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.

Global Language Quick-Reference

These ten languages cover the vast majority of the world's overland routes. Use this table to fill out your physical cheat sheet before crossing borders.

Language	Greetings	Polite Trio	Necessities	Directions	Numbers (0-9)	Emergency
Mandarin	Nǐ hǎo / Zàijiàn	Qǐng / Xièxiè / Duìbuqǐ	Shuǐ / Shíwù / Cèsuǒ / Ránliào	Zuǒ / Yòu / Zhí / Map	Líng, Yī, Èr, Sān, Sì, Wǔ, Liù, Qī, Bā, Jiǔ	Jiùmìng! / Yīshēng / Jǐngchá
Spanish	Hola / Adiós	Por favor / Gracias / Perdón	Agua / Comida / Baño / Combustible	Izquierda / Derecha / Recto / Mapa	Cero, Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Cinco, Seis, Siete, Ocho, Nueve	¡Ayuda! / Médico / Policía / Mecánico
Hindi	Namaste / Alvida	Kripya / Dhanyavad / Kshama kijiye	Paanee / Khaana / Toilet / Fuel	Baayen / Daayen / Seedha / Naksha	Shoonya, Ek, Do, Teen, Chaar, Paanch, Chhay, Saath, Aath, Nau	Bachao! / Doctor / Police / Mistri
Arabic	Marhaba / Ma’asalaama	Min fadlak / Shukran / Afwan	Maa’ / Ta’am / Hamman / Waqood	Yasar / Yamin / Dughri / Kharita	Sifr, Wahid, Ithnan, Thalatha, Arba'a, Khamsa, Sitta, Sab'a, Thamaniya, Tis'a	Sa’iduni! / Tabeeb / Shorta
Portuguese	Olá / Adeus	Por favor / Obrigado / Com licença	Água / Comida / Banheiro / Combustível	Esquerda / Direita / Direto / Mapa	Zero, Um, Dois, Três, Quatro, Cinco, Seis, Siete, Oito, Nove	Ajuda! / Médico / Polícia / Mecânico
Bengali	Namaskar / Biday	Dayakore / Dhanyabad / Maf korben	Jol / Khabar / Toilet / Fuel	Baam / Daan / Shoja / Map	Shunn-o, Ek, Dui, Tin, Char, Pach, Chhoy, Sat, At, Noy	Bachao! / Daktar / Police
Japanese	Konnichiwa / Sayonara	Onegaishimasu / Arigato / Sumimasen	Mizu / Tabemono / Toire / Nenryo	Hidari / Migi / Massugu / Chizu	Zero, Ichi, Ni, San, Yon, Go, Roku, Nana, Hachi, Kyu	Tasukete! / Isha / Keisatsu
German	Hallo / Tschüss	Bitte / Danke / Entschuldigung	Wasser / Essen / Toilette / Kraftstoff	Links / Rechts / Geradeaus / Karte	Null, Eins, Zwei, Drei, Vier, Fünf, Sechs, Sieben, Acht, Neun	Hilfe! / Arzt / Polizei / Mechaniker
Hausa	Sannu / Sai an jima	Don Allah / Na gode / Gafara dai	Ruwa / Abinci / Bayan gida / Mai	Hagu / Dama / Mike / Taswira	Sifiri, Daya, Biyu, Uku, Hudu, Biyar, Shidda, Bakwai, Takwas, Tara	Taimaka! / Likita / Yan sanda
Swahili	Jambo / Kwaheri	Tafadhali / Asante / Samahani	Maji / Chakula / Chooni / Mafuta	Kushoto / Kulia / Moja kwa moja	Sufuri, Moja, Mbili, Tatu, Nne, Tano, Sita, Saba, Nane, Tisa	Saidia! / Daktari / Polisi / Fundi

Integration Tips for your Wiki

• Phonetic Spelling: These are simplified phonetics for English speakers. Encourage your users to add a "Pronunciation" column if they are fluent in a specific dialect.
• Hand Signals: Remind travelers that while numbers 0-5 are mostly universal with fingers, 6-10 vary wildly by culture (e.g., in parts of China, 6-10 are shown with one hand using specific gestures).
• The "Lost" Phrase:
  • Spanish: Estoy perdido.
  • Swahili: Nimepotea.
  • Hausa: Na bace.

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.