Language Cheat Sheets

The Universal Language Cheat Sheet

No matter where you are in the world, having these 20-30 words and phrases memorized (or on a printed card) changes how locals perceive you. It shifts your status from "Tourist" to "Guest."

The Template

Copy this list into your notes for every new border you cross:

• Greetings: Hello, Goodbye, Good Morning/Night.
• The "Polite" Trio: Please, Thank You, Excuse Me.
• Necessities: Water, Food, Toilet, Fuel, Bed.
• Directions: Left, Right, Straight, Map, Stop.
• Numbers: 1 through 10 (Essential for markets).
• Emergency: Help, Doctor, Hospital, Police, Mechanic, "I am lost."

Regional Examples for Overlanders

1. West/Central Africa: French (Français)

Essential for crossing the Sahara and through much of West Africa.

• Hello: Bonjour
• Thank you (very much): Merci (beaucoup)
• Where is the...?: Où est le...?
• Water: L'eau
• Help: Au secours !
• How much?: C'est combien ?

2. East Africa: Swahili (Kiswahili)

The lingua franca of the Great Lakes region and East African coast.

• Hello / How are you?: Jambo / Habari gani?
• No problem: Hakuna Matata
• Thank you: Asante
• Slowly (A key overlanding phrase!): Pole pole
• Where is the road to...?: Njia ya kwenda... iko wapi?
• I need a mechanic: Nahitaji fundi wa gari

3. Southern Africa: Afrikaans

Widely understood in South Africa and Namibia, particularly by mechanics and farmers.

• Hello: Hallo
• Thank you: Dankie
• Good luck: Voorspoed
• Where is the...?: Waar is die...?
• Road: Pad
• Fuel / Petrol: Brandstof / Petrol

4. Eastern Europe: Russian (Русский)

Still highly useful for overlanders in the Balkans, Caucasus, and Central Asia.

• Hello: Zdravstvuyte (Zdras-vuy-tye)
• Thank you: Spasibo (Spa-si-ba)
• Yes / No: Da / Nyet
• I don't understand: Ya ne ponimayu
• Straight ahead: Pryamo

Pro-Tips for Language on the Road

• The "Pantomime" Rule: If you forget the word, act it out. A "drinking" motion is universal for water; a "wrench turning" motion is universal for a mechanic.
• Written Destination: Always have your destination written down in the local script on a piece of paper. This is more reliable than your pronunciation when asking for directions.
• Google Translate Offline: Download the "Offline Language Pack" for your destination country before you leave WiFi. Use the "Conversation Mode" for complex issues like mechanical repairs or medical symptoms.

Language	Greetings	The Polite Trio	Necessities	Directions	Numbers (1-5)	Emergency
Mandarin	Nǐ hǎo / Zàijiàn	Qǐng / Xièxiè / Duìbuqǐ	Shuǐ / Shíwù / Cèsuǒ / Ránliào	Zuǒ / Yòu / Zhí / Map / Tíng	Yī, Èr, Sān, Sì, Wǔ	Jiùmìng! / Yīshēng / Jǐngchá
Spanish	Hola / Adiós	Por favor / Gracias / Perdón	Agua / Comida / Baño / Combustible	Izquierda / Derecha / Recto / Mapa	Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Cinco	¡Ayuda! / Médico / Policía / Mecánico
English	Hello / Goodbye	Please / Thank you / Excuse me	Water / Food / Toilet / Fuel	Left / Right / Straight / Map	One, Two, Three, Four, Five	Help! / Doctor / Police / Mechanic
Hindi	Namaste / Alvida	Kripya / Dhanyavad / Kshama kijiye	Paanee / Khaana / Shauchalay / Fuel	Baayen / Daayen / Seedha / Naksha	Ek, Do, Teen, Chaar, Paanch	Bachao! / Doctor / Police / Mistri
Arabic	Marhaba / Ma’asalaama	Min fadlak / Shukran / Afwan	Maa’ / Ta’am / Hamman / Waqood	Yasar / Yamin /跨 Dughri / Kharita	Wahid, Ithnan, Thalatha, Arba'a, Khamsa	Sa’iduni! / Tabeeb / Shorta
Portuguese	Olá / Adeus	Por favor / Obrigado / Com licença	Água / Comida / Banheiro / Combustível	Esquerda / Direita / Direto / Mapa	Um, Dois, Três, Quatro, Cinco	Ajuda! / Médico / Polícia / Mecânico
Bengali	Namaskar / Biday	Dayakore / Dhanyabad / Maf korben	Jol / Khabar / Toilet / Fuel	Baam / Daan / Shoja / Map	Ek, Dui, Tin, Char, Pach	Bachao! / Daktar / Police
Japanese	Konnichiwa / Sayonara	Onegaishimasu / Arigato / Sumimasen	Mizu / Tabemono / Toire / Nenryo	Hidari / Migi / Massugu / Chizu	Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go	Tasukete! / Isha / Keisatsu
German	Hallo / Tschüss	Bitte / Danke / Entschuldigung	Wasser / Essen / Toilette / Kraftstoff	Links / Rechts / Geradeaus / Karte	Eins, Zwei, Drei, Vier, Fünf	Hilfe! / Arzt / Polizei / Mechaniker
Standard African (Hausa)	Sannu / Sai an jima	Don Allah / Na gode / Gafara dai	Ruwa / Abinci / Bayan gida / Mai	Hagu / Dama / Mike / Taswira	Daya, Biyu, Uku, Hudu, Biyar	Taimaka! / Likita / Yan sanda

Using This Table on the Road

• Phonetic Tip: In Mandarin and Hindi, the emphasis and tone are vital. If someone doesn't understand your spoken word, point to the word in this table.
• The "I am lost" phrase:
  • Spanish: Estoy perdido.
  • Arabic: Ana ta'ih.
  • German: Ich habe mich verlaufen.
  • Japanese: Michi ni mayoimashita.
• Numbers 6-10: For most markets, you can use your fingers for 6-10, but learning 1-5 allows you to handle the majority of basic price negotiations and quantities.