Difference between revisions 38209 and 38213 on enwiki

When you are in a country whose language you do not understand it is possible to get along with a surprisingly short list of phrases, combined with pointing, miming, and writing down numbers on paper.  Here is such a list.

Please add more languages to the list. Please use the minimum number of words that would be understandable and put the pronunciation in slashes as shown (separate syllables with dashes and use English words that sound like the syllables if possible, the stressed syllable in ALL CAPS).

The [[language families and languages|language family]] of every language is listed in parentheses.

See also 
http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/language.htm

=== [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ([[semitic languages|Semitic]]) ===

''If you speak Arabic, you can edit this page right now!''

=== [[Euskara|Basque]] ===
*Basque: ''Euskara''
*hello: ''kaixo''
*good-bye: ''agur''
*please: ''mesedez''
*thank you: ''Eskerrik asko''
*that one: ''hori''
*how much?: ''zenbat''
*English: ''ingelesa''
*yes: ''bai''
*no: ''ez''
*generic toast: 

=== [[Mandarin|Chinese, Mandarin]] ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]) ===
''Note: tone 1 is high and level; 2 is rising; 3 is dipping; 4 is falling. The capitalization of the pseudo-phonetic transcription attempts to represent the tones.''
*Mandarin Chines: ''pu3-tong1-hua4'' /PoO-TONGUE-HWa/
*hello: ''ni3-hao3'' /KNeE-HoW/
*good-bye: ''zai4-jian4'' /T'SIgh-JEn/
*please: //
*thank you: ''xie4-xie4'' /SHyeah-SHyeah/
*that one: //
*how much?: //
*English: ''ying1-wen2'' /EEN-wAN/
*yes: ''shi4'' /SUre/<sup>4</sup>
*no: ''bu4-shi4'' /BOo-SUre/<sup>5</sup>
*generic toast: //

=== [[Czech language|Czech]] ([[Slavic languages|Slavic]]) ===
*Czech: ''&#268;esky'' /CHEHskee/
*hello: ''dobry' den'' /DObree den/
*good-bye: ''na shledanou'' /nas KHLEdanow/
*please: ''pros&iacute;m'' /PROseem/
*thank you: ''d&#283;kuji vam'' /DYEkooyi vam/
*that one: '''' //
*how much?: '''' //
*English: '''' //
*yes: ''ano'' /Ano/
*no: ''ne'' /ne/
*generic toast: '''' //

=== [[Danish language|Danish]] ([[Germanic languages|Germanic]]) ===
*Danish: ''dansk'' /dansk/
*hello: ''hej'' /hi/
*good-bye: ''farvel'' /fah-vel/
*please: <sup>1</sup>
*thank you: ''tak'' /tack/
*that one: ''denne'' /DEN-nuh/
*how much?: ''hvor meget'' /vo MY-it/
*English: ''engelsk'' /ENG-uhlsk/
*yes: ''ja'' /ya/
*no: ''nej'' /nigh/
*generic toast: ''sk&aring;l'' /skal/

=== [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ([[Germanic languages|Germanic]]) ===
*Dutch: ''Nederlands'' /nay-dar-laendhs/
*hello: ''hallo'' /ha-loh/
*good-bye: ''tot ziens'' /toth-zeens/
*please: ''alstublieft'' /aelst-ue-bleeft/
*thank you: ''dankjewel'' /daenck-jae-well/
*that one: ''die'' /dee/
*how much?: ''hoeveel'' /hoe-veel/
*English: ''engels'' /engh-els/
*yes: ''ja'' /ya/
*no: ''nee'' /neh/
*generic toast: ''proost'' /prohw-st/

=== [[Esperanto]] ([[constructed language|planned]], based on European languages) ===
*Esperanto: ''Esperanto'' /ess-pair-AHN-toh/
*hello: ''saluton'' /sah-LOO-tohn/
*good-bye: ''&#285;is'' /jees/
*please: ''bonvolu'' /bohn-VOH-loo/
*thank you: ''dankon'' /DAHN-kohn/
*that one: ''tiu'' /TEE-oo/
*how much?: ''kiom'' /KEE-ohm/
*English: ''la angla'' /lah AHN-glah/
*yes: ''jes'' /yes/
*no: ''ne'' /neh/
*generic toast: ''je via sano'' /yeh VEE-ah SAH-noh/

=== [[Finnish language|Finnish]] ([[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]]) ===
*Finnish: ''suomi'' /suo-meh/
*hello: ''päivää'' /pay-vaa/
*good-bye: ''näkemiin'' /NA-keh-MEEN/
*please: &nbsp;<sup>1</sup>
*thank you: ''kiitos'' /kee-tos/
*that one: ''tuo'' /to-oh/
*how much?: ''kuinka paljon'' /kuyn-kah pal-yon/
*English: ''englanti'' /ANG-lan-TEH/
*yes: ''kyllä'' /kul-lah/
*no: ''ei'' /ey/
*generic toast: ''kippis'' /kepp-is/

=== [[French language|French]] ([[Romance languages|Romance]]) ===
*French: ''fran&ccedil;ais'' /frawn-say/
*hello: ''bonjour'' /bohn-jure/
*good-bye: ''au revoir'' /o-reh-vwa/
*please: ''s'il vous plaît'' /seal vuh play/
*thank you: ''merci'' /mair-see/
*that one: ''cela'' /seh-lah/
*how much?: ''combien'' /kom-bee-en/
*English: ''Anglais'' /ahng-glay/
*yes: ''oui'' /wee/
*no: ''non'' /nuh/
*generic toast: ''sant&eacute;'' /sahn-TAY/

=== [[German language|German]] ([[Germanic languages|Germanic]]) ===
*German: ''Deutsch'' /doych/
*hello: ''hallo'' /hul-low/
*good-bye: ''auf Wiedersehen'' /owf VEE-der-zay-en/
*please: ''bitte'' /bit-eh/
*thank you: ''danke'' /dunk-eh/
*that one: ''das'' /duss/
*how much?: ''wieviel'' /vee-feel/
*English: ''Englisch'' /ANG-lish/
*yes: ''ja'' /yah/
*no: ''nein'' /nine/
*generic toast: ''prosit'' /prosit/

=== [[Greek language|Greek]]  ===

''If you speak Greek, you can edit this page right now!''

=== [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ([[semitic languages|Semitic]]) ===
*Hebrew: ''ivrit''
*hello: ''shalom''
*good-bye: ''lehitraot''
*please: ''bevakasha''
*thank you: ''toda''
*that one: ''et ze''
*how much? ''kama''
*English: ''anglit''
*yes: ''ken''
*no: ''lo''
*generic toast: ''le-chaim''

=== [[Hindi language|Hindi]] ([[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]) ===
*Hindi: '''' //
*hello: ''namaste'''
*good-bye: ''pirmelenge''
*please: ''merker-bani seh''
*thank you: ''shukriya''
*that one: ''''
*how much?: ''''
*English: ''''
*yes: ''haji''
*no: ''ji nahi''
*generic toast: ''''

=== [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] ([[Germanic languages|Germanic]]) ===
*Icelandic: ''íslenska'' /EES-len-ska/
*hello: ''gó&eth;an dag' '/GOH-than dahg/
*good-bye: ''bless''
*please: ''gjör&eth;u svo vel'' /GYUHR-thuh so vel/
*thank you: ''takk fyrir'' /tahk FEER-eer/
*that one: ''&thorn;etta'' /thetta/
*how much?: ''hversu'' /KVAIR-suh/
*English: ''enska''
*yes: ''ja''' /yow/
*no: ''nei'' /nay/
*generic toast: &nbsp;

=== [[Ido language|Ido]] ([[constructed languages|planned]], reformed version of Esperanto) ===
*Ido: ''Ido''
*hello: ''bona jorno''
*good-bye: ''adio''
*please: ''bonvole''
*thank you: ''danko''
*that one: ''co''
*how much: ''quanta''
*English: ''angla''
*yes: ''yes''
*no: ''no''
*generic toast: &nbsp;

=== [[Bahasa Indonesia|Indonesian]] ([[Malayo-Polynesian]]) ===
*Indonesian: ''bahasa Indonesia''
*hello: ''selamat pagi'' <sup>8</sup>
*good-bye: ''selamat tinggal'' (leaving) / ''selamat jalan'' (staying)<sup>9</sup>
*please: ''tolong''
*thank you: ''terima kasih''
*that one: ''itu'' 
*how much? ''berapa'' 
*English: ''bahasa Inggris'' 
*yes: ''ya'' 
*no: ''tidak''
*generic toast: 

=== [[Irish language|Irish]] ([[Celtic languages|Celtic]]) ===
*Irish: ''Gaeilge'' /GAY-lih-geh/
*hello: ''fáilte'' /FALL-cha/
*good-bye: ''slán'' /slawn/
*please: ''le do thoil'' /leh duh hill/
*thank you: ''go raibh maith agat'' /guh rev MAH a-gut/
*that one: ''sin'' /shin/
*how much?: ''ce' mhead'' /kay-vade/
*English: ''B&eacute;arla'' /BARE-lah/
*yes: <sup>4</sup>'''sea'' /shah/
*no: <sup>5</sup>''ni' ha'' /knee-ha/
*generic toast: ''slainte'' /SLAWN-tye/

=== [[Italian language|Italian]] ([[Romance languages|Romance]]) ===
*Italian: ''italiano'' /ee-tah-lee-AN-oh/
*hello: ''ciao'' /chow/
*good-bye: ''arrivederci'' /a-ree-veh-DARE-chi/
*please: ''per favore'' /per fa-VOAR-ay/
*thank you: ''grazie'' /GRAT-zee-eh/
*that one: ''quello'' /KWEL-low/
*how much? ''quanto'' /KWAN-tow/
*English: ''inglese'' /in-GLAY-say/
*yes: ''s&igrave;'' /see/
*no: ''no'' /no/
*generic toast: ''salute'' /sall-OO-teh/

=== [[Japanese language|Japanese]] ===
*Japanese: &#26085;&#26412;&#35486; (''nihongo)<br>'') /niee-hon-go/''
*hello: ''konnichiwa'' /kohn-nee-chee-wa/ (hello on telephone: ''moshi-moshi'')
*good-bye: ''sayonara'' /sigh oh na ra/
*please: ''kudasai'' /ku-da-sigh/
*thank you: ''arigat&#333;'' /ah-ri-ga-to-oh/
*that one: ''sore'' /so ray/
*how much? ''ikura'' /i-ku-ra/
*English: ''eigo'' /ay-go/
*yes: ''hai'' /high/
*no: ''iie'' /ee-ay/
*generic toast: ''kanpai'' /kam-pie/

=== [[Korean language|Korean]] ===

''If you speak Korean, you can edit this page right now!''

=== [[Lojban]] (''a priori'' [[constructed language|planned language]]) ===
*Lojban: ''la lojban'' /lah LOZH-bahn/
*hello: ''coi'' /shoy/
*good-bye: ''co'o'' /SHO-ho/
*please: ''pe'u'' /PEH-hoo/
*thank you: ''ki'e'' /KEE-heh/
*that one: ''ta'' /tah/
*how much?: ''la'u ma'' /LAH-hoo mah/
*English: ''le glibau'' /leh GLEE-bow/
*yes: ''.i go'i'' /ee GO-hee/
*no: ''.i na go'i'' /ee nah GO-hee/ 
*generic toast: &nbsp;

=== [[Nigerian pidgin]] (English-based [[pidgin]]) ===
*Nigerian pidgin: &nbsp;
*hello: ''[[brown|How]] [[cow|now]]''
*good-bye: ''A go dey see yu now''
*please: ''A beg''
*thank you: ''Thank yu''
*that one: &nbsp;
*how much?: &nbsp;
*English: ''Oyinbo''
*yes: ''Yes''
*no: ''No''
*generic toast: &nbsp;

=== [[Polish language|Polish]] ([[Slavic languages|Slavic]]) ===
*Polish: ''Polski'' /pol-skih/
*hello: ''dzie&#324; dobry'' /jien dohb-rih/
*good-bye: ''do widzenia'' /doh vidzenya/
*please: ''prosz&#281;'' /proh-sheh/
*thank you: ''dzi&#281;kuje'' /jien-koo-ye/ (almost a [[false cognate]])
*that one: ''ten'' /ten/<sup>2</sup>
*how much?: ''ile'' /ih-leh/
*English: ''angielski'' /un-ghiel-skih/
*yes: ''tak'' /tuhk/
*no: ''nie'' /nye/
*generic toast: ''na zdrowie'' /nah zdrovyie/

=== [[Russian language|Russian]] ([[Slavic languages|Slavic]]) ===
*Russian: /russkiy/
*hello: /zdrastvuyte/
*good-bye: /do svidanja/
*please: /pazhalsta/
*thank you: /spahseebah/
*that one: /ehto/
*how much?: /skolko/
*English: /ahngleeyskee/
*yes: /da/
*no: /nyet/
*generic toast: ''za zdorovyeh''

=== [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit ]] ([[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]) ===
*Sanskrit: '''' // 
*hello: ''namo namah'' // 
*good-bye: '''' // 
*please: '''' // 
*thank you: ''anugurihiitosumi'' // 
*that one: '''' // 
*how much?: '''' // 
*English: '''' // 
*yes: ''ava'' // 
*no: '''' // 
*generic toast: '''' //

=== [[Sardinian language|Sardinian]] ([[Romance languages|Romance]]) ===
*Sardinian: ''sardu'' /sar-doo/
*hello: ''adiosu'' /ah-dhyohsoo/  ''Note: This is a [[false friend]] for Spanish speakers.''
*good-bye: ''a nos bidere'' /a-nohss-BI-dere/
*please: ''pro favore'' /pro fahv-OAR-ay/
*thank you: ''grassias'' /GRAHSS-yahss/
*that one: ''cussu'' /KU-hssoo/
*how much?: ''cantu'' /KAHN-too/
*English: ''Ingresu'' /in-GRAY-soo/
*yes: ''eia'' /eya/
*no: ''no'' /no/
*generic toast: ''salude'' /saw-LOODHE/

=== [[Slovene language|Slovene]] ([[Slavic languages|Slavic]]) ===
*Slovene: ''slovensko'' /slo-ven-sko/
*hello: ''zdravo'' /zdra-vo/ (z like in zebra)
*good-bye: ''na svidenje'' /na swee-den-ye/
*please: ''prosim'' /pro-sim/ (pro- => prospect, -sim => simulation)
*thank you: ''hvala'' /hva-la/ 
*that one: ''tisti''  /ti-s-ti/ (ti-, -ti => Tibet)
*how much?: ''koliko?'' /co-lee-co/ (co-, -co => cup)
*English: ''angle&#353;ko'' /a-ngle-sh-co/
*yes: ''da'' /da/
*no: ''ne'' /ne/
*generic toast: ''na zdravje'' /na z-dra-ou-ye/

=== [[Spanish language|Spanish]] ([[Romance languages|Romance]]) ===
*Spanish: ''espa&ntilde;ol'' /ess-pahn-YOHL/
*hello: ''hola'' /OH-la/
*good-bye: ''adio's'' /ah-THYOHS/
*please: ''por favor'' /pour fah-VOAR/
*thank you: ''gracias'' /GRAHSS-yahss/
*that one: ''e'se'' /ESS-say/<sup>3</sup>
*how much?: ''cu&aacute;nto'' /KWAHN-toe/
*English: ''ingl&eacute;s'' /ing-GLESS/
*yes: ''s&iacute;'' /see/
*no: ''no'' /no/
*generic toast: ''salud'' /sah-LOOTHE/

=== [[Swahili language|Swahili]] ([[Bantu]]) ===
*Swahili: ''Kiswahili'' /kee-swa-HEE-lee/
*hello: <sup>7</sup>
*good-bye: ''kwa heri'' /kwa HAY-ree/
*please: ''tafadhali'' /tah-fah-DAH-lee/
*thank you: ''asante'' /ah-SAHN-tay/
*that one: ''yule'' /YOO-lay/
*how much?: ''ngapi'' /ng-GAH-pee/
*English: ''Kingereza'' /king-ger-RAY-zah/
*yes: ''ndiyo'' /nn-DEE-yoh/
*no: ''siyo'' /SEE-yoh/
*generic toast: //

=== [[Swedish language|Swedish]] ([[Germanic languages|Germanic]]) ===
*Swedish: ''svenska''
*hello: ''hej'' /hey/
*good-bye: ''hejda*'' /hey-doh/
*please: ''tack'' /tahck/
*thank you: ''tack'' /tahck/
*that one: ''den där'' /den dehr/
*how much?: ''hur mycket'' /huwr muwk-eh/
*English: ''engelska'' /engh-el-skah/
*yes: ''ja'' /ya/
*no: ''nej'' /neigh/
*generic toast: ''sk&aring;l'' /skol/

=== [[Tok Pisin language|Tok Pisin]] (Neo-Melanesian English creole) ===
*Tok Pisin: ''Tok Pisin''
*hello: ''gut de''
*good-bye: ''gut bai''
*please: ''plis''
*thank you: ''tenkyu''
*that one: ''em''
*how much?: ''haumas''
*English: ''Inglis''
*yes: ''yes''
*no: ''nogat''
*generic toast: 

=== [[Toki Pona language|Toki Pona]] ([[constructed language|planned]] [[pidgin]] based on sources from around the world) ===

''If you speak Toki Pona, you can edit this page right now!''

=== [[Welsh language|Welsh]] ([[Celtic languages|Celtic]]) ===
*Welsh: ''Cymraeg'' /kum-REYEG/
*hello: ''s'mae?'' /smy/
*good-bye: ''hwyl'' /HOO-il/
*please: ''os gwelwch yn dda'' /oss GOOEL-ook 'n tha/
*thank you: ''diolch'' /DEE-olk/
*that one: ''honno'' /HON-no/<sup>6</sup>
*how much?: ''faint?'' /vie-nt/
*English: ''Saesneg'' /SAUS-neg/
*yes: <sup>4</sup>''ie'' /ee-yay/
*no: <sup>5</sup>''na'' /na/
*generic toast: ''iechyd da'' /YEKid dar/

----
<div style="font-size:80%">

<sup>1</sup>No word directly corresponds to the word please.  The concept of politeness in a request is express in various ways.

<sup>2</sup>''ten'' /ten/, ''ta'' /tuh/, ''to'' /toh/ [depends on word gender]

<sup>3</sup>or ''&eacute;sa'' /ay-sah/ [for a feminine object]

<sup>4</sup>This actually means "it is" and can only be used in an answer to a question with the verb "to be".  Languages like Irish, Welsh, and Chinese do not have words for "yes" or "no".  Instead you repeat the main verb of the question in your answer.

<sup>5</sup>This actually means "it is not".  See note 4 above.

<sup>6</sup> this is the feminine form. The Masculine form is 'hwnnw' HOO-noo.

<sup>7</sup> Greetings in Swahili are an incredibly complex affair and are a crucial aspect of Swahili culture; it is not uncommon for a conversation to last five minutes before it actually moves beyond saying "Hello". There is no generic word for "Hello" in the language, rather there are numerous options depending on the relative ages and/or race of the people involved, as well as singular and plural forms. A non-comprehensive list would include "hujambo" (reply "sijambo") for two people of similar age and race, "jambo" (reply "jambo") for between white and black people, "Shikamoo" (reply "Marahaba") for a young person to an elderly person, "Hodi" (reply "Karibu") when in the doorway of a house. There are additionally numerous informal greetings such as "Mambo", "Safi", and many more. Curiously, farewells are abrupt or even non-existent.

<sup>8</sup> This is ''good morning''; ''selamat siang'' is used around midday and in the early afternoon, ''selamat sore'' in the late afternoon, ''selamat malam'' after dark.

<sup>9</sup> The person leaving uses the first phrase; the person staying uses the second.

</div>

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[[talk:Common_phrases_in_different_languages|Talk]] | [[talk:Common_phrases_in_different_languages/table|Format Talk]]