Language Cheat Sheets
Essential Phrases for Travelers
Learning a few key phrases can significantly improve your travel experience and show respect for the local culture. Below is a categorized list of high-utility expressions.
Essential Social Basics
These phrases are used daily to establish goodwill and polite interaction.
- Hello / Good morning / Good evening: Standard greetings.
- Please & Thank you: Basic politeness for every interaction.
- Excuse me: Useful for getting attention or navigating through crowds.
- I’m sorry: To apologize for mistakes or misunderstandings.
- Yes / No: Fundamental for quick confirmation.
Crucial for finding your way when technology or maps fail.
- Where is the bathroom? One of the most frequently asked questions.
- Where is [Location]? For landmarks, hotels, or transit stations.
- How much does this cost? Essential for shopping and markets.
- I would like [Item/Service], please: A polite way to order.
- The bill, please: Used at the end of a meal.
Communication Support
Phrases to use when your vocabulary is limited.
- Do you speak English? Usually more polite to ask this in the local language first.
- I don't understand: Immediately clears up confusion.
- Can you speak more slowly? Helps you catch familiar words.
- How do you say [Word] in [Language]? A great way to learn as you go.
Health & Emergencies
Vital for safety and urgent situations.
- Help! The most important phrase in a crisis.
- I need a doctor / Call an ambulance: For medical emergencies.
- I am allergic to [Substance]: Critical for dining out safely.
- Where is the hospital? To find urgent care quickly.
Language Tools
For further preparation, consider these resources: [translate.google.com Google Translate] – For instant translation and pronunciation help. [www.duolingo.com Duolingo] – For gamified phrase practice before your trip.
| English Phrase | Mandarin (Pinyin) | Spanish | Hindi | Arabic | Portuguese | Bengali | Japanese | German | Hausa | Swahili |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan="11" style="background:#f2f2f2;" | Essential Social Basics | |||||||||
| Hello / Good morning | 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) | Hola / Buenos días | नमस्ते (Namaste) | مرحبا (Marhaba) | Olá / Bom dia | হ্যালো (Hello) | こんにちは (Konnichiwa) | Hallo / Guten Morgen | Sannu | Jambo / Habari |
| Please & Thank you | 请 & 谢谢 (Qǐng & Xièxiè) | Por favor & Gracias | कृपया & धन्यवाद (Kripya & Dhanyavaad) | من فضلك & شكرا (Min fadlak & Shukran) | Por favor & Obrigado/a | দয়া করে & ধন্যবাদ (Doya kore & Dhanyabad) | お願いします & ありがとう (Onegaishimasu & Arigatō) | Bitte & Danke | Don Allah & Na gode | Tafadhali & Asante |
| Excuse me | 不好意思 (Bù hǎoyìsi) | Disculpe / Perdón | क्षमा कीजिए (Kshama kijiye) | المعذرة (Al-ma'dhira) | Com licença | মাফ করবেন (Maph korben) | すみません (Sumimasen) | Entschuldigung | Gafara dai | Samahani |
| I’m sorry | 对不起 (Duìbùqǐ) | Lo siento | मुझे खेद है (Mujhe khed hai) | أنا آسف (Ana aasif) | Desculpe / Sinto muito | আমি দুঃখিত (Ami dukkhito) | ごめんなさい (Gomennasai) | Es tut mir leid | Yi hakuri | Pole |
| Yes / No | 是 / 不是 (Shì / Búshì) | Sí / No | हाँ / नहीं (Haan / Nahi) | نعم / لا (Na'am / La) | Sim / Não | হ্যাঁ / না (Hyan / Na) | はい / いいえ (Hai / Iie) | Ja / Nein | Eh / A'a | Ndiyo / Hapana |
| colspan="11" style="background:#f2f2f2;" | Navigation & Practicalities | |||||||||
| Where is the bathroom? | 洗手间在哪里? (Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?) | ¿Dónde está el baño? | शौचालय कहाँ है? (Shauchalay kahan hai?) | أين الحمام؟ (Ayna al-hammam?) | Onde fica o banheiro? | বাথরুম কোথায়? (Bathroom kothay?) | トイレはどこですか (Toire wa doko desuka?) | Wo ist die Toilette? | Ina banɗaki yake? | Choo kiko wapi? |
| Where is [Location]? | [地点]在哪里? ([Location] zài nǎlǐ?) | ¿Dónde está [Lugar]? | [जगह] कहाँ है? ([Jagah] kahan hai?) | أين يقع [المكان]؟ (Ayna yaqa'a [al-makan]?) | Onde fica [Local]? | [জায়গা] কোথায়? ([Jayga] kothay?) | [場所]はどこですか ([Basho] wa doko desuka?) | Wo ist [Ort]? | Ina [Wuri] yake? | [Mahali] ni wapi? |
| How much does this cost? | 这个多少钱? (Zhège duōshǎo qián?) | ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? | यह कितने का है? (Yeh kitne ka hai?) | كم سعر هذا؟ (Kam si'r hadha?) | Quanto custa isto? | এটার দাম কত? (Etar dam koto?) | これはいくらですか (Kore wa ikura desuka?) | Was kostet das? | Nawa ne kudin wannan? | Hii ni bei gani? |
| I would like [Item], please | 我想要[物品] (Wǒ xiǎng yào [wùpǐn]) | Quisiera [Artículo], por favor | मुझे [चीज] चाहिए (Mujhe [cheez] chahiye) | أريد [الشيء] من فضلك (Ureedu [ash-shai] min fadlak) | Eu gostaria de [Item], por favor | আমি [জিনিস] চাই (Ami [jinish] chai) | [物品]をください ([Buppin] o kudasai) | Ich hätte gerne [Sache] | Ina son [Ahu] | Naomba [Kitu] |
| The bill, please | 请买单 (Qǐng mǎidān) | La cuenta, por favor | बिल, कृपया (Bill, kripya) | الحساب من فضلك (Al-hisab min fadlak) | A conta, por favor | বিলটা দিন (Bil-ta din) | お勘定をお願いします (O-kanjō o onegaishimasu) | Die Rechnung, bitte | Ina son lissafi | Naomba bili |
| colspan="11" style="background:#f2f2f2;" | Communication Support | |||||||||
| Do you speak English? | 你会说英语吗? (Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?) | ¿Habla inglés? | क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं? (Kya aap Angrezi bolte hain?) | هل تتحدث الإنجليزية؟ (Hal tatahaddath al-injliziya?) | Você fala inglês? | আপনি কি ইংরেজি বলেন? (Apni ki Ingreji bolen?) | 英語を話せますか (Eigo o hanasemasuka?) | Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Kana jin Turanci? | Unasema Kiingereza? |
| I don't understand | 我不明白 (Wǒ bù míngbái) | No entiendo | मुझे समझ नहीं आया (Mujhe samajh nahi aaya) | لا أفهم (La afham) | Não entendo | আমি বুঝতে পারছি না (Ami bujh-te parchi na) | わかりません (Wakarimasen) | Ich verstehe nicht | Ban gane ba | Sielewi |
| Can you speak more slowly? | 请慢点说 (Qǐng màn diǎn shuō) | ¿Puede hablar más despacio? | क्या आप थोड़ा धीरे बोल सकते हैं? (Kya aap dheere bol sakte hain?) | هل يمكنك التحدث ببطء أكثر؟ (Hal yumkinuka al-tahadduth bibut' akthar?) | Pode falar mais devagar? | আপনি কি একটু ধীরে বলবেন? (Apni ki ektu dhire bolben?) | もっとゆっくり話して (Motto yukkuri hanashite) | Können Sie langsamer sprechen? | Ko za ka iya yin magana a hankali? | Unaweza kusema polepole? |
| How do you say [Word] in [Lang]? | [词]用[语言]怎么说? ([Cí] yòng [yǔyán] zěnme shuō?) | ¿Cómo se dice [Palabra] en [Idioma]? | [भाषा] में [शब्द] कैसे कहते हैं? ([Bhasha] mein [shabd] kaise kehte hain?) | كيف تقول [كلمة] بـ [اللغة]؟ (Kayfa taqul [kalima] bi [al-lugha]?) | Como se diz [Palavra] em [Idioma]? | [ভাষা] তে [শব্দ] কি ভাবে বলে? ([Bhasha] te [shobdo] ki bhabe bole?) | [言語]で[言葉]は何ですか ([Gengo] de [kotoba] wa nan desuka?) | Wie sagt man [Wort] auf [Sprache]? | Yaya ake cewa [Kalma] a [Harshe]? | Unasemaje [Neno] kwa [Lugha]? |
| colspan="11" style="background:#f2f2f2;" | Health & Emergencies | |||||||||
| Help! | 救命! (Jiùmìng!) | ¡Ayuda! | मदद! (Madad!) | النجدة! (Al-najda!) | Ajuda! / Socorro! | বাঁচাও! (Bachao!) | 助けて! (Tasukete!) | Hilfe! | Taimako! | Saidia! |
| I need a doctor | 我需要医生 (Wǒ xūyào yīshēng) | Necesito un médico | मुझे डॉक्टर की ज़रूरत है (Mujhe doctor ki zaroorat hai) | أحتاج إلى طبيب (Ahtaj ila tabeeb) | Preciso de um médico | আমার ডাক্তার দরকার (Amar daktar dorkar) | 医者が必要です (Isha ga hitsuyō desu) | Ich brauche einen Arzt | Ina bukatar likita | Nahitaji daktari |
| I am allergic to [Substance] | 我对[物质]过敏 (Wǒ duì [wùzhí] guòmǐn) | Soy alérgico/a a [Sustancia] | मुझे [चीज़] से एलर्जी है (Mujhe [cheez] se allergy hai) | لدي حساسية من [المادة] (Ladaiya hassasiya min [al-mada]) | Sou alérgico/a a [Substância] | আমার [জিনিস] এ অ্যালার্জি আছে (Amar [jinish] e allergy ache) | [物質]アレルギーがあります ([Busshitsu] arerugī ga arimasu) | Ich bin allergisch gegen [Stoff] | Ina da rashin lafiyan [Abubuwa] | Nina mzio wa [Kitu] |
| Where is the hospital? | 医院在哪里? (Yīyuàn zài nǎlǐ?) | ¿Dónde está el hospital? | अस्पताल कहाँ है? (Aspatal kahan hai?) | أين المستشفى؟ (Ayna al-mustashfa?) | Onde fica o hospital? | হাসপাতাল কোথায়? (Hospital kothay?) | 病院はどこですか (Byōin wa doko desuka?) | Wo ist das Krankenhaus? | Ina asibiti yake? | Hospitali iko wapi? |
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.