When travelling abroad, a whopping 48% of Britons and 81% of Americans do not learn any of the language of the country that they’re visiting. Not even the basic phrases.
“You don’t need to speak the whole language to make your way in a new country,” says Anna Latorre, Spanish language tutor at Anna Spanish. “Just five phrases can help you navigate any country and leave a great impression on the locals”.
The Phrases That Can Help You Find Your Way In Any Country
1) Emergency and safety phrases
Travel is fun, but in case you run into trouble, learning a few key phrases like how to say “help”, “Where’s the nearest hospital” or “call the police” could be a huge lifesaver in desperate situations.
2) Phrases for getting around:
Google Maps has caused us to lose the skill of asking for directions, but in some countries where the internet isn’t great or navigating is difficult even with GPS, knowing how to ask a local for directions could be key. Learning a few essential navigational phrases and the names of the sites and places you want to visit could save you a lot of time when travelling.
3) Common food and drink phrases:
This can be a very easy way to leave a good impression at a restaurant is to ask for basics like water, the menu, or the bill in the people’s mother tongue.
It is also essential if you have any allergies to know the phrase “I am allergic to…” to avoid any issues when eating abroad.
4) Polite Phrases:
Learning how to say “hello”, “how are you” and “goodbye” can be a very easy way to build rapport with locals even if they speak English. It’s also a really nice gesture that shows the locals you put in the time to know the basics of their language.
“With all of these you can keep a physical cheat sheet with you to help you remember them and before you know it you’ll be learning a bunch of new phrases in no time.”