Phrases to Know in Any Foreign Country

When visiting a country where your native language is not the official language (or not recognized at all), it’s not always necessary to invest hours and dollars in language education software or classes. Learning a few basic phrases is an attainable feat among your other travel preparation tasks and will go a long way in winning over the locals and navigating a new culture.

First, the basics: hello, goodbye, thank you and you’re welcome. Depending on the language these may be tricky to master, but give yourself enough time and practice saying them at home before you jet off. Even if these friendly phrases are all you know, at least you’ll be polite. Toss in excuse me and/or I’m sorry for an extra dose of cordiality.

Knowing how to ask if a person speaks English could solve all your language problems quickly and easily. Learn how to say the phrase “Do you speak English?” or at least how to say English in the local language, with an inflection at the end of the word to indicate question is being asked.

When it comes to financial transactions (e.g., paying for lodging, tipping, shopping at markets), it’s helpful to know the numbers from 1 to 10, as well as the phrase “How much?”

In case of emergency, it’s wise to have the following words on hand: help, hospital and names for any serious medical conditions you have. Keep these terms written in a small notebook instead of devoting time to memorizing them.