Important Phrases

TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELLING TO

Contents 1. Italian

5

Italian Phrases to Know Before Travelling

2. German

6

German Phrases to Know Before Travelling

3. Greek

9

Greek Phrases to Know Before Travelling

4. Spanish 10 Spanish Phrases to Know Before Travelling

Italian

Italian Bound for the home of the Renaissance, the languid canals of Venice and the historical treasures of Rome? Try these phrases to interact with the friendly, enthusiastic locals.

English to Italian Translations HELLO Ciao

I’M SORRY

GOOD MORNING Buon Giorno

YES/NO Si/No

PLEASE Per favore

HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST? Quanto costa questo?

THANK YOU Grazie

WHERE IS THE SUBWAY/BATHROOM? Dov’è la metropolitana/la toilette?

YOU’RE WELCOME Prego

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Come si chiama?

Mi dispiace

(While this phrase literally translates to “you’re welcome,” it also has other meanings as well like “I beg you” or

CAN YOU HELP ME? Mi può aiutare?

“please, order” in a restaurant setting. I was confused during my first trip to Italy because I thought everyone was walking around

I DON’T SPEAK ITALIAN Non parlo italiano.

talking about pasta sauce all the time.)

EXCUSE ME Mi scusi

DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? Parli inglese?

5

German So you’ve decided it’s time for beautiful Bavarian castles, a pint of fresh Paulaner or a trip to the equally trendy and historic capital city of Berlin? Here are the same

English to German Translations Helpful tip: The Eszett (ß) is pronounced as an s+z sound

HELLO Hallo

I’M SORRY Es tut mir leid

GOOD DAY Gutten tag

YES/NO Ja/Nein

THANK YOU Danke

HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST? Wieviel kostet das?

YOU’RE WELCOME Bitte

WHERE IS THE SUBWAY? Wo ist die U-Bahn (or S-Bahn for above ground rapid transit)?

(As with Italian, the German word for thank you has many meanings. It can also mean please or pardon, depending on the context).

EXCUSE ME (PLEASE) Entschuldigen Sie (bitte)

WHERE IS THE BATHROOM? Wo ist die Toilette? WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Wie heißen Sie? CAN YOU HELP ME? Können Sie mir helfen?

6

DO YOU SPEAK GERMAN? Sprichst du Deutsch? (informal) Sprechen Sie Deutsch? (formal) DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? Sprichst du Englisch? (informal) Sprechen Sie Englisch? (formal)

CAN I HAVE A BEER PLEASE? Kann ich bitte ein Bier haben CHEERS Prost

German

phrases (plus a few beer-related ones, of course).

Greek

Greek So you’ve decided to tackle the cultural giant of Athens, or kick back on the Greek Islands for some killer seafood and sunsets (lucky you). Here are some phrases to help get you where you’re going, or just throw around for good will (substituted from Greek alphabet for pronunciation).

English to Greek Translations HELLO Yassoo (informal) Yassas (formal)

HOW MUCH IS THIS? Posso kanay afto?

GOOD MORNING Kalimera

WHERE IS THE SUBWAY/BATHROOM? Poo eenay to metró/to bánio?

THANK YOU Efharisto/Efharistoomay

HOW ARE YOU? Ti-kanis

(we thank you)

YOU’RE WELCOME Parakalo EXCUSE ME

SORRY I DON’T SPEAK GREEK Signomi, then milow ellenica YOU’RE WELCOME Parakalo

Me synchoreíte SORRY Sygnomi YES/NO Nah/Ochi

DO YOU SPEAK GREEK? Milatay Elliniká? DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? Milatay Ag-glika?

9

Spanish If it’s off to the legendary architecture, nightlife, siestas and paella of Spain,

English to Spanish Translations HELLO Hola

HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST? ¿Cuánto cuesta esto?

GOOD DAY Buenos días

WHERE IS THE SUBWAY/BATHROOM? ¿Dónde está el metro/el baño?

PLEASE Por favor

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? ¿Cómo te llamas? (informal) ¿Cómo se llama Usted? (formal)

THANK YOU Gracias YOU’RE WELCOME De nada EXCUSE ME Disculpe

CAN YOU HELP ME? ¿Me puedes ayudar?

(In Spanish there are many ways to say excuse me that vary in meaning.)

I DON’T SPEAK SPANISH Yo no hablo español

I’M SORRY Lo siento

DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? ¿Habla inglés?

YES/NO Sí/No

10

HOW ARE YOU? ¿Cómo estás? (informal) ¿Cómo está usted? (formal)

Spanish

here are some phrases to get you through the afternoon naps and late nights.