah dess ka]
🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, staff usually ask for drinks first, before food. They bring the drinks while you look over the menu.
Phrase Breakdown
お飲み物は
o nomimono wa
as for drinks
お飲み物 (onomimono) is a polite word for 'drinks'. The topic particle は is pronounced 'wa' here.
お飲み物は何にしますか。
What will you have to drink?
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific/polite prefix
A polite prefix that makes the expression sound more respectful.
ていねいに言うために、おをつけます。
To say it politely, you add o.
飲み物
nomimono
[noh-MEE-moh-noh]
drink; beverage
A general word for anything you drink; literally 'drinking thing'.
冷たい飲み物が欲しいです。
I want a cold drink.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker; as for
Marks 'today' as the topic. Written は but pronounced 'wa.'
本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。
Thank you for giving me your time today.
いかがですか。
ikaga desu ka
would you like (some)?
A polite offer: 'how about it?'. Let the question rise slightly at 'ka'.
デザートはいかがですか。
Would you like dessert?
Words in this phrase
いかが
ikaga
[ee-KAH-gah]
how about
A polite word for 'how' used to offer something or ask about someone's preference.
コーヒーはいかがですか。
How about some coffee?
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[ka]
question particle
Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.
行くか？
Shall we go?
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