Common phrases in various languages Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Here is a list of common phrases in different languages.It is possible for tourists in a country whose language they do not understand to get along with a surprisingly short list of phrases, combined with pointing, miming, and writing down numbers on paper.
You are invited to add more languages to the list. Please use the minimum number of words that would be understandable and put the pronunciation in slashes according to IPA transcription if possible. If desired, also add a pseudo-English pronunciation guide for those not familiar with SAMPA or IPA. However, actual pronunciations of the pseudo-English spellings will vary from speaker to speaker. Enclose the "spelling guide" in parentheses, separate syllables with dashes, use English words that sound like the syllables if possible, and render the stressed syllable in ALL CAPS.
The language family of every language is listed in parentheses.
As a sample, here's English, according to British Received Pronunciation, followed by American English/Standard American English, if different:
Examples
English (Germanic)
| translation | phrase | IPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English: | English | /ˈɪŋˌglɪʃ/ | |
| hello: | hello | UK /hɛˌˈləʊ/ US /hɛˌˈloʊ/ | |
| good-bye: | good-bye | /gʊdˌˈbaɪ/ | |
| please: | please | /pliːz/ | |
| thank you: | thank you | /ˈθæŋk juː/ | |
| sorry: | sorry | UK /ˈsɒɹi/ US /ˈsɔːɹi/ | |
| that one: | that one | /ˈðæt wʌn/ | |
| how much?: | how much | /haʊ ˈmʌʧ/ | |
| yes: | yes | /jɛs/ | |
| no: | no | UK /nəu/ US /noʊ/ | |
| I don't understand: | I don't understand | UK /aɪ ˈdəʊnt ʌnˌdəˌˈstænd/ US /aɪ ˈdoʊnt ʌnˌdɚˌˈstænd/ | |
| Where's the bathroom?: | Where's the bathroom | UK /wɛəz ðə ˈbɑːθˌɹʊm/ US /wɛɹz ðə bæθˌɹum/ | |
| generic toast: | bottoms up! | UK /bɒtˌəmz ˈʌp/ US /bɑːˌɾəmz ˈʌp/ | |
| Do you speak English?: | Do you speak English? | /duː juː spiːk ˈɪŋglɪʃ/ |
| translation | phrase | IPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans: | Afrikaans | /aːfrɪkaːns/ | |
| hello: | hallo | /hɑloˌ/ | |
| How are you? | hoe gaan dit? | /huˌ xaˌn dɪt/ | |
| good day: | goeie dag | /xuˌjə dɑx/ | |
| good morning: | goeie more | /xuˌjə mɔˌrə/ | |
| good-bye: | totsiens | /tɔʦiˌns/ | |
| please: | asseblief | /ɑsəbliˌf/ | |
| thank you: | dankie | /dɑŋkiˌ/ | |
| sorry: | dit spyt my | /dɪt spejt mej/ | |
| that one: | daardie | /diˌ/ | |
| how much?: | hoeveel | /huˌfeˌl/ | |
| yes: | ja | /jaˌ/ | |
| no: | nee | /neˌ/ | |
| I don't understand: | ek verstaan nie | /ɛk fərstaˌn niˌ/ | |
| Where's the bathroom?: | waar is die toilet | /βaˌr ɪs diˌ tojlɪt/ | |
| generic toast: | gesondheid! | /xəsɔntejt/ | |
| English: | Engels | /ɛŋgəls/ |
Note that this is relevant only to Modern Standard Arabic and not to the colloquial forms of Arabic spoken in daily life, which vary from place to place. Also, some of the following expressions were written only to suit a male speaker.
Pronunciation guide: Stress in Arabic is most often on the penult syllable (i.e. one preceding the last).
Albanian (Albanian)
Note: All the sounds above are in the Ogg Vorbis format.Arabic (Semitic)
Basque
| translation | phrase | IPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basque: | Euskara | /ewskaɾa/ | |
| hello: | kaixo | /kajʃ̺o/ | |
| good-bye: | agur | /aguɾ/ | |
| please: | mesedez | /mesedes̺/ | |
| thank you: | eskerrik asko | /eskerikasko/ | |
| that one: | hori | /hoɾi/ | |
| how much?: | zenbat | /s̺enbat/ | |
| yes: | bai | /baj/ | |
| no: | ez | /es̺/ | |
| English: | Ingelesa | /ingelesa/ |
Belarusian (Slavic)
Bosnian (Slavic)
Breton (Celtic)
| translation | phrase | IPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breton: | Breton | /"bʁetɔ̃n/ | |
| hello: | salud | /"saːlyt/ | |
| good-bye: | kenavo | /kenaˈvoː/ | |
| please: | mar plij | /maʁ pliʃ/ | |
| thank you: | trugarez | /tʁyˈgaːʁɛs/ | |
| sorry: | digarez | /diˈgaʁɛs/ | |
| that one: | hennezh | /ˈennɛs/ | |
| how much?: | pegement | /peˈgemɛn/ | |
| yes: | ya | /ja/ | |
| no: | nann | /nãn/ | |
| I don't understand: | Ne gomprenan ket | /ne gɔ̃mpʁenãn ket/ | |
| Where's the bathroom?: | Pelec'h emañ ar sal dour ? | /peˈlɛx ema aʁ zal duʁ/ | |
| generic toast: | yec'hed mat ! | /jehɛt mat/ | |
| Do you speak English?: | Kaozeal a rit saozneg? | /kozeal a ʁit saoznɛk/ |
Bulgarian (Slavic)
Catalan (Romance)
| translation | phrase | IPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalan: | Català | /kətəˈlɑ/ | |
| hello: | hola | /ˈɔlə/ | |
| good-bye: | adéu | /əˈðɛw/ | |
| please: | si us plau | /sisˈplɑw/ | |
| thank you: | gràcies; mercès | /ˈgrɑsjəs/; /mərˈsɛs/ | |
| sorry: | perdó | /pərˈðɔ/ | |
| that one: | aquest (m.); aquesta (f.) | /əˈkɛt/; /əˈkɛstə/ | |
| how much?: | quant val; quant es | /ˈkwɑmˈbɑl/; /ˈkwɑnˈtəs/ | |
| yes: | sí | /ˈsɪ/ | |
| no: | no | /ˈno/ | |
| I don't understand: | No ho entenc | /ˈno wənˈteŋ/ | |
| Where's the bathroom?: | On és el bany?; on es el labavo? | /ˈonˈezəlˈβaɲ/; /ˈonˈɛzəlˈləˈβɑβu/ | |
| generic toast: | Salut! | /səˈlut/ | |
| Do you speak English?: | Que parla anglès? | /kə ˈpɑrlə ənˈglɛs/ | |
| Do you speak Catalan?: | Que parla català? | /kə ˈpɑrlə kətəˈlɑ/ |
Note: tone 1 (e.g. mā) is high and level; 2 (e.g., má) is rising; 3 (e.g., mǎ ) is dipping; 4 (e.g., mà) is falling. For more info, see pinyin. Also note that the first set of characters preceding the slashes are in simplified Chinese characters and the ones following the slashes are in traditional characters.
Chinese, Mandarin (Chinese)
(Usage Note: The first term is used in mainland China, while the second term is used on Taiwan.)
(Usage Note: The second syllable of "nèige" is actually a generic measure word; it is replaced by the appropriate measure word for the noun it refers to. You may therefore hear a number of different syllables after the initial nèi. In many parts of southern China, nèi is also pronounced nà.)
- how much?: 多少 / 多少 (duōshǎo) /dwɔ̋ ʂàw/ (dwo shahw)
- English: 英文 / 英文 (Yīngwén) /jɪ̋ŋ wə̌n/ (ing one)
- yes: 是 / 是 (shì) /ʂɻ̂/ (sher as in sherpa)
- no: 不 / 不 (bù) /pǔ/ (boo)
- where's the bathroom?: 厕所在那里 / 廁所在哪裏 (cèsuǒ zài nálǐ?) /tsʰɤ̂ swɔ̀ tsâj nɑ̌ lì/ (tsuh swo dzai nah lee?) -- Not the politest, but you'll get your point across!
- generic toast: 干杯 / 乾杯 (gān bēi) /ka̋n pe̋j/ (gahn bay)
Croatian (Slavic)
- Croatian: hrvatski
- hello: bog (bok), dobar dan
- good-bye: doviđenja
- please: molim
- thank you: hvala
- that one: to, taj
- how much: koliko?
- English: engleski
- yes: da
- no: ne
- generic toast: u zdravlje (to your health), živjeli ([may you] live)
- I don't understand: Ne razumijem
- Where is the bathroom: Gdje je WC?
- Do you speak English: Govorite li engleski?
Czech (Slavic)
- Czech: Česky (CHEHskee) /ʧɛski/
- hello: dobry' den (DObree den) /dobri dɛn/ Literal translation: good day
- good-bye: na shledanou (nas KHLEdanow) /nas xlɛdano/
- please: prosím (PROseem)
- thank you: děkuji vam (DYEkooyi vam)
- that one: tam ten (tam ten)
- how much?: kolik (KOlik)
- English: anglicky (anglyscy)
- yes: ano /ɑno/
- no: ne /ne/
- generic toast: Na zdraví //
Danish (Germanic)
- Danish: dansk /dansk/
- hello: hej /hi/
- good-bye: farvel /fah-vel/
- please: 1 (Be understood. A matter of course, if not Vær venlig)
- thank you: tak /tack/
- that one: denne /DEN-neh/
- how much?: hvor meget? /vo MY-it/
- English: engelsk /ENG-uhlsk/
- yes: ja /ya/
- no: nej /nigh/
- can I take your picture?: Må jeg tage et billede af dig?
- Where is the bathroom?: Hvor er der et toilet? /toiˈlett/
- where do you come from?: Hvor kommer du fra?
- do you speak English?: Taler du engelsk?
- generic toast: skål /skål/
- I don't understand: Jeg forstår ikke
Dutch (Germanic)
- Dutch: Nederlands /nedərlɑns/ (NAY-der-lahnds)
- hello: hallo /hɑlo/ (hah-LOW)
- good-bye: tot ziens /tɔt zins/ (tott-ZEENS)
- please: alstublieft /ɑlstyblift/ (AHL-stu-BLEEFT)
- thank you: dankjewel /dɑŋkjəwɛl/ (DAHNK-ya-WELL)
- that one: die /di/ (dee)
- how much?: hoeveel /huːvel/ (who-VEIL)
- English: Engels /ɛŋəls/ (ENGels)
- yes: ja /ja/ (ya)
- no: nee /ne/ (ney)
- generic toast: proost /prost/ (prohw-st)
Esperanto (International)
| translation | phrase | |
|---|---|---|
| Esperanto: | Esperanto | |
| hello: | saluton | |
| How are you? | kiel vi estas? | |
| good day: | bonan tagon | |
| good morning: | bonan matenon | |
| good-bye: | Gxis revido! | |
| please: | bonvolu | |
| thank you: | dankon | |
| sorry: | pardonu min | |
| that one: | tio | |
| how much?: | Kiom da? | |
| yes: | jes | |
| no: | ne | |
| I don't understand: | mi ne komprenas | |
| Where's the bathroom?: | Kie estas la banejo? | |
| generic toast: | ||
| English: | Angla |
The translations provided following W: are in West Frisian,
those following N: are in North Frisian (Mooring dialect).
Note: gy (ɟ) is pronounced like in would you; ny (ɲ) like in can you; ö and ő (ø) like in fur; a (ɑ) like in hot; s (ʃ) like in ship; sz (s) like in sun; j (j) like in yes; cs (ʧ) like in chip; é (e) like in eight.
(note: N is pronounced like ng in king)
Estonian (Finno-Ugric)
Finnish (Finno-Ugric)
French (Romance)
(Literally: Excuse me, I dont speak very good French.)
Frisian (Germanic)
W: Frysk /fri.sk/ (freask)
N: Friisk /fri:sk/ (freask)
W: a goeie /ɑ gujə/ (ah gooye)
N: moin /mOIn/ (moin)
W: oant sjen /ɔnt ʃɛn/ (ont shen)
N: adjiis /Adji:s/ (a-jease)
W: asjeblyft /ɑʃəbli.ft/ (ashebleaft)
N: weesegödj /ve:z&gödj/ (veisegud-y)
W: tige tank /'tiːɣə tɑnk/ (teaghe tank)
N: foole tunk /fo:l&tunk/ (foughle toonk)
W: dy /di./ (dea)
N: di /dI/ (dih)
W: hoefolle? /hufolə/ (who folle)
N: hüfoole? /h^fo:l&/ (huh foughle)
W: Ingelsk /iŋəlsk/ (ingelsk)
N: Aingelsch /&j:ñ&lS/ (ayngelsh)
W: ja /ja/ (yaah)
N: joo /jo:/ (yo)
W: nee /ne./ (nay)
N: nåån /nO:n/ (nawn)
W: Wêr is hjir it húske? /Wɛːr ɪs jɪrət hy.skə/ (where is yirret hewske)
N: Weer as heer et hüüschen? /wI:R &s hI:r &t hy.S&n/ (vere is heret hewshen)
W: tsjoch /ʧoX/ (chokh)
N: sünhäid /sönhEId/ (sun-heyd)
W: Kinne jo Ingelsk? /kɪnə jo. ɪŋəlsk/ (kinne yo ingelsk?)
N: Koost dü Aingelsch? /ko:stö &jñ@lS/ (coastuh ayngelsh)
W: Ik begryp it net /ɪk bəgri.pət nɛt/ (ick begreapet net)
N: Ik begrip et ai /Ik b&grIp&t&j/ (ick begripet ay)
W: Pardon /pədɔn/ (p'donn)
N: Fertrüt me /ftr^t me/ (f-trut meh)German (Germanic)
Greek (Greek)
Hawaiian (Malayo-Polynesian)
(Other useful words in Hawaiian:)
Hebrew (Semitic)
Urdu/Hindi (Indo-Iranian)
Hungarian (Finno-Ugric)
Icelandic (Germanic)
Indonesian (Malayo-Polynesian)
Irish (Celtic)
Italian (Romance)
Japanese
Kannada (Dravidian)
Klingon (Constructed)
| translation | phrase | IPA | proximate pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Klingon: | tlhIngan Hol | /ˈtɬ͡ɪŋɑn xol/ | TLI-ngan khol |
| Hello: | nuqneH? | /nuqʰˈnɛx/ | nook-NEKH |
| Good-bye: | Qapla' | /qχ͡ɑpˈlɑʔ/ | kkhap-LA' |
| Please: | vItlhob' | /vɪˈtɬ͡ob/ | vee-TLOB |
| Thank you: | qatlho' | /qʰɑˈtɬ͡oʔ/ | ka-TLHO' |
| Sorry: | jIQoS | /ʤɪˈqχ͡oʂ/ | jee-KKHOSH |
| That one: | Dochvam | /ˈɖoʧvɑm/ | DOCH-vam |
| How much?: | 'ar? | /ʔɑr/ | ar |
| Yes: | HIja' or HISlaH | /xɪˈʤɑʔ/ or /xɪʂˈlɑx/ | khee-JA' or kheesh-LAKH |
| No: | ghobe' | /ɣoˈbɛʔ/ | gho-BE' |
| I don't understand: | jIyajbe' | /ʤɪˈjɑʤbɛʔ/ | jee-yaj-BE' |
| Where's the bathroom?: | nuqDaq 'oH puchpa''e'? | /ˈnuqʰɖɑqʰ ʔox pʰuʧˈpʰɑʔɛʔ/ | NOOK-dak okh pooch-PA'-eh |
| Do you speak English?: | DIvI' Hol Dajatlh'a'? | /ˈɖɪvɪ xol ɖɑʤɑtɬ͡ˈʔɑʔ/ | DEE-vee khol da-jatl-AH |
Note: Hangul Revised Romanization of Korean
See also: Names of Korea
Pronunciations given are the Ecclesiastical Pronunciation (Based on Italian, and used in some ceremonies by the Catholic church)
(dialects may vary)
Korean
Latin (Italic)
Lithuanian (Baltic)
Low Saxon (Germanic)
Maltese (Semitic)
See also
Malay (Malayo-Polynesian)
Maori (Malayo-Polynesian)
Marathi (Indian languages)
Nigerian pidgin (English-based pidgin)
Norwegian (Germanic) - Bokmål
O'odham (Uto-Aztecan)
Pennsylvania German, Pennsylvania Dutch (Germanic)
Polish (Slavic)
| translation | phrase | IPA | pronunciation | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polish language | Język polski polszczyzna | ['jε̃z [pɔl'ʃʧ | | |
| hello | cześć | ['ʧεɕtɕ] | informal, used both for greeting and good-bye, lit. "honour" | |
| good morning, good afternoon | dzień dobry | ['dʑεɲ ,dɔbr | lit. "good day" | |
| good-bye | do widzenia | [dɔvi'ʣεɲa] | lit. "until seeing" | |
| good night | dobranoc | [dɔ'branɔʦ] | ||
| please | proszę | ['prɔʃε̃] | ||
| you're welcome | proszę bardzo | [ˌprɔʃε̃'barʣɔ] | ||
| don't mention it | nie ma za co | [ˌɲεma'zaʦɔ] | lit. "(there's) nothing you have to (thank for)" | |
| thank you | dziękuję | [dʑε̃'kujε̃] | ||
| this one | m: ten f: ta n: to | [tεn] [ta] [tɔ] | ||
| that one | m: tamten f: tamta n: tamto | ['tamtεn] ['tamta] ['tamtɔ] | ||
| how much? | ile? | ['ilε] | ||
| English language | angielski | [aŋ'gε´lski] | ||
| yes | tak | [tak] | ||
| no | nie | [ɲε] | ||
| I don't understand | Nie rozumiem | [ɲεrɔ'zumiεm] | ||
| where's the bathroom? | Gdzie jest łazienka? | [ˌgdʑεεst wa'ʑeŋka] | ||
| generic toast: | Na zdrowie! | [na zdrɔv'ε] | lit. "to health" | |
| do you speak English? | Czy mówi Pan po angielsku? Czy mówi Pani po angielsku? Czy mówisz po angielsku? | [ʧ [ʧ [ʧ | | Pan - sir, mr.; Pani - mrs.; the third form is both impersonal and informal |
| what is it? | Co to jest? | [ʦɔtɔ'jεst] | ||
| Welcome to Poland! | Witamy w Polsce | [vi'tam |
| translation | phrase | IPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese: | português | PT /purtu'geʃ/ BR /portu'gejʃ/ | |
| hello: | olá | /ɔ'la/ | |
| good-bye: | adeus | PT /ɐ'dewʃ/ BR /a'dewʃ/ | |
| please: | por favor | PT /puɾ fɐ'voɾ/ BR /poɾ fa'vo:/ | |
| thank you (m); thank you (f): | obrigado; obrigada | /obɾi'gadu/; PT /obɾi'gadɐ/ BR /obɾi'gada/ | |
| sorry: | desculpe | PT /dɨʃkulpɨ/ BR /diʃkulpi/ | |
| that one: | aquele; aquela | PT /ɐ'kelɨ/; /ɐ'kɛlɐ/ BR /a'keli/; /a'kɛla/ | |
| how much?: | quanto | /kwãtu/ | |
| yes: | sim | /sĩ/ | |
| no: | não | /nãw̃/ | |
| I don't understand: | não compreendo | /nãw̃ cõpriɛ̃du/ | |
| where's the bathroom?: | Brazil: Onde fica o banheiro | /õdi fika u baɲɛjɾu/ | |
| Portugal, others: Onde fica o quarto de banho | /õdɨ fikɐ u kwaɾtu dɨ baɲu/ | ||
| generic toast: | à vossa! (or saúde) | PT /a vosɐ/ BR /a vosa/ | |
| Do you speak English?: | Fala inglês? | PT /falɐ ĩgleʃ/ BR /fala ĩglejʃ/ |
Romanian (Romance)
Russian (Slavic)
Sanskrit (Indo-Iranian)
Sardinian (Romance)
Scots (Germanic)
Scottish Gaelic (Celtic)
Serbian (Slavic)
Slovak (Slavic)
Slovene (Slavic)
Spanish (Romance)
NOTE: For words ending in a vowel or the letters n or s, stress is on the penultimate symbol. Words ending in other consonants, especially verbs, are stressed on the last syllable. Exception words are accented on the stressed syllable.
- Spanish: castellano /kaste'ʎano/, /kaste'ʝano/ (kass-teh-LYA-naw), (kass-teh-JA-naw); español /espa'ɲol/ (ess-pahn-YOHL)
- hello: hola /'ola/ (OH-la), also buenos días (BWEN-nohs DEE-ahs)
- good-bye: adiós /a'ð̞jos/ (ah-DYOHS)
- please: por favor [por fa'β̞or] (pour fah-VOAR)
- thank you: gracias /'graθjas/, /'grasjas/ (GRAHTH-yahss), (GRAHSS-yahss)
- sorry: perdón [per'ð̞on] (pehr-DOHN)
- that one: ése /'ese/ (EH-seh) (masculine); ésa /'esa/ (EH-sah) (feminine)
- how much?: cuánto /'kwanto/ (KWAHN-taw)
- English: inglés [iŋ'gles] (ing-GLESS)
- yes: sí /'si/ (see)
- no: no /'no/ (no)
- I don't understand: no comprendo [nokom'prendo], no entiendo [noen'tjendo]
- where's the bathroom?: ¿Dónde está el baño? ['dondes'tael'β̞aɲo] (DON day esTAH el BA-nyaw)
- generic toast: salud [sa'luð̞] (sah-LOOTHE) or (sah-lood)
- Do you speak English?: ¿Habla usted inglés? [ˈaβ̞lawsˈteð̞iŋˈgles] (AH-blah OOS- ted ing-GLESS)
Swahili (Bantu)
Usage Note: Greetings in Swahili 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. Farewells are abrupt or even non-existent.
- Swahili: Kiswahili /ki swa hi li/ (kee-swa-HEE-lee)
- hello: Jambo (ja m boh) or (ya m boh)
- good-bye: kwa heri /kwa he ri/ (kwa HAY-ree)
- please: tafadhali /ta fa ða li/ (tah-fah-tha-lee)
- thank you: asante /a san te/ (ah-SAHN-tey)
- that one: yule /ju le/ (YOO-lay)
- how much?: ngapi /ŋa pi/ (ng-AH-pee)
- English: Kiingereza /ki iŋe re za/ (kee-ing-reza)
- yes: ndiyo /n di jo/ (nn-DEE-yoh)
- no: hapana /ha pa na/
- generic toast: //
Swedish (Germanic)
- Swedish: svenska
- hello: hej /hey/
- good-bye: hej då (HEY-doh)
- please: tack (tahck) or snälla (snella)
- thank you: tack (tahck)
- that one: den där (den dehr)
- how much?: hur mycket (huwr MICK-eh)
- English: engelska (ENG-el-skah)
- yes: ja /ja/ (yah)
- no: nej /nEj/ (neigh)
- generic toast: skål /skOl/ (skal or skol)
Tagalog / Filipino (Malayo-Polynesian)
- English: Ingglés /ʔɪŋ"glɛs/ (ing-GLES)
- Filipino: Pilipino /%pili"pino/ (pih-lih-PIH-noh)
- Tagalog: Tagalog /tɐ"galog/ (tah-GAH-log)
- hello: kumustá /kumus"ta/ (koo-mus-TAH)
- good-bye: paalam /pɐ"ʔalam/ (pa-AH-lam)
- please: Depending on the nature of the verb, either pakí- /pɐ"ki/ (pah-KEE) or makí- /mɐ"ki/ (mah-KEE) is attached as a prefix to a verb. ngâ /ŋaʔ/ (ngah) is optionally added after verb to increase politeness.
- thank you: salamat /sɐ"lamat/(sah-LAH-mat)
- that one: iyan /ʔi"jan/ (ee-YAN)
- how much?: magkano? /mɐg"kano/ (mag-KAH-noh?)
- yes: oo /"oʔo/(O-awe) [o has neutral pronunciation]
- no: hindî /hɪn"dɛʔ/ (hin-DEH)
- sorry: pasensya pô /pɐ"sɛnʃa poʔ/ (pah-SEN-shah PO)
- I don't understand: Hindî ko maintindihan /hin'di ko mɐʔɪn%tɪndi"han/ (hin-DEE koh ma-in-TIN-dih-HAN)
- Where's the bathroom?: Nasaán ang banyo? /%nasɐʔan ʔaŋ "banjo/(NA-sa-AN ang BAN-yoh?)
- generic toast: Mabuhay! /mɐ"buhaɪ/ (mah-BOO-high) [literally - "long live"]
- Do you speak English? Marunong ka bang magsalitâ ng Ingglés? /mɐ"runɔŋ ka baŋ mɐgsali"ta naŋ ʔɪŋ"glɛs/ (mah-ROO-nohng kah bang mag-sah-li-TAH nahng eeng-GLESS?)
Taiwanese
The Han characters provided below are for reference only. They are not necessarily standard.
- Taiwanese: 臺灣話 Tâi-oân-oē, Hō-ló-oē
- hello: Chia̍h pá boeh? (literally, Have you eaten yet?)
- goodbye: 平安 pêng-an (literally, Peace. Note this is primarily Christian usage.)
- please: pài-thok
- thank you: 多謝 To-siā
- that one: 彼個 hit-ê
- how much?: 若濟 goā choē?
- yes: 是 sī
- no: 唔是 m̄-sī
- sorry: pháiⁿ-sè
- I don't understand what is said: Goá thiaⁿ bô
- where's the bathroom?: 便所佇叨 Piān-só· tī toh?
- cheers!: Hō· ta lah! (literally, Let it [the cup/glass] be dry [empty]!)
- do you speak English?: Lí kám kóng Eng-bûn?
Tamil (Dravidian)
- Tamil: Tamizh /tamiɮ/
- hello: Vanakkam /vanakːam/
- good-bye: poit varen /poit varen/
- please: dayavu koorndu /tajavu koːnʕtu/
- thank you: nandri /nantʕi/
- that one: adhu /a tʰu/
- how much?: evvalavu /evːalavu/
- English: aangilam /aːŋilam/
- yes: aamam /aːmam/
- no: illai /ilːaj/
- generic toast: poriyal /porijal/
Telugu (Dravidian)
- Telugu: Andhra Bhasha /andʰra bʰaʃa/
- hello: namaskaaram /namaskaːram/
- good-bye: Selavu /selavu/
- please: Daya chesi /daja ʧesi/
- thank you: Dhanyavadamulu /dʰanjavadamulu/
- that one: mari ado /mari ado/
- how much?: Enta /enta/
- English: Aanglam /aːŋlam/
- yes: Avunu /avunu/
- no: Kaadu /kaːdu/
- generic toast: Kakarakaaya vepudu /kakarakaːja vepudu/
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
Ukrainian (Slavic)
Note: adjectives have different forms when describing feminine, masculine or neuter nouns.
| translation | phrase | IPA | pronunciation | literally |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian: | f: українська m: український n: українське | /uˌkraˈjinˌsjke/ /uˌkraˈjinˌsjkɪj/ /uˌkraˈjinˌsjkɛ/ | ooh-kra-YEEN-ska ooh-kra-YEEN-skiy ooh-kra-YEEN-ske | |
| hello: | привіт | /prɪˈvit/ | pri-VEET | |
| good-bye: | до побачення | /do poˈbaˌtʃenˌnja/ | doh po-BAH-chen-nyah | until seeing |
| please: | будь-ласка | /budj ˈlaˌska/ | bood LA-ska | be kind |
| thank you: | дякую | /ˈdjaˌkuˌju/ | DYA-koo-yoo | |
| that one: | f: та m: той n: те | /ta/ /toj/ /te/ | tah toy te | |
| this one: | f: ця m: цей n: це | /cja/ /cej/ /ce/ | tsyah tsey tse | |
| how much?: | скільки | /ˈskiljˌkɪ/ | SKEEL-ki | |
| English: | f: англійська m: англійський n: англійське | /anˈgljijˌsjka/ /anˈgljijˌsjkɪj/ /anˈgljijˌsjkɛ/ | ahn-GLEES-ka ahn-GLEES-kiy ahn-GLEES-ke | |
| yes: | так | /tak/ | tahk | |
| no: | ні | /nji/ | nee | |
| I don't understand: | не розумію | /ne roˌzuˈmiˌju/ | ne roh-zoo-MEE-yoo | |
| where's the bathroom?: | де туалет? | |||
| generic toast: | за кохання | /za koˈxanˌnja/ | za ko-KHAN-nyah | for loving |
| another toast: | на здоров’я! | /na zdoˈrovˌja/ | nah zdo-ROV-yah! | to health |
| do you speak English?: | чи говорите англійською? |
1No word directly corresponds to the word "please". Danish and Finnish express the concept of politeness in a request in various ways.
2This actually means "it is" and can only be used in an answer to a question with the verb "to be". Languages like Chinese, Irish, Scottish, Toki Pona, and Welsh do not have words for "yes" or "no". Instead you repeat the main verb of the question in your answer.
3This actually means "it is not". See note 2 above.
This is an Article on Common phrases in various languages. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Common phrases in various languages Vietnamese (Mon-Khmer)
Welsh (Celtic)
Xhosa language (Nguni languages, Bantu)
Yiddish (Germanic)
Usage notes
General
In many countries, the abbreviation W.C., for the British "Water Closet", may be used instead of the local word for "toilet(s)", "bathroom" or "restroom". In U.S. English "toilet" refers primarily to the fixture (the toilet itself) rather than the room which contains it. In German, "W.C." is pronounced with the German names of the letters, and the informal "Klo" for "Klosett" can refer to either the fixture or the room.Related articles
External links
