Food & Drink
Food is a central part of culture and community. In Hîsyêô, talking about food involves distinguishing between the ingredients (oksûn, ûnfûnô) and the prepared meals (côûfon).
Basic Actions
There are several primary verbs you will use constantly when discussing food.
| English | Hîsyêô | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|
| To Eat | mokon | Used for solid food. |
| To Drink | îskô | Used for liquid food. Also functions as the noun "beverage" |
| To Cook | côûfon | Used for the act of preparing a full meal. Also functions as the noun "meal" |
| To Bake | bîek | Used for the act of cooking in an oven. Also functions as the noun "baked good" or "bread." |
| To Prepare | ondo | Used for preparing sub-elements or ingredients. Also functions as the noun "preparation." |
| To Smell | unon | To perceive a smell. Also functionas as the noun "scent" |
| To Taste | sobôlê | To perceive a flavor. Also functions as the noun "flavor" |
English has its own polysemous verbs that become intransitive and copulative, indicating that the subject has a sensory quality which you would sense if using the transitive form of the verb. This is not how verbs work in Hîsyêô because there is no intransivity.
Hîsyêô does not have specific adjectives for "hungry" or "thirsty." Instead, you express the desire to perform the action.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
Place Setting
The tools used for eating are named after the specific action they perform.
| English | Hîsyêô | Literal Meaning | Action Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plate | |||
| Cup / Bowl | |||
| Spoon / Ladle | The scooping one | lobotôl (to scoop) | |
| Fork | The piercing one | dûngo (to pierce) | |
| Knife | The cutting one | wêtû (to cut) |
Common Foods
Ingredients & Staples
| English | Hîsyêô |
|---|---|
| Fruit | kûôxi |
| Vegetable | ûnfûnô |
| Meat | oksûn |
| Legumes | undofôl |
| Cereal / Grain | kûkmut |
| Nut | ôzîl |
| Bread | bîek |
| Pasta | toliyo |
| Fat / Grease | cîbon |
| Sugar / Sweet | sûît |
| Water | xîmu |
| Herb | hôncôû |
| Spice | kîûngô |
| Alcohol | îskô cûbû |
Describing Flavor & Smell
Unlike simple descriptions using "is" (li), describing the sensory experience of food uses the verbs sobôlê (to taste) and unon (to smell) as possessed qualities (noun form).
Structure:
[Food Subject] + fuî + sobôlê + [Adjective] The food has [Adjective] flavor.
| Adjective | Hîsyêô | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Good / Yummy | xôn | (The bread tastes yummy.) |
| Bad / Yucky | lôc | (The beans smell yucky.) |
| Sweet | kûkmut | (The fruit tastes sweet.) |
| Salty | xôboî | (The meat tastes salty.) |
| Tart / Tangy | mûncû | (The drinks taste tart.) |
| Bitter | kîkôlô | (Coffee tastes bitter.) |
| Savory / Umami | ûmomî | (The meal tastes savory.) |
| Spicy | bîkontê | (The vegetables smell spicy.) |
Meals of the Day
Meals are generally described by combining the word for "meal" (côûfon) with the time of day.
| English | Hîsyêô | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Morning meal | |
| Lunch | Middle meal | |
| Dinner | Night meal | |
| Dessert | Sweet Meal |
At the Restaurant
Dining out involves a specific set of vocabulary and social scripts between the staff and the guests.
Terminology
| English | Hîsyêô | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | Meal store | |
| Menu | Meal book | |
| Table | Eating Furniture | |
| Bill / Check | Full amount | |
| Tip | Beneficial money | |
| Server | The helping one | |
| Cook | The cooking one | |
| Chef | Prepaper of meals |
Cultural Etiquette
In Hîsyêô culture, dining is an act of shared liberty, and service is never viewed as servitude.
Equality: The server is an ônî yoldûn (one who helps), a peer who is facilitating your experience. You should address them with the same respect you would a friend (sûtûô).
Attention: In line with the ethics of Simone Weil, guests are expected to pay attention to the staff as people. Eye contact and using nîmû (you) rather than just barking orders is the standard.
Reciprocity: The munî yôûlî (tip) is not a wage supplement (as basic needs are met in the community model), but a gesture of yôûlî (help/aid) given in gratitude for exceptional care.
Customer Interactions
As a guest, you will primarily interact with the ônî yoldûn (server).
Ordering
To ask for something politely, use noyo fôlun (I want) or an interrogative noyo kôî dôstoc (Could I receive...). Using lôtfen (please/polite) is highly encouraged to show respect.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
Payment
When you are finished, you will need to ask for the bill.
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ
Chef & Server Interactions
Behind the scenes, the staff coordinates to ensure service is smooth.
The Pass (Handing off food)
- Latin
- ɽʋʄꜿɟʌ