Learning even 5-10 phrases in the local language shows respect and dramatically improves your interactions. This page collects the most useful phrases across all languages covered in our country guides. For country-specific phrases, see individual country pages.
Tip: Download Google Translate's offline language packs before traveling. They work without internet and include camera translation for signs and menus.
Thai (Thailand)
Thai is a tonal language. The word "khrap" (for men) or "kha" (for women) is added to the end of sentences for politeness. Always use it.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | สวัสดีครับ | sa-wat-dee khrap |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณครับ | khop khun khrap |
| How much? | เท่าไหร่ | tao-rai |
| Beautiful | สวย | suay |
| No thank you | ไม่เอาครับ | mai ao khrap |
| Where is...? | ...อยู่ที่ไหน | ...yoo tee nai |
| Bill/check please | เช็คบิลครับ | check bin khrap |
| I don't understand | ไม่เข้าใจ | mai khao jai |
Spanish (Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Costa Rica, Spain, DR)
Spanish varies by region. Key differences: Spain uses "vosotros," Argentina uses "vos," most of Latin America uses "tú/usted."
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRAH-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| I don't understand | No entiendo | no en-tee-EN-doh |
| Where is...? | ¿Dónde está...? | DON-day es-TAH |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favor | lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
| Help! | ¡Ayuda! | ah-YOO-dah |
German (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
| English | German | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Hallo | HAH-loh |
| Thank you | Danke | DAHN-kuh |
| Please | Bitte | BIT-tuh |
| How much? | Wie viel kostet das? | vee feel KOS-tet dahs |
| Excuse me | Entschuldigung | ent-SHOOL-dee-gung |
| I don't understand | Ich verstehe nicht | ish fer-SHTAY-uh nisht |
| Where is...? | Wo ist...? | vo ist |
| Goodbye | Tschüss | tchewss |
Portuguese (Brazil)
Important: Brazilian Portuguese is significantly different from European Portuguese in pronunciation and some vocabulary.
| English | Brazilian Portuguese | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello/Hi | Oi / Olá | oy / oh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigado (m) / Obrigada (f) | oh-bree-GAH-doo |
| How much? | Quanto custa? | KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| Everything okay? | Tudo bem? | TOO-doo beng |
| I don't speak Portuguese | Não falo português | now FAH-loo por-too-GESH |
| Help! | Socorro! | soh-KOH-hoo |
Japanese (Japan)
Politeness is paramount in Japanese. Always err on the side of being too formal rather than too casual.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | こんにちは | kon-nee-chee-wah |
| Thank you | ありがとうございます | ah-ree-gah-toh go-zai-mahs |
| How much? | いくらですか? | ee-koo-rah des-kah |
| Excuse me | すみません | soo-mee-mah-sen |
| I don't understand | わかりません | wah-kah-ree-mah-sen |
| Where is...? | ...はどこですか? | ...wa doh-koh des-kah |
| Please | お願いします | oh-neh-gai shee-mahs |
| Goodbye | さようなら | sah-yoh-nah-rah |
Dutch (Netherlands, Belgium)
| English | Dutch | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Hallo | HAH-loh |
| Thank you | Dank je wel | dahnk yuh vel |
| How much? | Hoeveel kost het? | hoo-VALE kost het |
| Please | Alstublieft | ahl-stoo-BLEEFT |
| Goodbye | Tot ziens | tot zeens |
Korean (South Korea)
| English | Korean | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | 안녕하세요 | ahn-nyeong-ha-se-yo |
| Thank you | 감사합니다 | kam-sa-ham-nee-da |
| How much? | 얼마예요? | eol-ma-ye-yo |
| Excuse me | 실례합니다 | shil-lye-ham-nee-da |
| I don't understand | 이해가 안 돼요 | ee-hae-ga ahn dwae-yo |
Turkish (Turkey)
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Merhaba | mer-HA-ba |
| Thank you | Teşekkür ederim | teh-shek-KEUR eh-deh-REEM |
| How much? | Ne kadar? | neh kah-DAR |
| Please | Lütfen | LEWT-fen |
| Goodbye | Hoşça kal | HOSH-cha kahl |
Vietnamese (Vietnam)
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Xin chào | sin chow |
| Thank you | Cảm ơn | kahm uhn |
| How much? | Bao nhiêu? | bow nyew |
| I don't understand | Tôi không hiểu | toy kohng hyew |
| Help! | Cứu tôi! | koo-oo toy |
Hungarian (Hungary)
| English | Hungarian | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Szia | see-ah |
| Thank you | Köszönöm | KUH-suh-nuhm |
| How much? | Mennyibe kerül? | MEN-nyee-beh KEH-rewl |
| Please | Kérem | KAY-rem |
| Goodbye | Viszlát | VIS-laht |
Khmer (Cambodia)
| English | Khmer | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | សួស្តី | sua s'day |
| Thank you | អរគុណ | or-kun |
| How much? | ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? | tlai pon-maan |
| No, thank you | ទេ អរគុណ | tay or-kun |
| Help! | ជួយផង! | jooey pong |
French (Belgium, Switzerland, France)
French is spoken in Belgium (Wallonia, Brussels), western Switzerland, and of course France. Belgian and Swiss French have minor vocabulary differences but are mutually intelligible.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Merci | mair-SEE |
| How much? | Combien? | kohm-BEE-ehn |
| Please | S'il vous plaît | seel voo PLEH |
| I don't understand | Je ne comprends pas | zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah |
| Where is...? | Où est...? | oo eh |
| Goodbye | Au revoir | oh ruh-VWAHR |
| Help! | Au secours! | oh suh-KOOR |
Tagalog (Philippines)
Tagalog (Filipino) is the national language. Most Filipinos in urban areas speak English well, but using Tagalog phrases shows respect and is warmly received.
| English | Tagalog | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Kamusta | kah-MOOS-tah |
| Thank you | Salamat | sah-LAH-maht |
| How much? | Magkano? | mahg-KAH-noh |
| Beautiful | Maganda | mah-gahn-DAH |
| No thank you | Hindi, salamat | HIN-dee sah-LAH-maht |
| Where is...? | Nasaan ang...? | nah-SAH-ahn ahng |
| I don't understand | Hindi ko naiintindihan | HIN-dee koh nah-een-tin-DEE-hahn |
| Help! | Tulong! | too-LONG |
Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
Bahasa Indonesia is one of the easiest Asian languages for English speakers to learn. It uses the Latin alphabet, has simple grammar, and is spoken across the entire Indonesian archipelago. Note: "Tolong" means both "please" and "help" — context makes the meaning clear.
| English | Indonesian | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Halo | HAH-loh |
| Thank you | Terima kasih | teh-REE-mah KAH-see |
| How much? | Berapa? | beh-RAH-pah |
| Please | Tolong | TOH-long |
| No thank you | Tidak, terima kasih | TEE-dahk teh-REE-mah KAH-see |
| I don't understand | Saya tidak mengerti | SAH-yah TEE-dahk meng-EHR-tee |
| Where is...? | Di mana...? | dee MAH-nah |
| Help! | Tolong! | TOH-long |
Hindi (India)
Hindi is widely understood across northern and central India. In southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), English or the local Dravidian language may be more useful. Adding "ji" after words or names is a sign of respect.
| English | Hindi | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | नमस्ते | nah-MAS-tay |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद / शुक्रिया | dhun-yah-VAHD / shoo-KREE-yah |
| How much? | कितना? | kit-NAH |
| Please | कृपया | KRIP-yah |
| I don't understand | मुझे समझ नहीं आया | MOO-jhay samajh nah-HEE AH-yah |
| Where is...? | ...कहाँ है? | ...kah-HAHN hai |
| No thank you | नहीं, शुक्रिया | nah-HEE shoo-KREE-yah |
| Help! | बचाओ! | bah-CHOW |
Malay (Malaysia)
Bahasa Melayu is closely related to Indonesian — many phrases are identical or very similar. Malay uses the Latin alphabet and is straightforward to pronounce.
| English | Malay | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello | Hai / Selamat | hai / seh-LAH-maht |
| Thank you | Terima kasih | teh-REE-mah KAH-seh |
| How much? | Berapa harga? | beh-RAH-pah HAR-gah |
| Please | Tolong | TOH-long |
| Goodbye | Selamat tinggal | seh-LAH-maht TING-gahl |
Useful Tips for All Languages
A few universal strategies that work regardless of which language you're dealing with:
- Google Translate's camera feature can translate signs, menus, and messages in real time. Download offline packs for your destination language before traveling.
- Screenshot key phrases: Save screenshots of important phrases on your phone for quick reference when you don't have internet.
- Numbers are universal: If negotiation or pricing is difficult verbally, use a calculator app to show numbers. This avoids misunderstandings about amounts.
- Speak slowly, not loudly: Speaking louder in English doesn't help anyone understand you better. Speaking slowly and using simple words actually does.
- Learn to count to 10: Numbers from 1-10 in the local language are among the most useful things you can learn. Prices, addresses, quantities — numbers come up constantly.
- Smile and gesture: Non-verbal communication is universal. A genuine smile, a polite nod, or pointing at what you need can bridge most language gaps.
- Write it down: If verbal communication fails, try writing or typing. Many people who struggle with spoken English can read it reasonably well.
Remember: Even a simple "hello" and "thank you" in the local language shows respect and is universally appreciated. You don't need to be fluent — just willing to try.