Say What??
I get it. You travel to another country because "it's the home of my ancestors!" or "there's so much CULTURE there!" or "I'm gonna go backpacking for 6 months with only $1,000 in my pocket, a bar of soap and the clothes on my back!"
TIME OUT. You don't speak the language. Whoops! Now you're here and the waiter is looking, waiting, strumming his pen on the pad, eyes bulging as he attends your order. With NO idea how to speak a lick of the language, you have to figure how to communicate with these people; ape grunts, facial expressions and pointing will only get you so far.
Here are some expressions that will help to get you on your way. Some will make you feel more comfortable at a restuarant/bar while others guide you through the streets. Some are for counting or asking for help, others are for light conversation. In no time at all, you'll sound like native (in which case...be prepared for when they start rattling off their answers!).
NOTE: In any attempt to speak another language, be confident. Try to keep up! The helper will see that you are not native and, more often than not, they'll smile, encourage you along and join in conversation. If they're not in the mood, don't take it personally! Just smile and walk away.
TIME OUT. You don't speak the language. Whoops! Now you're here and the waiter is looking, waiting, strumming his pen on the pad, eyes bulging as he attends your order. With NO idea how to speak a lick of the language, you have to figure how to communicate with these people; ape grunts, facial expressions and pointing will only get you so far.
Here are some expressions that will help to get you on your way. Some will make you feel more comfortable at a restuarant/bar while others guide you through the streets. Some are for counting or asking for help, others are for light conversation. In no time at all, you'll sound like native (in which case...be prepared for when they start rattling off their answers!).
NOTE: In any attempt to speak another language, be confident. Try to keep up! The helper will see that you are not native and, more often than not, they'll smile, encourage you along and join in conversation. If they're not in the mood, don't take it personally! Just smile and walk away.
Language Websites
Want to learn more than what I have to offer? It’s ok, you can say yes. Here are some websites that will get you even further in your language lessons.
How to Learn Any Language (yea, they're serious about that)
Quizlet - Make your own flashcards for practice or choose from lists that have already been put together.
Babbel
How to Learn Any Language (yea, they're serious about that)
Quizlet - Make your own flashcards for practice or choose from lists that have already been put together.
Babbel
"Going to a country where you don't know the language? Learn the basics as least. I was making my way around Berlin, Germany and while I could understand a few basic words that sounded just like English, it would have been beneficial to have a few basic sayings in my back pocket."
Amber (Buffalo, New York)
Amber (Buffalo, New York)
Dutch
Hello
Goede morgen Hoe maakt U het? Best, en U? Ja/Nee Dank U (zeer) Niets te danken Pardon Alstublieft Tot ziens Spreekt U Engels? Mijn naam is_____. |
Hello (in the back base of the throat,
exhale through the "h" sound) HOO-duh mor-gan hoo MAHKT-ew (h)eht? BE(H)ST, ehn EW? Yah/Nay DAHNK-ew (zeer) neets tuh DAHNK-kuh pahr-DAWN ahl-stew-BLEEFT tawt ZEENS spraykt ew ENG-u(h)ls? mayn NAHM ees_____. |
Hello (an easy one!!)
Good morning How are you? I'm fine, how are you? Yes/No Thank you You're welcome Excuse me Please See you next time Do you speak English?. My name is_____. |
French
Bonjour
Comment ça va ? Ça va (mal), et vous? Oui/Non Merci (beaucoup) De rien Excusez-moi S'il vous plaît Au revoir Santé Je voudrais... Parlez-vous anglais? Je ne parle pas français. Je m'appelle ______ Je suis désolé(e) Je ne vous comprends pas |
BOH(N)-zjoor
COH-ma sah vah? sah vah (mahl), ey voo? We/Noh(n) MAIR-si (boh-COO) Duh ree-E(H)N es-COO-zeh mwah sihl voo PLAY au-VWAH SAHN-tay zjuh voo-DREY (try to roll that "r" in the back of your throat) PAR-lay voo a(h)ng-lay? zjuh nih pahl pah frahn-SAY zjuhm ahp-EL ______ zjuh SWEE day-zoh-lay zjuh nih voo cohm-PRE(H)N pah |
Hello
How are you? I'm fine (bad), how are you? Yes/No Thank you (very much) You're welcome Excuse me/May I pass? Please Goodbye Cheers! I would like... Do you speak English? I do not speak French. My name is ______ I am sorry I do not understand you |
German
Hallo
Grüß Gott Servus/Ciao (Auf) Wiedersehen Bitte Danke schön Entschuldigung Ich hätte gern Prost Sprechen Sie Englisch? |
HAH-lo
GROO-skawt, try to roll the "r" in Grüß SER-voos/chow (owf) VEE-dehr-zhen BIT-UH DAHN-kuh sheun, round and pout your lips on the "ö ehn-CHUL-di-guhng ee(h) HEHT-uh gehrn Pro(h)st (tap the "r" to slightly roll) sp'RE(H)-ken zee e(h)ng'lesh |
Hello
Good day Bye See you again, or when leaving a shop, Bye Please Thank you very much Excuse me I would like... Cheers! Do you speak English? |
Irish
Sláinte
|
SLAU(H)N-cha
|
Cheers!
|
Italian
Salute
Parli inglese? |
Sal-OOT
PAR-lee ing-LACE-ee? |
Cheers!
Do you speak English? |
Polish
Cześć
Dzień dobry Dobry wieczór Do widzenia Tak Nie Proszę Dziękuję Na zdrowie Przepraszam Nie mówię po polsku Czy mówisz po angielsku? Jak się masz? Jestem dobrze zły |
ch-EYE-sh'ch
jen DOH-bri (tap the "r") DOH-bri v'YEH-choor Doh veed-ZEN-yeh tahk nyeh prosheh jen-COO-yeh nahz DROH-vee-uh p'sheh-PRAH-sham Nyeh MOOV'yeh poh POHL-skoo Cheh MOOV'ish poh a(hng)-LI'AY- skoo Yahk sh'YE(HN) mash YES-tem DOHBR'juh z'whey |
Hi
Good morning/afternoon Good evening Goodbye yes no Please Thank you Cheers! Excuse me/Sorry I don't speak Polish Do you speak English? How are you? I am well bad |
Spanish
Hola
Como estas? Que tal? Yo estoy... bien mal Gracias De nada Lo siento ¿Habla usted Inglés? |
OH-la
CO-mo ehs-TAHS keh TAHL yoh ehs-TOY... bee-EHN mahl GRAH-see-ahs (tap the "r" to slightly roll) day NAH-da loh see-EHN-toh AH-blah oosted ing-LACE? |
Hello
How are you? What's up? I am... well bad Thank you You're welcome I'm sorry/Excuse me Do you speak English? |