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50 important words to know if yo are going to Paris, Amsterdam and Italy!!
One of your frequent posters, and one of my favorites, suggested that the traveler know 50 words in the language of the countries in Europe that will be visited. What words do you suggest, to make a smoother, friendlier trip abroad? Thanks!
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"I am sorry I do not speak French (Italian, Dutch)." Practice practice practice so you can actually say this sentence smoothly, with ease, and an embarrassed smile and be understood. Is in my opinion the single most practical phrase to know, followed by:
Excuse me I'm sorry Thank you I do not understand |
Where is the bathroom?
Get lost! Help! Can you tell me where _____ is? I'm sorry. |
bank or ATM
How much does (this) cost? Please Hi or Hello |
My preparation for travel includes learning: Hello, good-bye, excuse me, I'm sorry, where is...?,(and be able to recognize the words for right, left and straight ahead), how much?, when?, do you speak English?, Mr./ Mrs./Ms., big, little, numbers at least up to ten, water, bag, and thank you. And a smile seems to work in most languages, too! Be careful - if you get the accent down TOO well, they'll reply very rapidly, in which case, it's helpful to be able to ask them to "slow down, please!" :)
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When you ask "where is" or "how much" you need to be fluent enough to understand the answers. Even "slow down" requires you have a basic grasp of the language to comprehend what you are being told. Which is great if you do.
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Italian: Mi dispiace, non parlo Italiano.
French: Je suis desole, je ne parle pas Francais Amsterdam: All the times I've been there, I've never spoken a word of Dutch. Amazingly Dutch people speak excellent Engish. |
There's more to it than vocabulary.
In France, if you don't begin an exchange with <i>bonjour/bonsoir, monsieur/madame</i>, you might as well talk to the wall, because most French people go deaf when you start with <i>ou se trouve/j'ai besoin de/avez-vous...</i> When you leave, say <i>merci - au revoir</i> and you will leave a lasting impression of a non-ugly American. |
No problem for Amsterdam... everyone speaks English there.
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Thanks...so much info on this web-site. Sorry about the 'yo' instead of 'you' in the header. I guess I'd better command English first!!!
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You might want to take a look at the website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/ It's a very user-friendly program, with audio, for French and Italian. You'll also find Dutch phrases, as well. Hope you find it helpful. ((#))
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Just a note about Catbert's comment about "Amazingly, dutch people speak English--". Not amazing at all. When I lived there, they told me that after the war, the schools required two foreign languages be studied. The three options were French, English, and German. Since no self-respecting Dutchman would think of speaking German, even if he could, everyone speaks English.
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Hi
I think please and thank you in the native tongue go a long way. This book might be handy too - http://www.essentials4travel.com/mal...0phrase%20book Ciao, au revoir, see ya mate etc. |
Hello
Goodbye Thank you How much Where is.... No-I am married LOL |
Please.
Yes - I am married. |
Where's the ATM ?
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