Languages
 

I am headed to Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin this summer, and was wondering how other people have managed, language-wise. I speak both English and French fluently, and studied German in school, but that was some time ago, and. I don't speak Hungarian or Czech at all. Any suggested words/phrases to know? I know that in the touristy areas, people will likely speak English, but I would like to know a bit. Thanks!

In this area, German will go a long way... French not at all... English is fine in the biggest cities....

Just know how to say thank you ...

I have lived in the Czech Republic and Hungary... I get by on a couple of friendly phrases, very simplified English, occassional acting, and a smile.

Many people try to talk to me in German.

All those places are full of international tourists and it's easy to get by in English with occasional German. You don't need Hungarian or Czech at all. Nobody expects you to speak it, and younger people (roughly under 50) can get by in English very well. Never had to use phrase books or Google translate on my smartphone. So you should be ok. Deciphering train or bus timetable (usually only given in local language) can be a challenge, but there are enough English speakers to guide you when stuck.

<<In this area, German will go a long way>>

Not as much in Hungary. Czech Republic, maybe. Hungarians still hate their former overlords and the three most recent are the USSR, Nazi Germany, and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire of which Hungary was the juniorest of junior partners.

Ultimately, English is the lingua franca (HA!) for Europe. French is useless in Central Europe. Some words are similar (can you figure out what this Polish word means - toilety). It's not like China or Japan, where you'd be illiterate. Besides, as long as you can wave your arms and point, people will understand you.

German being useful in Central and Eastern Europe has little to do with the Nazi past or Habsburg as the number of German visitors that flood their countries each year, in search of cheap holidays. Even in the Communist days, they had large number of visitors from the former GDR (East Germany), because they were the only countries East Germans could travel to without a visa.
Yes, Nazi legacy is painful but they are happy to take money from German-speaking tourists!

German and English will get you through just fine.

French won't help you. German will.

The Czech people are so lovely. I stopped in a restaurant in a small town (not a town that tourists would visit) in the southern Czech Republic to get some lunch. I do not speak any Czech (except for perhaps thank you) and the owner did not speak English but he search his memory for the word "chicken" to explain the soup to me. I was willing to take whatever soup they had but he took the time to think about it to let me know what was offered.

You'll have no problem.

One thing that is helpful is to have the Czech word for all the sights you want to see so you can point to a printed word and be directed properly.

I find the Germans and Austrians speak great English. I had no problem in Budapest 15 years ago.

You don't need to worry. If words fail then use gestures.

I have been to all of those places several times and managed perfectly well with English and whatever small amount of German I learned from my dad 40 years ago and what I can intuit (easy since English is a germanic language).

Now - this is basic tourist - not discussing brain surgery or international geopolitics.

All of these countries have very well established tourist infrastructures and English is widely spoken in cities and larger towns. In smaller villages use sign language.

We eat in lots of restaurants without translated menus... Do not try to avoid this... We have had patrons translate the menu and then want to talk to us about why we are so far off the beaten path... Wonderful experiences. And if you get in over your head, (or things inside look a bit scary) just order a beer.

And when all else fails... Schnitzel and goulash are universal (and served across all countries)

The second languages across the former Warsaw Pact countries was both German and Russian. Younger people may know English (but not as commonly as you might think) older people will frequently lead with German (realizing it is their only chance as you likely will not know Czech, Slovak, or Hungarian)

All four capital cities OP mentioned are perfectly easy to handle also when you just speak English.

While the meaning of many everyday words can be guessed when in German or Czech, you will barely identify one word in Hungarian.
The latter is totally unrelated to any Germanic, Slavic or Romance language. The more a good impression can you make with literally a handful of phrases.

French is a big help in Romania - but which is out of scope here.

If you planned to venture out into the countryside, and had not always a 20-30something year old available to talk to, German is more widespread (and fluent) in use than English. If only because tourism from Austria and Germany goes more often beyond the major cities than tourists from other countries, and because it had usually been the 2nd foreign language for those 40+, behind Russian.

If you wish to get into geopolitics, it would be the Czech Republic, and not Hungary, where speaking German could theoretically stir some animosities. Check your history book where and when those countries stood on which side.
In the 21st century reality, Czechs and Hungarians are neighbors now with Austria and Germany in the European Union, and their citizens have normal and many cross-border relationships which go way beyond the "tourist euro".
But this is probably harder to see or comprehend the further away you live.

If you want to learn a few phrases, it would just be the obvious ones as in any language, a traveler phrasebook will tell them to you (please, thank you, hello, etc.).

I have a German friend and she said they are not warm towards Germans in Prague which you certainly cannot blame them, so I myself would not trot out the German. She did feel some animosity there, but she couldn't hide it as she was with someone who could only speak German. Frankly, I wouldn't be crazy about tourists wanting to speak the language of occupiers who did such horrible things rather than trying to learn the actual language if the country itself.

FYI, if you don't want to buy a traveler phrasebook, this online website is very good, I used it when I was studying Czech, as a beginner.

http://www.locallingo.com/

the most useful things were learnt to say in the Czech republic, Slovakia and Poland were

hello

please

thank you

two beers please.

after that, sign language will get you through most things.

Sorry - we avoid rest with translated menus as much as possible.

(Typically we do one splurge meal in each city - and those usually have translated menus).

But we just take a small menu translator - which is very helpful - since it describes the dish - not just chicken - what part, how cooked etc. (We can usually figure out the basic ingredient - esp after the first day or tow,

Yeah, in Budapest you need to go to the end of a tram line for an untranslated menu... It would be silly to avoid them as many of the best and cheapest restaurants in the city have translated menus.

In the smaller towns where no one speaks English, this can be a bit more intimidating.

In all these countries the word "menu" is well understood and means the lunch of the day (Monday thru Friday)... Soup plus a hot main course for 3 bucks (give or take). So just say "menu?" ... And whatever it is, take it.

One word I tend to learn is chicken.... As there are fewer objectionable body parts on a chicken... I am not a picky eater but I tend to not eat tongue, brains, stomachs, etc... All very common in Budapest, Czech R. And Slovakia.

English is widely spoken in restaurants in large tourist cities in these parts...and usually at the international train windows. It is seldom spoken elsewhere (grocery stores, banks, post offices, police stations etc)....

Enjoy your trip

"I have a German friend and she said they are not warm towards Germans in Prague which you certainly cannot blame them, so I myself would not trot out the German."

I was maybe 7 or 8 times in Prague and other parts of the Czech Republic, love the place annd never had a single bad experience as a German.