I always also learn "Do you speak English?", since it's more polite to ask in their language than to just ask it in English and hope for the best. And, as a Canadian, I also have to learn how to say "sorry", otherwise I will be unable to function within their country.
Absolutely agree. I know from personal experience that knowing just small words and phrases in the native language makes your travel much nicer. Encountered a group of fellow US travelers who were just leaving Italy (Rome specifically) as my group was just starting. The other group mentioned that everyone was "rude" and that they couldn't wait to get back to the US. Upon talking with them some more, we found out that they did not even attempt to try to speak Italian (Please, Thank You, etc.) and that they were thus not welcomed in a friendly manner. The organizer of my trip made sure to let us know that most places we would be going someone would be an English speaker, but we should bnot assume so, and that we should get a phrase book (shows you how long ago this was, not cell phones with translation apps) so we could try to communicate in their language. We all were prepared to try to use Italian, even if it was just the very simple niceties, and we all had a great time and never felt that people were "rude". I remember at one restaurant that the server's face just light up in a huge smile when I said thank you in Italian, and she then tried to talk to me in Italian. I had to politely let her know I only knew about 5 things, but even so she was so happy that I even made that little effort. I could really see that my little effort to use her language meant a great deal to her and brought a bit of joy to her that day.
Be able to point at something and say "how much?" I was a in group of High School students in Austria years ago. Those of us who even had one year of high school german taught everyone to say "where is... ", "how much?", "where's the bathroom", and that pommes frites meant french fries. 😅
"Excuse me" or "pardon me," very helpful. Also, "Sorry, I don't speak (language)." "Check, please." "Good bye!" "I would like..." (point to it). And be able to read "exit" signs and "men/women" on bathroom doors.
Great advice. Above all it shows a willingness to connect; if the person doesn't even try and goes full on with English for all these words, the impression it leaves is that they think they're good to use your language. Imagine someone from another country who says "thank you" after you help them in their OWN language instead of yours even though they're in your city. Not pleasant, right? At minimum, no matter how hard the language is, learning "Thank you" is a must.
I learned the "bonjour" the hard way and looked it up after upsetting someone in a restaurant. when you walk into a store or place of business, you treat it like their home. you don't just walk into someone's home without saying hello. after that I said bonjour every time and it was fun. I kind of missed it when walking into a store in the US. I may have actually said "bonjour" by mistake :) Good stuff!
For sure! I love smaller towns with small shops in the US where this is still a great practice.
Месяц назад+6
As an english speaker (actually portuguese) I had some funny moments when visiting Montreal saying "Bonjour" when entering places and then receiving all the responses in french - which I actually don't speak. Took sometime until I realize that saying "Good morning", "Hello" or just "Hi" was the "protocol" to set the conversation in english. :)
I was in Belgium last year, based in Brussels and managed to get myself around with my rusty school girl French which was great fun. Went to Bruges and tried to ask for a ticket in Flemish and the gentleman was about on the ground laughing and gave me a discount for my effort.
As I was stumbling down a stairwell in the Termini train station in Rome, puking from food poisoning, the janitorial ladies were yelling at me in Italian and I couldn't remember how to say "I'm sorry!" in Italian -- but I did remember the phrase "Mi scusi!" which is more like "Excuse me!" or "Pardon me!" as if I needed to move past someone... so I just kept repeating that to them through my tears as I sobbed and puked my way to the bathroom. Once in there I sat on the floor sniffling and looking through my Italian phrasebook to find that I should've been saying "Mi dispiace!" instead. That was 20 years ago and I still remember like it was yesterday.
If you want to use the formal words, "ciao" is as informal as it gets. When in Italy, greet people with "Buongiorno" (or "Buonasera" in the evening) and the same or "arrivederci" when you leave. Save "ciao" for your friends. It really grates and is a clear sign of someone not having bothered to learn the basics.
I live in Italy. This is the second video he's made where he recommends the use of the word ciao for hello and goodbye. The word ciao is informal and should only be used with people you are familiar with.
@wyverstone7657 Arrivaderci is usually the best. If you are leaving during the day ,buon giorno, buona sera at night. There are others, depending on the situation.
My husband had been an anthropologist in the Amazon for many years, and when he took me to visit the Indians he had worked with he taught me how to say "Very nice" in their language so that I could make a polite comment if someone gave me food or showed me their child, etc.
Complimenting a child is always dicey, as there are a number of countries where it's considered bad luck to do so. Always try learn some rudimentary customs before expressing any opinions abroad. Things which seem polite or natural to us might be viewed as distasteful where one is visitng.
If you're calling for help in Spain, it's "Socorro!", not "ayuda". The first means "I need help!" in the sense of emergency, while the second is help in the sense of "can you help me do this"? Important difference.
When I was little I went with my parents to stay with my aunty, uncle and cousins who were stationed in Germany for a fortnight. The only words/sentences that I can remember from that trip is how to order one of the brands of ice cream and to thank them. Over 34 years later and I could still order a bon bon ice cream and say thanks if I was ever in Germany again
Being familiar with the term apothecary form this is also very useful. I remember the German word being similar (apothetake?) and in Russian it is apteka.
In countries with a lot of street vendors, leaning “no thank you” is especially helpful - we had to say “hapana asante” a LOT in Tanzania. I’d also say to just pay attention to how locals say things. In Argentina, we found that while hiking, people greeted us with “buen Dia” rather than the “buenos dios” we had learned, and quickly changed over. Finally, even if you aren’t going to be able to learn much of the language, learning how to pronounce things can really help. Eyjafjallajökull is a mouthful, but if you want to ask which volcano you’re looking at, it helps to know.
DANKE ❤ !! You are really doing a great Job 😅, recommending, explaining + picking out exactly these words ❤ !!! I'm sure, where ever you're going, you are always HERZLICH WILLKOMMEN 😊❤ I am from Austria, 80 years old
I was in Austria two years ago and also thirty years ago. Thirty years ago nearly everyone says: "Grüß Gott". Two years ago nearly everyone says "Hallo."
This is super valuable. Remember that in other cultures certain words and phrases are an active part of constructive interaction, more so than in many western countries. Even the basic words in Japanese are not hard to learn and to remember and learning something about their use will enhance your trip. Applies to any destination as you are joining an established culture that is all around you.
But sometimes, it doesn't work. When I was in Japan, I asked a passing-by lady for the next train station in Japanese (eki wa doko desu-ka?), and all she had to do was point in the right direction, but she said: Sorry, I don't speak English.
I am Brazilian and I speeak Portuguese. "Ajuda" means "help", but I would be confused if someone put the hand in the chest, look at me and say only "Ajuda!". This word is more like "aid". If you are having a heart attack, or see fire, the way you grab the attention of others to show this kind of urgency is "Socorro!"
@ I don’t understand… Why are you even watching this video if you don’t understand why you would want to learn foreign words? This person was saying that if you want to use the right word for help in Portuguese, you should use a different word because the previously mentioned word doesn’t convey the proper intention.
@@MurderMostFowl I asked questions! I did not say anything. If you learn it and you don't need it in 5 years, you just will forget it. And I'm optimistic, crying " help" in what country ever, will be understood. They all watch Hollywood movies.
@@holger_p. Keep in mind that when a foreigner is watching a Hollywood movie, the English dialogue is often replaced with the language of the local country. This means they will not hear the word help, but their equivalent word. So you saying help, is not helpful. 😊
Last time in Vienna, I ran into an American woman who was born in Austria and had relatives there. She told me that today, everyone in Austria speaks English. No one wants to speak German anymore. I had to laugh.
@@daphnelovesLYes, you say that in Bavaria too, but not to everyone. It's a bit colloquial, so I wouldn't say it to people in the authorities, police officers etc. They might take it as if you don't take them seriously.
You are absolutely right, to know some local words do help a lot when traveling in a foreign country. But there are a couple of mistakes concerning Italian and one regarding German. "Ciao" in Italian is informal and used only among friends. If you don't know the person you're greeting, you have to use "Buon giorno" (hello) and "Arrivederci" (bye), like in French. The same in German, "hallo" is informal, much better to use "Guten Tag" meeting a stranger. On the contrary, "Tschuess" is fine for both formal and informal use.
Grazie (Italian) and Obrigado/Obrigada (Portuguese) will get you a lot of places in Italy and Portugal respectively! The locals in both places love it! As far as “toilette” is concerned, if you say “WC” in Portugal, that’s O.K.
@@michaelashley2855 true- I can speak a little German, enough to get a train ticket, a beer, food or a hotel room. I was in Zurich years ago and I found the German they spoke there was totally unlike Germany.
Grüß (Gruess) Gott. "Gruss" isn't pronounced the same, as German has consistency between spelling and pronunciation that English does not. In Bavarian it's usually spelled "Griaß." That may depend on the region, and Austro-bayerische has 3 main subdialects.
I've learned not to be too much of a show off with languages I'm not overly proficient with, because one wrong pronunciation can get you in a lot of trouble. I once said something incorrectly that translated to, "Behold, I am a terrorist." Luckily, it got a big laugh from the waiter who was increasingly amused at how poorly I was speaking his language. But, because of that, we're now great friends.
A Japanese language teacher told of one of her students, traveling in Japan, who had learned that beginning words with "o" made them more polite ("ocha" tea, tsuma is wife but otsuma is your wife), and asked if a bus went to "onara". "Nara" is a city alirght, but "onara" is something like "fart". Everyone on the bus laughed, but the driver knew what he meant and waved him onboard.
I completely agree! I have a much better experience in Europe when I use even my poorly pronounced French, German, Spanish, or Italian. I am making an effort and many of the locals appreciate the effort and that translates to their being more helpful and pleasant towards me.
Another very informative and practical travel video. Thanks very much for posting. Can you comment on the availability of real time translation apps for smartphones and if relying on them obviates the need to learn these essential words and expressions covered in your video? I don't know anything (no surprise there) but I have heard that in some cultures, like in Finland for example, people aren't as chatty and open (initially) to strangers and tourists. I have heard that walking into a shop and saying "Hyvää päivää" doesn't always go over too well with the locals. Can you provide tips for situations like these, please? Kiitoksia paljon!!
I would add to never ask negative questions. "Doesn't this train go to .....?" In Japanese, and probably some other languages / cultures, the answer will be to what you literally asked -- "Yes [this train doesn't go to ...]" or "No [this train does go to ...]" In the worst case, you will know that answers are literal and reverse their answer, while they will know you are a tourist and reverse their answer. There was a novelty song 100 years ago, "Yes, we have no bananas". Remember that, and don't ask negative questions.
In Japanese, a negative question like that carries the nuance of a suggestion, so it sounds like you are asking, "Hey, how about we take this train to ...?" If you want to ask that kind of question, you would want to phrase it more like, "Is it the case that this train does stop at ...?" (この電車は...に停まらないんですか？) The ん in that sentence adds a whole new layer of meaning, indicating that you are trying to verify whether that is the case or not.
@@Jesse13927 Thanks. My Japanese never got past 3rd pr 4th grade reading and writing, and good enough for slow conversations as a tourist. I might have picked up on some of that without knowing it, but mostly I learned to just not ask negative questions, even speaking English with Japanese people.
Funny coincidence, 2 days ago I sent an email to a coworker that just had that bananas passage to indicate that I had no work to hand off for his team.
I don't know that I would say that's accurate of German, particularly if you were trying to make sure the train wasn't the wrong one. The answer to "Geht dieser Zug *nicht* zur Hauptbahnhof?" (Does this train NOT go to the central/main rail station?) to the contrary would be "Doch, es geht zur Hbf." Doch is approximately "actually yes/to the contrary." (Actually yes, it does go to the main station!) and if it doesn't, a simple "Nein, es geht NICHT..." will come in reply. There isn't much ambiguity in German.
Absolutely true!! I speak fluent Spanish but had no occasion to use it when I visited Europe. I had only taken night school classes in French, Italian and Greek, and those three worked magic for me during my marvelous two months jogging around Europe. People really appreciate your efforts to speak their language.
Great Video! I learned what I call "Transactional Vocabulary" - when I started going to Brazil at 10 years old. I had to take the JUMBO CAT AEROBARCA RIO-NITERÓI which was a James Bond type very fast boat soaring above the water, that got me from Niteroi to Rio in 7 minutes, then take the bus to Copacabana Beach. The only words I needed were the ones to do something. (I was a master at using body language to suggest I needed to go to the bathroom). Also do not underestimate the value of knowing the local currency. If you do not there are numerous kids who will count your money for you, often taking as much of it from you as they can get away with. 😉
If you make the hand gesture as if you are signing a check, that also works. A more detailed description: hold your non-dominant hand palm up with your fingers together to make a flat surface, and then with your dominant hand, pretend to sign your signature in big letters.
In countries with a lot of touts, you can often get them to leave you alone by saying "not interested" or "leave me alone" in the local language. In Chinese, it's 不要 ("buyao" but with tones).
Ensure you & your children know the universal military alphabet (alpha, bravo, etc.) so police/military understand your name & location in an emergency anywhere on earth.👍
It’s said in German it sounds like a train on a track when people talk, Bitte schön, danke schön, bitte schön…. Groß Gott is also used in Bavaria. I like the shot of the donkey wallopers (1st the Life Guards).
Always know how to say, “I’d like an English speaking doctor, please.” Better yet, carry a 3” x 5” index card with that phrase written down on it. Happy Travels!
I heard the advice to know how to say, "I would like ____" in the language where you travel. In France, say, "Bon jour. Je voudrais une croissant." You just ordered a croissant in French! "Merci! Au revoir!" Done! How much (cost) is "Combien?" Then just show them your cash and let them take the correct amount. 😂
And then they ask you a thousand question, "which one" and you don't understand anything. I consider this try useless. You can read the numbers on the cash, or on the shelf, to find out the price. Why would you ask for the price, if you just present your money, and you would not understand numbers anyway ? Does not make any sense. Today, you present your cellphone to the card reader anyway.
There are anthropological studies that show that moving the head to the side to say no and up and down to say yes is a universal gesture with the only exception in some small tribes that give it the opposite meaning.
You should always memorize this one: "The prancing jester had several alpacas in his back pocket" That should shut anyone approaching you up. Oh yea, if anyone comes to talk to you, it's a scam.
I learn that if you say I’m afraid whenever you’re aren’t sure of some people ( like taxi driver who when to show you his family) they could explain more, ore just back off if they got ill intent
I speak English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, some Greek, Romanian and Serbocroatian fluently..... I tried learning Japanese as I worked for Japanese Companies, but I found it difficult, so I know only a few words and sentences in Japanese....😔 I always think about all the languages I don't know, and I feel quite depressed....
Also it is probably a good idea to learn a somewhat decent pronunciation of some of the place names. Locals might struggle to help if they don't understand where you want to go when you ask for instructions.
Hi , I’m wondering what one might do if you are in the middle of driving and there are no bathrooms anywhere, Would it be illegal to hide behind a bush and take care of business , Illegal is the main concern??🤷🏻♀️
Lol when I was in the Soviet Union 1989 my professor succumbed to heat stroke and I was asked to stay in the hospital with him in Tashkent. It made me appreciate what we had in the US for sure. Anyway, the son of the doctor spent a couple hours with me and asked me to teach him as many English swear words as I could! I asked him to tell me what he knew already and he said "s***, damn, hell and f*** your mother!" I said I think you know enough, but I did teach him the ones I knew. I only remember two Russian ones which I won't repeat, basically SOB and f*er.
Learn a few polite and useful words and your trip will be so much more enjoyable. If you speak just a little of the local language, the people will really open up and treat you much friendlier.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
I always also learn "Do you speak English?", since it's more polite to ask in their language than to just ask it in English and hope for the best. And, as a Canadian, I also have to learn how to say "sorry", otherwise I will be unable to function within their country.
😂
"pardon" helps with getting on and off crowded public transit
Agreed - "excuse me" in the local language is very helpful.
sumimasen
@@yCantiLogOn - Yes, plus "ita-daki-mas" and "go-chi-so-sum-ah-desh-ta" 😃
I heard Excuse Me is preferred in EU as Pardon Me is too French?
A friendly smile and ( learned from Japanese visitors to my home town ) a small polite bow when you say 'thank you' or 'sorry' can also help.
Absolutely agree. I know from personal experience that knowing just small words and phrases in the native language makes your travel much nicer. Encountered a group of fellow US travelers who were just leaving Italy (Rome specifically) as my group was just starting. The other group mentioned that everyone was "rude" and that they couldn't wait to get back to the US. Upon talking with them some more, we found out that they did not even attempt to try to speak Italian (Please, Thank You, etc.) and that they were thus not welcomed in a friendly manner. The organizer of my trip made sure to let us know that most places we would be going someone would be an English speaker, but we should bnot assume so, and that we should get a phrase book (shows you how long ago this was, not cell phones with translation apps) so we could try to communicate in their language. We all were prepared to try to use Italian, even if it was just the very simple niceties, and we all had a great time and never felt that people were "rude". I remember at one restaurant that the server's face just light up in a huge smile when I said thank you in Italian, and she then tried to talk to me in Italian. I had to politely let her know I only knew about 5 things, but even so she was so happy that I even made that little effort. I could really see that my little effort to use her language meant a great deal to her and brought a bit of joy to her that day.
Be able to point at something and say "how much?" I was a in group of High School students in Austria years ago. Those of us who even had one year of high school german taught everyone to say "where is... ", "how much?", "where's the bathroom", and that pommes frites meant french fries. 😅
"Excuse me" or "pardon me," very helpful. Also, "Sorry, I don't speak (language)." "Check, please." "Good bye!" "I would like..." (point to it). And be able to read "exit" signs and "men/women" on bathroom doors.
Great choices. I also always learn “Check/bill, please” and “Excuse me/I’m sorry.”
Great advice. Above all it shows a willingness to connect; if the person doesn't even try and goes full on with English for all these words, the impression it leaves is that they think they're good to use your language. Imagine someone from another country who says "thank you" after you help them in their OWN language instead of yours even though they're in your city. Not pleasant, right? At minimum, no matter how hard the language is, learning "Thank you" is a must.
I learned the "bonjour" the hard way and looked it up after upsetting someone in a restaurant. when you walk into a store or place of business, you treat it like their home. you don't just walk into someone's home without saying hello. after that I said bonjour every time and it was fun. I kind of missed it when walking into a store in the US. I may have actually said "bonjour" by mistake :) Good stuff!
For sure! I love smaller towns with small shops in the US where this is still a great practice.
As an english speaker (actually portuguese) I had some funny moments when visiting Montreal saying "Bonjour" when entering places and then receiving all the responses in french - which I actually don't speak. Took sometime until I realize that saying "Good morning", "Hello" or just "Hi" was the "protocol" to set the conversation in english. :)
Always know please, thank you and bathroom in every country in which you travel!!
I was in Belgium last year, based in Brussels and managed to get myself around with my rusty school girl French which was great fun. Went to Bruges and tried to ask for a ticket in Flemish and the gentleman was about on the ground laughing and gave me a discount for my effort.
One that always wins points is to know how to say "Cheers" in the local language when having drinks.
When I visited Paris The word sortie saved my life multiple times .. the word “exit” learn it 🤣🤣
Such amazing sensibly helpful advice! Thanks Wolter!
You’re absolutely on point as usual, sir.
Love your videos! You're doing a great job!
As I was stumbling down a stairwell in the Termini train station in Rome, puking from food poisoning, the janitorial ladies were yelling at me in Italian and I couldn't remember how to say "I'm sorry!" in Italian -- but I did remember the phrase "Mi scusi!" which is more like "Excuse me!" or "Pardon me!" as if I needed to move past someone... so I just kept repeating that to them through my tears as I sobbed and puked my way to the bathroom. Once in there I sat on the floor sniffling and looking through my Italian phrasebook to find that I should've been saying "Mi dispiace!" instead. That was 20 years ago and I still remember like it was yesterday.
If you want to use the formal words, "ciao" is as informal as it gets. When in Italy, greet people with "Buongiorno" (or "Buonasera" in the evening) and the same or "arrivederci" when you leave. Save "ciao" for your friends. It really grates and is a clear sign of someone not having bothered to learn the basics.
My brother says he has had a lot of success around at least the germanic speaking countries with “more beer”.
@@stephenspackman5573 Más cervezas por favor. It's all over.
I live in Italy. This is the second video he's made where he recommends the use of the word ciao for hello and goodbye. The word ciao is informal and should only be used with people you are familiar with.
@@CarlClinton-gf5gg if I may ask, what word should we use then to express “goodbye”
@wyverstone7657 Arrivaderci is usually the best. If you are leaving during the day ,buon giorno, buona sera at night. There are others, depending on the situation.
My husband had been an anthropologist in the Amazon for many years, and when he took me to visit the Indians he had worked with he taught me how to say "Very nice" in their language so that I could make a polite comment if someone gave me food or showed me their child, etc.
Is your husband Borat?
Complimenting a child is always dicey, as there are a number of countries where it's considered bad luck to do so. Always try learn some rudimentary customs before expressing any opinions abroad. Things which seem polite or natural to us might be viewed as distasteful where one is visitng.
If you're calling for help in Spain, it's "Socorro!", not "ayuda". The first means "I need help!" in the sense of emergency, while the second is help in the sense of "can you help me do this"? Important difference.
Very helpful, thanks for posting.
Exactly 5 words! :)
@@dawidblachowski haha good catch! 😁
When I was little I went with my parents to stay with my aunty, uncle and cousins who were stationed in Germany for a fortnight. The only words/sentences that I can remember from that trip is how to order one of the brands of ice cream and to thank them. Over 34 years later and I could still order a bon bon ice cream and say thanks if I was ever in Germany again
"Pharmacy" is a good one too.
Being familiar with the term apothecary form this is also very useful. I remember the German word being similar (apothetake?) and in Russian it is apteka.
In countries with a lot of street vendors, leaning “no thank you” is especially helpful - we had to say “hapana asante” a LOT in Tanzania. I’d also say to just pay attention to how locals say things. In Argentina, we found that while hiking, people greeted us with “buen Dia” rather than the “buenos dios” we had learned, and quickly changed over. Finally, even if you aren’t going to be able to learn much of the language, learning how to pronounce things can really help. Eyjafjallajökull is a mouthful, but if you want to ask which volcano you’re looking at, it helps to know.
Hey Mark, awesome video and great tips
While toilets in German-speaking countries are frequently labeled "WC", don't ask where the WC is located -- stick with "Toilette".
DANKE ❤ !!
You are really doing a great Job 😅, recommending, explaining + picking out exactly these words ❤ !!!
I'm sure, where ever you're going, you are always HERZLICH WILLKOMMEN 😊❤
I am from Austria, 80 years old
Danke schoen!
I was in Austria two years ago and also thirty years ago. Thirty years ago nearly everyone says: "Grüß Gott". Two years ago nearly everyone says "Hallo."
Fabulous ❤️🌺. An excellent source of factual information for me. ✅✅
Primo - useful, needed and - thank you!
People around Poznan in Poland even say "no no" to say "yes yes".
Great advice right there
This is super valuable. Remember that in other cultures certain words and phrases are an active part of constructive interaction, more so than in many western countries. Even the basic words in Japanese are not hard to learn and to remember and learning something about their use will enhance your trip. Applies to any destination as you are joining an established culture that is all around you.
But sometimes, it doesn't work. When I was in Japan, I asked a passing-by lady for the next train station in Japanese (eki wa doko desu-ka?), and all she had to do was point in the right direction, but she said: Sorry, I don't speak English.
@@zwiderwurzn5908 Probably better then trying to absorb a rapid, full explanation in fluent Japanese!
I am Brazilian and I speeak Portuguese. "Ajuda" means "help", but I would be confused if someone put the hand in the chest, look at me and say only "Ajuda!". This word is more like "aid". If you are having a heart attack, or see fire, the way you grab the attention of others to show this kind of urgency is "Socorro!"
Obrigado!
But how often do you need this phrase at home ? Never ? So why worrying about using it abroad.
@ I don’t understand… Why are you even watching this video if you don’t understand why you would want to learn foreign words? This person was saying that if you want to use the right word for help in Portuguese, you should use a different word because the previously mentioned word doesn’t convey the proper intention.
@@MurderMostFowl I asked questions! I did not say anything. If you learn it and you don't need it in 5 years, you just will forget it.
And I'm optimistic, crying " help" in what country ever, will be understood. They all watch Hollywood movies.
@@holger_p. Keep in mind that when a foreigner is watching a Hollywood movie, the English dialogue is often replaced with the language of the local country. This means they will not hear the word help, but their equivalent word. So you saying help, is not helpful. 😊
And in Austria, "g'day, mate" is considered a great way to greet someone. Throw another schnitzel on the barbie!
😂
Last time in Vienna, I ran into an American woman who was born in Austria and had relatives there. She told me that today, everyone in Austria speaks English. No one wants to speak German anymore. I had to laugh.
😂
😂😂😂😂
As an Australian I love this 😂
Awesome upload and sharing my friend Thanks big thumbs up cheers 👉🏻👉🏻👍🏻👍🏻🤗
You can also just say 'hallo' in Austria or even better 'servus'.
For 'goodbye' you can use 'Wiederschaun' or also 'servus'.
Is Servus also ok in Bavaria?
@@daphnelovesLYes, you say that in Bavaria too, but not to everyone. It's a bit colloquial, so I wouldn't say it to people in the authorities, police officers etc. They might take it as if you don't take them seriously.
You are absolutely right, to know some local words do help a lot when traveling in a foreign country.
But there are a couple of mistakes concerning Italian and one regarding German.
"Ciao" in Italian is informal and used only among friends. If you don't know the person you're greeting, you have to use "Buon giorno" (hello) and "Arrivederci" (bye), like in French.
The same in German, "hallo" is informal, much better to use "Guten Tag" meeting a stranger. On the contrary, "Tschuess" is fine for both formal and informal use.
Great Tips, Right On.
Grazie (Italian) and Obrigado/Obrigada (Portuguese) will get you a lot of places in Italy and Portugal respectively! The locals in both places love it! As far as “toilette” is concerned, if you say “WC” in Portugal, that’s O.K.
When I was in Berlin, I noticed that in stores, for example, bakeries, customers and staff shorten "guten morgan" to "morgan" (good morning)
*Guten Morgen, please
Interesting! Like in Spanish many people just say Buenas as they pass by.
In France one should actually say -"bonjour monsieur", -"bonjour madame"
THat's only dingular.
And now for something completely different, “My hovercraft is full of eels.”
It used to be "My coachman has been struck by lightning".
Gruss Gott is the greeting in Bavaria.
And Austria
@@N1120A Isn't that what Mark Wolter said in his vid?
@@lawrencelewis2592the dialects of Bavaria(Bayern) and Austria are similar - some words aren’t used in other German speaking areas
@@michaelashley2855 true- I can speak a little German, enough to get a train ticket, a beer, food or a hotel room. I was in Zurich years ago and I found the German they spoke there was totally unlike Germany.
Grüß (Gruess) Gott. "Gruss" isn't pronounced the same, as German has consistency between spelling and pronunciation that English does not. In Bavarian it's usually spelled "Griaß." That may depend on the region, and Austro-bayerische has 3 main subdialects.
Excuse me is also good to know.
Great tips! It's also helpful to learn how to say, "Do you speak English?" rather than presume that someone does.
I've learned not to be too much of a show off with languages I'm not overly proficient with, because one wrong pronunciation can get you in a lot of trouble. I once said something incorrectly that translated to, "Behold, I am a terrorist." Luckily, it got a big laugh from the waiter who was increasingly amused at how poorly I was speaking his language. But, because of that, we're now great friends.
Lol, now I'm curious what you said in the original language 😂
@@youssef-way I'm not Jewish, but I was trying out my Hebrew several years ago after taking a course on the Old Testament. Ugh!
A Japanese language teacher told of one of her students, traveling in Japan, who had learned that beginning words with "o" made them more polite ("ocha" tea, tsuma is wife but otsuma is your wife), and asked if a bus went to "onara". "Nara" is a city alirght, but "onara" is something like "fart". Everyone on the bus laughed, but the driver knew what he meant and waved him onboard.
@@grizwoldphantasia5005 Made me laugh. Thank you
@@SteveInNEPA1 Sounds like something that would happen to Larry David on Curb, lol.
I completely agree! I have a much better experience in Europe when I use even my poorly pronounced French, German, Spanish, or Italian. I am making an effort and many of the locals appreciate the effort and that translates to their being more helpful and pleasant towards me.
Very good advice for those of us who can't learn a foreign language to save our lives. (Or, in the case of "toilet", our dignity.)
Another very informative and practical travel video. Thanks very much for posting.
Can you comment on the availability of real time translation apps for smartphones and if relying on them obviates the need to learn these essential words and expressions covered in your video?
I don't know anything (no surprise there) but I have heard that in some cultures, like in Finland for example, people aren't as chatty and open (initially) to strangers and tourists. I have heard that walking into a shop and saying "Hyvää päivää" doesn't always go over too well with the locals. Can you provide tips for situations like these, please? Kiitoksia paljon!!
I enjoyed this video. 😊❤
Good info
I would add to never ask negative questions. "Doesn't this train go to .....?" In Japanese, and probably some other languages / cultures, the answer will be to what you literally asked -- "Yes [this train doesn't go to ...]" or "No [this train does go to ...]" In the worst case, you will know that answers are literal and reverse their answer, while they will know you are a tourist and reverse their answer. There was a novelty song 100 years ago, "Yes, we have no bananas". Remember that, and don't ask negative questions.
In Japanese, a negative question like that carries the nuance of a suggestion, so it sounds like you are asking, "Hey, how about we take this train to ...?" If you want to ask that kind of question, you would want to phrase it more like, "Is it the case that this train does stop at ...?" (この電車は...に停まらないんですか？) The ん in that sentence adds a whole new layer of meaning, indicating that you are trying to verify whether that is the case or not.
@@Jesse13927 Thanks. My Japanese never got past 3rd pr 4th grade reading and writing, and good enough for slow conversations as a tourist. I might have picked up on some of that without knowing it, but mostly I learned to just not ask negative questions, even speaking English with Japanese people.
Funny coincidence, 2 days ago I sent an email to a coworker that just had that bananas passage to indicate that I had no work to hand off for his team.
I don't know that I would say that's accurate of German, particularly if you were trying to make sure the train wasn't the wrong one. The answer to "Geht dieser Zug *nicht* zur Hauptbahnhof?" (Does this train NOT go to the central/main rail station?) to the contrary would be "Doch, es geht zur Hbf." Doch is approximately "actually yes/to the contrary." (Actually yes, it does go to the main station!) and if it doesn't, a simple "Nein, es geht NICHT..." will come in reply. There isn't much ambiguity in German.
An old philosophy teacher of mine used to say "It's ok, I'm from Sweden!" to solve problems abroad.
Mark, you look fantastic. Keep up the great work of staying fit.👍🏽🏆😊
Thank you. Still a long way to go.
Learn a bit of the lingo, the locals really dig it.
Absolutely true!! I speak fluent Spanish but had no occasion to use it when I visited Europe. I had only taken night school classes in French, Italian and Greek, and those three worked magic for me during my marvelous two months jogging around Europe. People really appreciate your efforts to speak their language.
Innsbruck! I'll be there this Dec.
Great Video! I learned what I call "Transactional Vocabulary" - when I started going to Brazil at 10 years old. I had to take the JUMBO CAT AEROBARCA RIO-NITERÓI which was a James Bond type very fast boat soaring above the water, that got me from Niteroi to Rio in 7 minutes, then take the bus to Copacabana Beach. The only words I needed were the ones to do something. (I was a master at using body language to suggest I needed to go to the bathroom). Also do not underestimate the value of knowing the local currency. If you do not there are numerous kids who will count your money for you, often taking as much of it from you as they can get away with. 😉
Thanks for the video! Your German is great. The next videos can be completely in German 😜
Figuring out how to ask for the check is important. It took several days in Germany for us to learn that you ask to pay not for the check/bill.
If you make the hand gesture as if you are signing a check, that also works. A more detailed description: hold your non-dominant hand palm up with your fingers together to make a flat surface, and then with your dominant hand, pretend to sign your signature in big letters.
First
Went to Budapest this summer. The people were very friendly and helpful. We were meeting a Viking cruise but the directions we were given were wrong.
In countries with a lot of touts, you can often get them to leave you alone by saying "not interested" or "leave me alone" in the local language. In Chinese, it's 不要 ("buyao" but with tones).
Ensure you & your children know the universal military alphabet (alpha, bravo, etc.) so police/military understand your name & location in an emergency anywhere on earth.👍
It’s said in German it sounds like a train on a track when people talk, Bitte schön, danke schön, bitte schön….
Groß Gott is also used in Bavaria.
I like the shot of the donkey wallopers (1st the Life Guards).
I'm old so maybe it's changed but in Mexico, if you need help urgently, you would say, "Socorro!"
If you cry "Help" probably it would work too.
Always know how to say, “I’d like an English speaking doctor, please.” Better yet, carry a 3” x 5” index card with that phrase written down on it. Happy Travels!
Two things. I have an offline currency exchange app, and an offline Samsung translation app that works in both audio format _and_ text.
I heard the advice to know how to say, "I would like ____" in the language where you travel. In France, say, "Bon jour. Je voudrais une croissant." You just ordered a croissant in French! "Merci! Au revoir!" Done!
How much (cost) is "Combien?" Then just show them your cash and let them take the correct amount. 😂
un croissant, but true!
And then they ask you a thousand question, "which one" and you don't understand anything.
I consider this try useless.
You can read the numbers on the cash, or on the shelf, to find out the price.
Why would you ask for the price, if you just present your money, and you would not understand numbers anyway ? Does not make any sense. Today, you present your cellphone to the card reader anyway.
💖💖💖💖💖💖
I'm 57 and when I hear Innsbruck I go back to the 1976 Winter Olympics and skier Franz Klammer
"Help (me)" may also come in handy at times....
True
There are anthropological studies that show that moving the head to the side to say no and up and down to say yes is a universal gesture with the only exception in some small tribes that give it the opposite meaning.
I've heard it's the opposite in Bulgaria, at least, but i can't say. Never been there but the region interests me.
Another one "no problem". Especially when dealing with authority figures.
I guess "no problem" will be understood in most countries... There is no need to translate it.
You should always memorize this one:
"The prancing jester had several alpacas in his back pocket"
That should shut anyone approaching you up.
Oh yea, if anyone comes to talk to you, it's a scam.
Do you work for Duolingo?
I learn that if you say I’m afraid whenever you’re aren’t sure of some people ( like taxi driver who when to show you his family) they could explain more, ore just back off if they got ill intent
I speak English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, some Greek, Romanian and Serbocroatian fluently.....
I tried learning Japanese as I worked for Japanese Companies, but I found it difficult, so I know only a few words and sentences in Japanese....😔
I always think about all the languages I don't know, and I feel quite depressed....
👋 Hi
So easy but so effective. Just thinking about my parents, they only speak german.
I'd argue that the Italian word for bathroom is 'bagno'.
Yes that too. Just like in usa, restroom, bathrokm, toilet, many words work
Is that snow in the background in October?
Also it is probably a good idea to learn a somewhat decent pronunciation of some of the place names. Locals might struggle to help if they don't understand where you want to go when you ask for instructions.
Isn't the up and down an affirmative yes gesture and a left to right gesture a no in all of Europe except Bulgaria?
Best thing you can do to look better is to get lean and work on lagging muscles (shoulders, chest, etc what ever is weak for you
Be sure to learn the words for "I'm sorry" and "police". This really saved my bacon one time.
Is it true Norwegians aren't really responsive to a bunch thank yous?
Hi , I’m wondering what one might do if you are in the middle of driving and there are no bathrooms anywhere,
Would it be illegal to hide behind a bush and take care of business ,
Illegal is the main concern??🤷🏻♀️
Greatly depends on where you are.
Challenge: please in any of the Scandinavian languages! ;P
I said,”do you speak-a my language? He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich.”
I am not an American. 5 words that will save your life
Whatt about... "I am not American, I am Australian" or when in France "I am Australian, not English".
Hi man you look great, have you been on a diet lately?
A few swear words would come in handy...
Lol when I was in the Soviet Union 1989 my professor succumbed to heat stroke and I was asked to stay in the hospital with him in Tashkent. It made me appreciate what we had in the US for sure. Anyway, the son of the doctor spent a couple hours with me and asked me to teach him as many English swear words as I could! I asked him to tell me what he knew already and he said "s***, damn, hell and f*** your mother!" I said I think you know enough, but I did teach him the ones I knew. I only remember two Russian ones which I won't repeat, basically SOB and f*er.
No... it can get you in really big trouble.
I feel sick. Where is the hospital? or I need help.
*5 Words That Can Save Your Life & Your Travels Abroad*
-> "Wait, Please! I have Money!!!" 😅🤣😂
Also don’t confuse Austria with Australia.
Learn a few polite and useful words and your trip will be so much more enjoyable. If you speak just a little of the local language, the people will really open up and treat you much friendlier.
I always use "I am not an American"