Hello -Please- Excuse Me- Good-Bye - Thank You ???
Dec 1st, 2016, 12:47 PM
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Hello -Please- Excuse Me- Good-Bye - Thank You ???
I'd like to ask Europeans on this board to set me straight on what is the best way to say such pleasantries in the local language for:
1-Hello
2-Pardon Me
3-Please
4-Good-Bye
5-Thank You!
Here's what I say now - please correct me or suggest alternatives! As a veteran traveler I should know all of these but realize I do not. Help!
Hopefully anyone taking a trip who does not speak the local language may also benefit?
FRENCH
1- Bonjour
2-Excusez-moi or Pardon
3- S'il vous plait or Pour favour
4- Au revoir or A Bien Tot if you will see them soon?
5- Merci or merci beaucoup
anything that is also commonly used along with these or instead of these?Or like for thank you something like thank you very much?
GERMAN
1- Guten Tag
2- Pardon ???
3- Bitte
4- Auf viedersehn
5- Danke
ITALIAN- need big help here
1- bongiourno?
2- Pardon??
3. Graaze
4. caio caio (ciao ciao?)
5-Graaze
DUTCH
1- Daag!
2- Pardon
3- Please
4- Daag! Tot ziens
5- dank u (wel)
I am interested in the most common versions of these and some common alternatives?
Is pardon used everywhere?
Thanks a lot!
1-Hello
2-Pardon Me
3-Please
4-Good-Bye
5-Thank You!
Here's what I say now - please correct me or suggest alternatives! As a veteran traveler I should know all of these but realize I do not. Help!
Hopefully anyone taking a trip who does not speak the local language may also benefit?
FRENCH
1- Bonjour
2-Excusez-moi or Pardon
3- S'il vous plait or Pour favour
4- Au revoir or A Bien Tot if you will see them soon?
5- Merci or merci beaucoup
anything that is also commonly used along with these or instead of these?Or like for thank you something like thank you very much?
GERMAN
1- Guten Tag
2- Pardon ???
3- Bitte
4- Auf viedersehn
5- Danke
ITALIAN- need big help here
1- bongiourno?
2- Pardon??
3. Graaze
4. caio caio (ciao ciao?)
5-Graaze
DUTCH
1- Daag!
2- Pardon
3- Please
4- Daag! Tot ziens
5- dank u (wel)
I am interested in the most common versions of these and some common alternatives?
Is pardon used everywhere?
Thanks a lot!
Dec 1st, 2016, 01:12 PM
#2
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You French words are sometimes spelled wrong. "pour favor" is supposed to be "por favor", I suppose, but that is Spanish, not French. That is pretty basic info. The phrase "Je vous en prie" is sometimes used to mean please, but it can mean something else, no need to get fancy if you don't know French at all, stick to the basics, which is s'il vous plaît, at least sometimes. You wouldn't use that word for please to say "please call me", though, or a phrase like that.
See you soon, is à bientôt, that is one word.
These phrases are in any basic traveler's phrasebook or easily found online.
See you soon, is à bientôt, that is one word.
These phrases are in any basic traveler's phrasebook or easily found online.
Dec 1st, 2016, 01:17 PM
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These phrases are in any basic traveler's phrasebook or easily found online.>
Yes but often things change with locals -like clerks in States now often say "have a good one" and rarely heard that not long ago IME.
Thanks for your edification, seriously.
Yes but often things change with locals -like clerks in States now often say "have a good one" and rarely heard that not long ago IME.
Thanks for your edification, seriously.
Dec 1st, 2016, 01:21 PM
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Italian:
1. Buon giorno, or buona sera from late afternoon on. [Bwone JYORN oh] or [BWONE ah SAY rah]
2. Mi scusi. [Mee SCOO zee]. Pardon is French, but many Italians understand it.
3. Per favore [Pair fah VORE ay]
4. Ciao is very familiar. Best to say Buon giorno or buona sera, unless talking to a kid or anyone up to age 30. Or you can say Arrivederci, which implies you'll be seeing each other again. Shopkeepers usually say this, because they hope so. I assume English speakers know how to say this word.
5. Grazie [GRAH zee ay] Most English speakers seem to leave off the "ay"; in Italian there are no silent vowels.
1. Buon giorno, or buona sera from late afternoon on. [Bwone JYORN oh] or [BWONE ah SAY rah]
2. Mi scusi. [Mee SCOO zee]. Pardon is French, but many Italians understand it.
3. Per favore [Pair fah VORE ay]
4. Ciao is very familiar. Best to say Buon giorno or buona sera, unless talking to a kid or anyone up to age 30. Or you can say Arrivederci, which implies you'll be seeing each other again. Shopkeepers usually say this, because they hope so. I assume English speakers know how to say this word.
5. Grazie [GRAH zee ay] Most English speakers seem to leave off the "ay"; in Italian there are no silent vowels.
Dec 1st, 2016, 01:27 PM
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Dutch do not use please.
They say graag or alstublieft or alsjeblieft depending on the situation. Since the latter words mean if it pleases you (just like síl vous plait) you will hear it said when giving something - a waiter giving you food, or you someone giving money to pay for something.
If you would like something you say might add graag, but mostly you just say Ik wil... and end with dank u/je.
Goedendag is the formal for hello, and the Dutch are very aware of the time of day, so will say goede morgen, middag of avond.
Daag can be hello or goodbye. You may also hear doe, or doei amongst other local variations.
Pardon is pronounced in the French way, not the English, but you can also use sorry, or more formally neem me niet kwalijk.
No doubt menachem, Mirjam or Tulips will come along and correct this - i am not a native speaker after all.
They say graag or alstublieft or alsjeblieft depending on the situation. Since the latter words mean if it pleases you (just like síl vous plait) you will hear it said when giving something - a waiter giving you food, or you someone giving money to pay for something.
If you would like something you say might add graag, but mostly you just say Ik wil... and end with dank u/je.
Goedendag is the formal for hello, and the Dutch are very aware of the time of day, so will say goede morgen, middag of avond.
Daag can be hello or goodbye. You may also hear doe, or doei amongst other local variations.
Pardon is pronounced in the French way, not the English, but you can also use sorry, or more formally neem me niet kwalijk.
No doubt menachem, Mirjam or Tulips will come along and correct this - i am not a native speaker after all.
Dec 1st, 2016, 01:37 PM
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Pardon is pronounced in the French way, not the English, but you can also use sorry, or more formally neem me niet kwalijk.>
Ah yes now I recall Sorry pronounced kind of like So-ry?
I should have known, or did, alstublieft or alsjeblieft = don't they also say just "bleef"?
And please like in Pils Please I guess is a Belgian Dutch thing - and I remember folks there also saying Please like thank you -
like in when you pay for something I distinctly recall folks saying it and nodding their head like good-bye.
Anyway hetismij Dank u very wel for all that nice info - I got a lot to learn in Dutch.
(What are the nuances of saying Tot Ziens?)
Ah yes now I recall Sorry pronounced kind of like So-ry?
I should have known, or did, alstublieft or alsjeblieft = don't they also say just "bleef"?
And please like in Pils Please I guess is a Belgian Dutch thing - and I remember folks there also saying Please like thank you -
like in when you pay for something I distinctly recall folks saying it and nodding their head like good-bye.
Anyway hetismij Dank u very wel for all that nice info - I got a lot to learn in Dutch.
(What are the nuances of saying Tot Ziens?)
Dec 1st, 2016, 01:53 PM
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Tot gauw - usually when you hope to see someone soon, but haven't arranged anything. Tot straks - when you have arranged to meet up later.
The Belgians tend to say bleef, the Dutch may shorten it to alstu or alsje.
You would say een pils graag, or ik wil een pils, dank je, and the waiter would say alstublieft when he brings it to you.
The Belgians tend to say bleef, the Dutch may shorten it to alstu or alsje.
You would say een pils graag, or ik wil een pils, dank je, and the waiter would say alstublieft when he brings it to you.
Dec 1st, 2016, 03:23 PM
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Italian uses prego more than per favore for please. Prego is also used for grazie (These depend, of course, on the location)
"Mucho grazie ??? bvlenci!"
molto grazie (Mucho is Spanish) If really delighted you can throw in a moltissime for molto every now and then.
As said above, avoid ciao...too informal for a guest
"Mucho grazie ??? bvlenci!"
molto grazie (Mucho is Spanish) If really delighted you can throw in a moltissime for molto every now and then.
As said above, avoid ciao...too informal for a guest
Dec 1st, 2016, 03:39 PM
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Stupid question that had been bothering me...
I understand merci, bonjour, au revoir. Greetings/endings. But is it better to what little French I know or just stick to English for the rest- for example, "I'd like to buy that, please" or "I'd like to buy that, s'il vous plait"...
I understand that it is courteous to try to use the native language, but I butcher French and then I just feel rude/foolish for attempting it!
I understand merci, bonjour, au revoir. Greetings/endings. But is it better to what little French I know or just stick to English for the rest- for example, "I'd like to buy that, please" or "I'd like to buy that, s'il vous plait"...
I understand that it is courteous to try to use the native language, but I butcher French and then I just feel rude/foolish for attempting it!
Dec 1st, 2016, 03:41 PM
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German is an extremely polite language. Pardon in German is a little more complicated and depends a great deal on regional usage. Better to listen to what others are saying.
Wie bitte? (informal response when you haven't heard or understood the person, sort of like comment?)
Entschuldingen Sie bitte (polite for excuse me)
My Oma used Verzeihung which is very proper and old fashioned I guess. "Ich bitte um verzeihung"
Es tut mir leid . . .for a sympathetic I'm sorry for you or what happened to you.
And when you run into someone with your bike or shopping cart you can use all of the above
German posters should tell you what's current now.
Wie bitte? (informal response when you haven't heard or understood the person, sort of like comment?)
Entschuldingen Sie bitte (polite for excuse me)
My Oma used Verzeihung which is very proper and old fashioned I guess. "Ich bitte um verzeihung"
Es tut mir leid . . .for a sympathetic I'm sorry for you or what happened to you.
And when you run into someone with your bike or shopping cart you can use all of the above
German posters should tell you what's current now.
Dec 1st, 2016, 05:13 PM
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I don't think that "prego" is used more than "per favore" in Italian to mean, "Please". You might use "prego", but also "per favore", when asking something to stop doing something, like, "Prego, could you turn the music down?" For simple requests, "per favore" is the standard. I don't hear people saying, "Pass me the salt, prego."
I think that for travelers, "per favore" is the most useful all-purpose expression for "please".
When "prego" is used for "please", it often means something like, "Please do!", "Go right ahead!", or "Be my guest". For instance, in response to someone who asks, "May I sit here?" This is one situation where "prego" would be more appropriate than "per favore". Similarly, you could say "Prego, try some of these cookies." Only in these circumstances, I would definitely prefer "prego" to "per favore".
I can't imagine any situation when "prego" would means "thanks". "Prego" is most often used to mean, "You're welcome." You could also respond, if you're being thanked for a big favor, or for buying someone a drink,"Niente", meaning, "it's nothing", or "Don't mention it." "Piacere", or "piacere mio", meaning "my pleasure" can also mean, "You're welcome".
When someone is introduced to you, you should say "Piacere", meaning "pleased to meet you". The other person then responds, "piacere mio", meaning, "The pleasure is mine."
Some people say, "per piacere", which sort of means "to please me", or "as a pleasure to me", instead of "per favore".
People also say, "Mille grazie", or "a thousand thanks", instead of just, "grazie".
For "excuse me", "Mi scusi" is most often used to to apologize, for instance, if you accidentally jostle someone. If you really do some damage, such as spilling wine on their shirt, you could apologize more strongly, with "Mi dispiace [tanto]" (I'm [very] sorry.) When you're excusing yourself for trying to work your way through a crowd, or to get to your seat in the middle of the row at the theatre, you would more likely say, "Permesso", which means "permission". If you're stepping on toes, it's polite to add, "Mi scusi" and if you step on someone's bunion, "Mi dispiace tanto!"
You also say, "Mi dispiace [tanto]" to say you're sorry for someone's misfortune.
People often say "permesso" when they enter your home, even if you've invited them in.
Also in Italian, when "pardon" is used, it's pronounced as in French.
I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but you spelled "auf Wiedersehen" wrong above.
I think that for travelers, "per favore" is the most useful all-purpose expression for "please".
When "prego" is used for "please", it often means something like, "Please do!", "Go right ahead!", or "Be my guest". For instance, in response to someone who asks, "May I sit here?" This is one situation where "prego" would be more appropriate than "per favore". Similarly, you could say "Prego, try some of these cookies." Only in these circumstances, I would definitely prefer "prego" to "per favore".
I can't imagine any situation when "prego" would means "thanks". "Prego" is most often used to mean, "You're welcome." You could also respond, if you're being thanked for a big favor, or for buying someone a drink,"Niente", meaning, "it's nothing", or "Don't mention it." "Piacere", or "piacere mio", meaning "my pleasure" can also mean, "You're welcome".
When someone is introduced to you, you should say "Piacere", meaning "pleased to meet you". The other person then responds, "piacere mio", meaning, "The pleasure is mine."
Some people say, "per piacere", which sort of means "to please me", or "as a pleasure to me", instead of "per favore".
People also say, "Mille grazie", or "a thousand thanks", instead of just, "grazie".
For "excuse me", "Mi scusi" is most often used to to apologize, for instance, if you accidentally jostle someone. If you really do some damage, such as spilling wine on their shirt, you could apologize more strongly, with "Mi dispiace [tanto]" (I'm [very] sorry.) When you're excusing yourself for trying to work your way through a crowd, or to get to your seat in the middle of the row at the theatre, you would more likely say, "Permesso", which means "permission". If you're stepping on toes, it's polite to add, "Mi scusi" and if you step on someone's bunion, "Mi dispiace tanto!"
You also say, "Mi dispiace [tanto]" to say you're sorry for someone's misfortune.
People often say "permesso" when they enter your home, even if you've invited them in.
Also in Italian, when "pardon" is used, it's pronounced as in French.
I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but you spelled "auf Wiedersehen" wrong above.
Dec 1st, 2016, 05:37 PM
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Just be aware that there are a lot of regional differences in each language. For instance Ausrian German is way different from Swiss german and the more general German and also Bavarian may vary. They say Gruss gott instead of guten tag for good morning.
Dec 1st, 2016, 06:22 PM
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bvlenci I don't think salve is used where you live but in Sicily and the south, it seems to be used as a greeting, but also you're welcome and maybe more. I can never figure out all the nuances of the word.
But I like it, it seems a little more informal.
But I like it, it seems a little more informal.
Dec 1st, 2016, 06:26 PM
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blvenci
Interesting prego discussion. I misread her number system and didn't mean prego as a grazie substitute but as a response to grazie along with di niente, or the various piaceres. In Italy I do hear more "per piacere"s than "per favore"s. "Prego" is commonly used in Sicily in all sorts of situations.
The Italian usage I love is "pronto" for a telephone hello substitute.
As poster above said, there are lots of regional differences. The German ciao (Tschuess) used to be used mostly in N. Germany but the usage has spread to much of Germany.
I try to listen to what others are saying and certainly don't mind being corrected.
Interesting prego discussion. I misread her number system and didn't mean prego as a grazie substitute but as a response to grazie along with di niente, or the various piaceres. In Italy I do hear more "per piacere"s than "per favore"s. "Prego" is commonly used in Sicily in all sorts of situations.
The Italian usage I love is "pronto" for a telephone hello substitute.
As poster above said, there are lots of regional differences. The German ciao (Tschuess) used to be used mostly in N. Germany but the usage has spread to much of Germany.
I try to listen to what others are saying and certainly don't mind being corrected.
