Common phrases in various languages

Here is a list of common phrases in various 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 IPA. However, actual pronunciations of the pseudo-English spellings will vary from speaker to speaker. Enclose the "pronunciation 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.

See also Common phrases in constructed languages.

Examples

English (Germanic)

As a sample, here's English, according to British Received Pronunciation, followed by American English/Standard American English, if different:

Afrikaans (Germanic)

Albanian (Albanian)

Note: All the above sounds are in the Ogg Vorbis format.

Arabic (Semitic)

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., the one preceding the last).

Bangla language (Indo-Aryan)

Pronunciation guide: Small letter t and d represent unaccented t and d pronunciations as in French. Capital letter T and D represent accented pronunciations in English. 'a' is pronounced as /a/ in 'father'. Small letter 'o' represents /o/ as in 'old'. Capital letter 'O' is /o/ as in 'log'.

Basque

Belarusian (Slavic)

Bosnian (Slavic)

Breton (Celtic)

Bulgarian (Slavic)

Catalan (Romance)

Chinese, Cantonese (Sinitic)

Note: Cantonese is a tonal language. Pronunciations provided below include numbers indicating tone. Tone 1 is high and level/falling; 2 is medium and rising; 3 is medium and level; 4 is low and falling; 5 is low and rising, 6 is low and level. For more info, see Standard Cantonese. The characters shown are Traditional Chinese characters. Pronunciation is given using Jyutping and IPA.

Note: Cantonese, like most of the other Chinese languages, do not actually have words for "yes" and "no." Translations for "yes" and "no" given above actually mean "it is" and "it is not" and can be used for questions asking for confirmation. However, for certain yes/no questions, one would normally respond with the verb or the negation of the verb. For instance, to respond to a question such as "do you want to go?" one would respond with "go" or "not go."

Chinese, Mandarin (Sinitic)

Note || Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language. Tone 1 (e.g. mā) is high and level; 2 (e.g., má) is rising; 3 (e.g., mǎ) is low 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. If the simplified- and traditional-character versions of a phrase are identical, only one phrase is shown.

Usage Notes

1. 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.
2. This actually means "it is" and can only be used in an answer to a question with the verb "to be". Languages like Chinese, Irish, Toki Pona, and Welsh do not have words for "yes" or "no". Instead you repeat the main verb of the question in your answer. However, shaking your head in affirmation or negation works as expected, with the exception of answers to negative questions, in which usage is inverted — answering in the negative to "You don't like him?" would indicate that you do like him.

Chinese, Shanghainese (Sinitic)

Unlike Mandarin and Cantonese, Shanghainese actually has the direct "yes" (éh/ai) similar to English.

Chinese, Taiwanese (Sinitic)

The Han characters provided below are for reference only. They are not necessarily standard.

Croatian (Slavic)

Czech (Slavic)

Danish (Germanic)

Usage Notes

1. No word directly corresponds to the word "please". Danish and Finnish express the concept of politeness in a request in various ways.) One way is to smile while asking for something, another is to add tak (thank you) to the end of the question: "kan jeg få noget mere at drikke, tak", although this is more of an anglicised form of Danish.

Dutch (Germanic)

Englisc (Old English) (Germanic)

Usage Note

No word directly corresponds to the word "please". Old English expressed the concept of politeness in a request in various ways.

Esperanto (International Auxiliary Language)

Estonian (Finno-Ugric)

• Estonian: eesti keel [e:s-ti ke:l] Stress is usually on 1st syllable.
• hello: tere [te-re]
• good-bye: head aega [head-ae-ga]
• please: palun [pa-lun]
• thank you: aitäh [ai-tæch] h- is strong like ch in "Loch", tänan [tæ-nan] (more formal term, it literally means "I thank you".)
• you're welcome: palun [pa-lun]
• that one: see [se:]
• how much?: kui palju? [kui pal-ju] "j" is pronounced like "y"
• English: inglise keel [ing-li-se ke:l]
• yes: jah [jach]
• no: ei
• sorry: vabandage [va-ban-da-ge], vabandust [va-ban-dust]
• I don't understand: Ma ei saa aru [ma ei sa: a-ru]
• generic toast: terviseks [ter-vi-sex]
• Do you speak English?: Kas te räägite inglise keelt? [kas te ræ:-gi-te ing-li-se ke:lt]
• Where is the bathroom/toilet? Kus on tualett/ WC? [kus on tua-lett/ we:-tse:]
• Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year! Häid jõule ja õnnelikku uut aastat! [hæid jƏu-le ja Ən-ne-lik-ku uut aas-tat]

Finnish (Finno-Ugric)

French (Romance)

Frisian (Germanic)

The translations provided following W: are in West Frisian, those following N: are in North Frisian (Mooring dialect).

Friulian (Romance)

Georgian (Caucasian)

German (Germanic)

Greek (Greek)

Haitian Creole (Romance)

Hawaiian (Malayo-Polynesian)

Hebrew (Semitic)

Hindi (Indo-Iranian)

Hungarian (Finno-Ugric)

Note: gy is pronounced like in would you; ny ( like in can you; ö and ő like in fur; a like in hot; s like in ship; sz like in sun; j like in yes; cs like in chip; é like in eight.

• Hungarian: magyar // ('MA-dyar)
• hello: Jó napot kívánok // ('JOH nup-ot 'KEEH-vaa-nock)
  • szia, // ('SEE-ya) is common amongst friends
• good-bye: viszontlátásra // ('WE-sont-LAAH-taash-ro)
• please: legyen szíves // ('LEH-dyen 'SEE-vesh)
• thank you: köszönöm // ('KEHR-ser-nerm)
• that one: az // (OZ)
• how much?: mennyi? // ('ME-nyi)
• I'd like...: kérek... // (KAY-reck)
• yes: igen // ('EE-ghen)
• no: nem // (NEM)
• sorry: bocsánat // ('BOH-chaa-not)
• I don't understand: nem értem // (NEM ayr-tem)
• I don't remember: nem emlékszem (NEM EM-lake-sem)
• where's the bathroom?: Hol van a mosdó? // ('HOLE von o MOSH-doh)
• generic toast: egészségedre // ('EH-gay-shay-ged-re)
• Do you speak English?: Beszél angolul? // ('BEH-sayl 'ON-goh-lool)

Icelandic (Germanic)

• Icelandic: íslenska // (EES-len-ska)
• hello: góðan dag // (GOH-than dahg)
• good-bye: bless //
• please: gjörðu svo vel // (GYUHR-thuh so vel)
• thank you: takk fyrir // (tahk FEER-eer)
• that one: þetta // (thetta)
• how much?: hversu mikið // (KVAIR-suh mickith)
• English: enska /enska/ (enn skah)
• yes: já // (yow)
• no: nei /nej/ (nay)
• generic toast: skál! // (scowl)

Indonesian (Malayo-Polynesian)

(note: N is pronounced like ng in king)

• Indonesian: bahasa Indonesia /ba-ha-sa in-do-ne-sia/
• hello:
  • halo /ha-lo/ (casual and on telephone)
  • selamat pagi /suh-la-mat pa-gi/ (morning)
  • selamat siang /... si-aN/ (around midday and in the early afternoon)
  • selamat sore /... so-re/ (late afternoon)
  • selamat malam /... ma-lam/ (after dark)
• good-bye:
  • dadah /dah-dah/ (usual, informal)
  • selamat tinggal /... tiN-gal/ (said by person leaving)
  • selamat jalan /... ja-lan/ (said by person staying)
• please: tolong /toe-loN/
• thank you: terima kasih /tree-ma ka-sih/
• that one: itu /i-too/
• how much? berapa /buh-ra-pa/
• English: bahasa Inggris /ba-ha-sa iN-gris/
• yes: ya /ya/
• no: tidak /ti-da'/
• generic toast: selamat minum /suh-la-mat mi-noom/ (cheers)
• excuse me: maaf /ma-af/
• I don't understand: saya tidak mengerti /sa-ya ti-da' muh-Nur-ti/
• Do you speak English?: bisa bahasa Inggris? /bi-sa .../
• Where is the restroom?: di mana toilet? /di ma-na toy-let/

Irish (Celtic)

• Irish: Gaeilge /geləgɛ/ (GAY-lih-geh)
• welcome: fáilte /faːltʲə/(FALL-cha)
• good-bye: slán /slaːn/ (slawn)
• please: le do thoil /lɛ dɔ hil/ (leh duh hill)
• thank you: go raibh maith agat /gə rɛv mah agət/ (guh rev MAH a-gut)
• sorry: tá brón orm (taː broːn urm)
• that one: é sin /eʃin/ (a:shin)
• how much?: cé mhéad /keː veːd/ (kay-vade)
• English: Béarla /beːr lə/ (BARE-lah)
• yes: Repeat verb, ex: "An bhfuil tú ag teach Mháirtín?" (Are you at Martin's house?), would be replied to by "Tá" If the conjugation of the verb is unknown, "Tá" will be understoof /ta:w/ (like taw, but more constricted, as in "toe")
• no: Negative of verb is supplied, though "Níl" (Isn't) should be understood /n'i:l/ (kneel)
• I don't understand: ní thuigim /niː higim/
• Where's the bathroom?: cá bhfuil an leithreas? (kaː vil un lehras)
• generic toast: sláinte /slaːntʲə/ (SLAWN-tye)

Italian (Romance)

• Italian: italiano (ee-tah-lee-AN-oh) (listen)
• hello: ciao (chah-ow) (listen)
• good-bye: arrivederci (a-ree-veh-DARE-chee) (listen)
• please: per favore (per fa-VOAR-ay)
• thank you: grazie (GRAT-zee-eh)
• that one: quello (KWEL-low) (masculine); quella (KWEL-lah) (feminine)
• how much? quanto (KWAN-tow)
• English: inglese (in-GLAY-say)
• yes: sì (see)
• no: no (no)
• sorry: scusa (SKOO-za); scusi (SKOO-zee) (polite treatment)
• I don't understand: non capisco (non kuh pee skow)
• where's the bathroom?: dov'è il bagno? (do veh eel bah nyoh)
• generic toast: salute (sall-OO-teh); cincin (cheen cheen)

Japanese

• Japanese: 日本語 (にほんご, nihóngo) /ni ho n go/ or // (nyee-hon-go)
• hello:
  • good day: 今日は (こんにちは, kónnichi wa) // (kohn-nyee-chee-wa)
  • good evening: 今晩は (こんばんは, kónban wa) // (kon bahn wah)
  • good morning: おはよう御座います (おはようございます, ohayou gozaimásu) /ohajo: gozajmas/ (oh ha yoh god zigh mahss), sometimes shortened to おはよう (ohayóu)
  • hello (on the telephone): もしもし (móshi-moshi) // (mosh moshy)
• good-bye:
  • good-bye: さようなら (sayóunara) // (sigh yoh na ra)
  • good-bye (when leaving): いってきます (ittekimásu) / it:ekimas/ (ittay kimas)
  • good-bye (when being left): いってらっしゃい (itterasshái) // (ittay rash shy)
• please:
  • ...下さい (...ください, kudasái) /kudasaj/ (cuda-sigh) (as part of a sentence, i.e., "Please sit down.")
  • どうぞ (dóuzo) /do:zo/ (Often used when offering or allowing something to someone else. Similar to "go ahead" or "feel free".)
  • お願いします (おねがいします, onegái shimásu) // (oh-ne-gai she-mahss)
• thank you: 有り難う (ありがとう, arígatou) // (ah-ri-ga-toe)
• sorry: ご免 (ごめん, gomén) /go me n/ (go men) inf. or 御免なさい (ごめんなさい, gomen nasái) /go me n na sa i/ (go men nah sigh)
• excuse me: 済みません (すみません, sumimasén) /su mi ma se n/ (sue mee mah sen)
• that one: それ (soré) // (so reh)
• how much? いくらですか。 (íkura désu ka) // (i-ku-ra des ka)
• English: 英語 (えいご, eegó) // or /ej go/ (ay-go)
• yes: はい (hái) // (high)
• no: いいえ (iié) // (ee-eh)
• thanks (before eating): いただきます (itadakimás) /itadakimas/
• to be excused after eating: ごちそうさまでした (gotch-sou-samá déshita) //
• where's the bathroom?: お手洗いはどこですか　 (おてあらいはどこですか, oteárai wa dóko desu ka) or just お手洗いどこ　 (おてあらいどこ, oteárai dóko) // /otearaj doko/ (o-tay-a-rye wa do-ko death-ka) (o-tay-a-rye do-ko)
• generic toast: 乾杯 (かんぱい, kampái) /kampaj/ (kam-pie)
• can you speak English?: 英語が話せますか, (えいごがはなせますか, eigó ga hanasemásu ka) /e: go ŋa ha na se mas ka/ (ay-go ga ha-na-say-mas-ka)
• foreigner: 外国人 (がいこくじん, gaikokújin) // (informally 外人 (がいじん, gaijín) (guy jean)

Kannada (Dravidian)

• Kannada: Kannada
• hello: Namaskaara
• good-bye: Hogibittu baruttene
• How are you?: Neevu hey-gay iddeera? (with respect)
• please: dayavittu
• thank you: dhanyavaadagalu
• that one: adu
• how much?: eshtu
• English: aangla
• yes: houdu
• no: illa
• generic toast:

Khmer

• Khmer: ខ្មែរ khmer
• hello: សួស្ដី soursdey
• good-bye : លា​ហើយ lea hey
• sorry: សូម​ទោស som tos
• no problem: គ្មានបញ្ហា kmean panh-ha
• happy new year: សួស្ដី​ឆ្នាំ​ថ្មី soursdey chnamm tmei
• I love Khmer: ខ្ញុំ​ស្រលាញ់​ខ្មែរ knhom sro-lanh khmer
• Thanks you: អរគុណ Or kun
• How much: ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន Tlai punman
• yes: បាទ bart (male)/ ចាស៎ jah (female)
• no: ទេ teh
• I don't understand: ខ្ញុំ​មិន​យល់​ទេ kngom men yol teh
• where's the toilette?: តើ​បន្ទប់​ទឹក​នៅ​ទី​ណា? ter bantub tek nov ti na?
• Do you speak English?: តើ​អ្នក​និយាយ អង់គ្លេស ទេ? ter nak niyay Anglais teh?

Korean

Note: Hangul Revised Romanization of Korean See also: Names of Korea

• Korean: 한국어 hangugeo //

• hello: 안녕하세요 annyeonghaseyo// (ah nyuhng ha say yo)
• hello (to friends or someone younger): 안녕 annyeong // (ah nyuhng)

• good-bye (when leaving): 안녕히게세요 annyeonghigeseyo // (ah nyuhng hee geh say yo)
• good-bye (when being left): 안녕히가세요 annyeonghigaseyo // (ah nyuhng hee ga say yo)
• good-bye (to friends or someone younger): 안녕 annyeong // (ahn nyuhng)

• please may I have...: 주세요 juseyo // (ju say yo). Note: to be used after the object; e.g., Kimbap ju say yo. = Sushi roll, please.
• thank you: 고맙습니다 gomapseupnida // (go mahp s'm nee dah), 고마워 gomaweo // (go mah woe)
• that one: 저것 jeogeot // (juh gut)
• how much?: 얼마예요? eolmayeyo // (uhl ma eh yo)
• yes: 녜; ne // (neh) or 예 ye // (yeh)
• no: 아니오 anio // (ah nee oh) or 아뇨 anyo // (ahn yoh)
• sorry: 미안합니다 mianhamnida // (mee ahn hahm nee dah)
• I don't understand: 모르겠습니다 moreugesseumnida // (mow l' guess 'im nee dah)
• where's the toilet?: 화장실이 어디예요? hwajangsili eodiyeyo // (hwah jahng see lee uh dee ay yo)
• generic toast: 건배! geonbae // (gun beh) (final vowel is like 'a' in English "bat"), 위하여! wihayeo // (wee hah yuh)
• Do you speak English?: 영어 할 줄 아세요? yeongeo hal jul aseyo // (young uh hall jool a say yo)

Latin (Italic)

Pronunciations are first given in the Ecclesiastical Pronunciation (Based on Italian, and used in some ceremonies by the Catholic church, and usually heard in recordings of classical music). These pronunciations are followed by the classical pronunciation (a reconstruction of how scholars believe the Romans pronounced these expressions)

For example -- "of light" lucis (LOO-cheess) (LOO-kiss), with (LOO-cheess) being the ecclesiastical pronunciation, and (LOO-kiss) how the Romans said lucis.

Latvian (Baltic)

• Latvian: Latviešu
• hello: Sveiks!
• goodbye: uz redzēšanos
• please: lūdzu
• thank you: paldies
• yes: jā
• no: nē
• how are you?: kā jums klājas?

Lithuanian (Baltic)

• Lithuanian: Lietuviškai ("lietu'vishkai")
• hello: labas ("lA-bas")
• goodbye: ate! ("ateh'")
• please: prašau("prashau")
• thank you: ačiū ("Ahchjooh")
• that one: tas(masculine), ta(feminnine) ("tas, ta)"
• how much?: kiek? ("kjEk")
• yes: taip ("taIp")
• no: ne ("ne'")
• sorry: atsiprašau ("Atsiprashau")
• I don't understand: nesupratau
• toast: į sveikatą! ("EE sveikAtA!")
• Do you speak English? kalbate angliškai?

Low Saxon (Germanic)

• Low Saxon: Plattdüütsch /"Plutt deech/
• hello: moin /moyn/
• good-bye: tschüss /'chuss/
• please: bidde /bidde/
• thank you: danke /"ðæŋka/
• that one: düssen /"ðussan/
• how much?: wo veel /vo "Fayl/
• yes: jou /yow/
• no: nee /nay/
• sorry: tschulligung /'choo-lee-goonk/
• I don't understand: Ik vörstah nich / eek forstaa nix /
• where's the toilet?: wo is de tante Meyer? /vow is day tanne migher/
• generic toast: nich lang snacken - kopp in'n nacken! /neex lung snuckan 'kopp inAkan/
• Do you speak English?: snacks du ingelsch? /snucks doo engalsh/

Macedonian (Slavic)

Skopje Dialect

• Macedonian: makedonski /mA-keh-dOn-skee/ (maakehdonskee)
• hello: zdravo /zdrA-vO/ (z like in zebra) Literal translation: healthy
• good-bye: priatno /priAtno/
• please: molam /mO-lUm/ (moluhm)
• thank you: fala /hvA-la/ Literal translation: praise
• that one: to (not as English to)
• how much?: kolku? /kolku/ (col-coo, co-, -co => cup)
• English: angliski /angliski/ (-skee)
• yes: da /dA/
• no: ne /neh/
• generic toast: na zdravje /nU zdrUvyeh/ Literal translation: to health!
• sorry: izvini /ezveene/
• I don't understand: ne razbiram /neh rUzbeerUm/
• Where is [the bathroom (toilet)]?: Kade e klozetot? /kAde (y)eh klOhzehtOt/

Maltese (Semitic)

• Maltese language: Il-lingwa maltija /il lingwa ma:lti:ja/
• hello: merħba /merX\ba/
• good day: bonġu /bondZu:/
• bye: ċaw /tSaw/, saħħa /saX\X\a/
• please: jekk jogħġbok /jekk jo:dZbok/
• thank you: grazzi /grattsi/
• that one: dak /da:k/
• how much?: kemm? /kemm/
• yes: iva /i:va/
• no: le /le/
• sorry: jiddispjaċini /jiddispjatSi:ni/
• I don't understand: ma nifhimx /ma: nifimS/
• where is the toilet?: fejn it-tojlit? /fejn it tojlit/
• generic toast: saħħa! /saX\X\a/
• do you speak English?: titkellem bl-ingliż? /titkellem bliNli:s/
• Malta is a beautiful island: Malta hija gżira sabiħa /ma:lta i:ja gzi:ra sabi:X\a/

Malay (Malayo-Polynesian)

• Malay language: bahasa Melayu /ba-ha-sa me-la-yu/
• hello:
  • selamat pagi /sə-la-mat pa-gi/ (morning)
  • selamat tengah hari /... təŋah ha-ri/ (around midday and in the early afternoon)
  • selamat petang /... pə-taŋ/ (late afternoon)
  • selamat malam /... ma-lam/ (after dark)
• good-bye:
  • selamat tinggal /... tiŋ-gal/ (said by person leaving) (lit., safe living [tinggal has connotations of residence, stay])
  • selamat jalan /... ʤa-lan/ (said by person staying) (lit., safe travelling)
• please: tolong /tɔ-lɔŋ/
• thank you: terima kasih /tə-ri-ma ka-sih/
• you're welcome: sama sama /sa-ma sa-ma/
• that one: itu /i-tʊ/
• how much?: berapa /bə-ra-pa/
• English language: bahasa Inggeris /ba-ha-sa iŋ-gəris/
• yes: ya /ja/
• no: tidak /ti-dak/
• excuse me: maaf /ma-af/
• I don't understand: saya tidak faham /sa-ja ti-dak fa-ham/
• Can you speak English?: bolehkah cakap bahasa Inggeris? /bo-leh-kah ʧakap .../
• Where is the restroom?: di mana tandas? /di mana tan-das/

Maori (Malayo-Polynesian)

• Maori: Māori /maːoɾi/
• hello: tēnā koe /teːnaː koe/ (to one person), tēnā kōrua /teːnaː koːɾua/ (to two people), tēnā koutou /teːnaː koutou/
• good-bye (to those who are staying): e noho rā /e noho ɾaː/
• good-bye (to those who are leaving): haere rā /haeɾe ɾaː/
• please: koa /koa/
• thank you (or "good day" - literally "be well"): kia ora /kia oɾa/
• how much?: pēhea? /peːhea/
• yes: ae /ae/
• no: kaore /kaoɾe/

Malayalam (Dravidian languages)

• Malayalam: malayaalam
• hello: namaskaram
• good-bye: Poy varaamPoy varatte"
• please: dayavaayi
• thank you: nanni
• how much?: ethra?
• yes: athe
• no: illa or alla
• English: aangaleyam
• Whats your name:pere enthanu
• harassment:peedanam
• I love you: njaan ninne snehikkunnu
• Do you like me: ninakku enne ishtamaano
• what news?: enthokkeyaanu vishesham
• news: vaartha\vishesham
• first: aadyam\onnamathu
• water: vellam
• alphabet: aksharam
• food: bhakshanam\aahaaram
• rain: mazha
• hotel: sathram\hotel
• way: vazhi

Marathi (Indo-Iranian)

• Marathi: maraaThee
• hello: namaskar
• good-bye: achhaa
• please: krupah yaa
• thank you: aa bhaar
• how much?: kitee
• yes: ho
• no: naa hee
• English: ingrajee

Nahuatl (Uto-Aztecan)

• Nahuatl: Nawatlahtoli
• hello: niltse
• good-bye: nimitsittas
• thank you: tlasohkamati
• that one: inon
• yes: kema (ordinary), kemakatsin (reverential)
• no: ahmo (ordinary), ahmotsin (reverential)
• English: Inglestlahtoli
• Do you speak [English]?: Nitetlahtoa [Inglestlahtoli]?
• What is your name?: Tlen mo tokatsin?

Nigerian pidgin (English-based pidgin)

• Nigerian pidgin:  
• hello: How now
• good-bye: A go dey see yu now
• please: A beg
• thank you: Thank yu
• that one:  
• how much?:  
• English: Oyinbo
• yes: Yes
• no: No
• generic toast:  

Norwegian (Germanic) - Bokmål

• Norwegian: norsk /'nɔʃk/ (norsk)
• Hello: hallo /hɑ'luː/
• Hi: hei /hæi/
• Good-bye: farvel (formal and slightly old-fashioned)/fɑɾ'wel/ (far well); Ha det bra (a bit less formal); ha det (informal); hei /hæi/ (on the phone. never used like this by children or adolescents)
• Please: vær så snill /'wæːr so snil/
• Thank you: takk /tɑk/ (takh)
• That one: den /den/ (den) or det /deː/ (deh)
• How much?: hvor mye? /wuɾ myːə/
• English: engelsk /'eŋelsk/ or /'əŋəlsk/
• Yes: ja /jɑː/ (yah)
• No: nei /næj/ (nay)
• Can I take your picture?: kan jeg ta bilde av deg?
• Where is the bathroom?: hvor er badet?
• Where do you come from?: hvor kommer du fra?
• Do you speak English?: snakker du engelsk?
• Generic toast: skål /skoːl/
• Where can I find a restaurant?: hvor kan jeg finne en restaurant?
• Where is the nearest hospital?: hvor er det nærmeste sykehuset?
• Banana: banan

Norwegian (Germanic) - Nynorsk

• Norwegian: norsk /'nɔʃk/ (norsk)
• Hello: hallo /hɑ'luː/
• Hi: hei /hæi/
• Good-bye: Ha det bra (formal); ha det (informal)
• Please: ver så snill /'wæːr so snil/
• Thank you: takk /tɑk/ (takh)
• That one: han/ho/den /den/ (den) or det /deː/ (deh)
• How much?: kor mykje?
• English: engelsk /'eŋelsk/ or /'əŋəlsk/
• Yes: jau /jɑː/ (yah) or ja
• No: nei /næj/ (nay)
• Can I take your picture?: kan eg ta bilete av deg?
• Where is the bathroom?: kvar er toalettet?
• Where do you come from?: kvar kjem du frå?
• Do you speak English?: snakkar du engelsk?
• Generic toast: skål /skoːl/
• Where can I find a restaurant?: kvar kan eg finne ein restaurant?
• Where is the nearest hospital?: kvar er det nærmaste sjukehuset?

O'odham (Uto-Aztecan)

• O'odham: O'odham ñiok
• English: Milga:n ñiok
• hello: Ṣap kaic (lit. what did you say?)
• good-bye: Do va ep em ñei
• that one: hegai
• yes: ha'u
• no: pi'a

Pennsylvania German, Pennsylvania Dutch (Germanic)

(dialects may vary)

• Pennsylvania Dutch: Pennsilfaani(isch)-Deitsch
• hello: hiya
• good-bye: bis schpeeder (bis shpayder) Until later
• please: please
• thank you: danki schee (dan-key shay)
• that one: da do (da daw)
• how much: Wie viel (wee feel)
• English: Englisch
• yes: Ya
• no: nee (nay)
• Can I take your picture?: Kann ich dei Pikder nemme? (can ich (Germanic 'ch' sounds like the H in huge) dye pic-der nay-me)
• Where is the washroom?: Wu is die Baadschtupp?
• Sorry I don't understand you.: Sorry, Ich verschteh dich net.

here are the modern german expressions:

• -
• hallo
• bis später (dialekt: bis späda)
• bitte
• Danke schön
• dieses hier, (dialects: des do, do da)
• Wie viel?
• Englisch
• ja
• nein
• Wo ist das Badezimmer? (Baadschtupp=Badestube, older word)
• Sorry/Tut mir Leid, ich verstehe dich nicht (dialect=I vasteh di net)

Polish (Slavic)

Portuguese (Romance)

Romanian (Romance)

• Romanian: româneşte //, limba română //
• hello: Bună ziua //
• good bye: La revedere //
• please: Vă rog //
• thank you: Mulțumesc //, Mersi //
• how much?: Cât? //
• English: engleză //
• do you speak English?: Vorbiţi engleză? //
• yes: da //
• no: nu //
• I don't understand: Nu înţeleg //
• generic toast: Noroc! //
• where's the bathroom?: Unde e baia? //

Russian (Slavic)

• Russian: русский // (listen)
• hello: здравствуйте // (listen) Literal translation: be healthy (imperative 2nd person singular/plural out of respect)
• good-bye: до свидания // (listen) Literal translation: until seeing
• please: пожалуйста // (listen)
• thank you: спасибо // (listen)
• that one: тот // (listen)
• how much?: сколько // (listen)
• English: английский // (listen)
• yes: да // (listen)
• no: нет // (listen)
• sorry: извините //
• I don't understand: не понимаю //
• generic toast: за здоровье // (listen) Literal translation: for health
• Do you speak English?: Вы говорите по-английски? // (listen)
• where's the bathroom?: где здесь туалет? //
• I love you: я люблю тебя //

Sanskrit (Indo-Iranian)

• Sanskrit: sanskrta (also samskrta) /san (nasal n) skrr tuh/
• hello: namo namah //
• good-bye: - //
• please: - //
• thank you: anugurihiitosumi //
• that one: - //
• how much?: '- //
• English: aanglabhasha //
• yes: ava //
• no: - //
• generic toast: - //

Sardinian (Romance)

• Sardinian: sardu /'sarDu/ "sar-doo"
• hello: bona die "bon-a dee-a"
• good-bye: adiosu /a'Djosu/ "ah-dhyohsoo"
• bye-bye: a nois bider /anos'biDere/ "a-nohss-BI-dere"
• please: pro piagher /'pro pja'Gere/ "pro pee-ah-gh-er-ay"
• thank you: gràtzias /'grasias/ "GRAHSS-yahss"
• that one: cussu /'kusu/ "KU-hssoo"
• how much?: cantu /'kantu/ "KAHN-too"
• English: Ingresu /in'gresu/ "in-GRAY-soo"
• yes: eia /'eja/
• no: no /'no/
• sorry: mi dispiaghidu
• I don't understand: Non comprendo
• I don't speak Sardinian: Non faeddo sardu
• where's the bathroom?:
• hello, and generic toast: saludu /sa'luDe/ "saw-LOODHE"

Scots (Germanic)

Scots survives in a number of dialects. The North east Central (Fife) pronunciation is marked NeC, North East Scots (Doric) is marked as NE. C ans S for central and southern pronunciatons. The unmarked pronunciations are generally used in most areas. A /t/ between vowels and final is glottalised. This may also occur with a final /d/.

• Scots: Scots [skots, skOts]
• hello: awricht [A'rIxt, a'rIxt], NE: whit like [fIt l@ik]
• good-bye: see ye [si: ji:]
• thank you: ta [ta:]
• that one: that ane [<tt>C and S Dat jIn, </tt>NeC</tt> Dat en, at en,</tt> NE at in]
• no: nae [ne:, nQ <tt> NE <tt>na]
• yes: ay [AI]
• sorry: sairy [se:rI]
• I don't understand: A dinna unnerstaund [a dIn@ Vn@rstA:n(d), a dIne Vn@rstA:n(d), a dIna Vn@rstA:n(d)]
• where's the bathroom?: whaur's the cludgie? [WA:rz D@ klVdZI,]. NE: whaur's the chantie [fArz i 'tSVntI]
• generic toast: cheers! [tSi:rz]
• Do you speak English?: Dae ye speak English? [de: ji spIk INlIS,<tt> NE <tt> di: ji spIk INlIS]

Scottish Gaelic (Celtic)

• Gaelic: Gàidhlig (GAH-lick)
• welcome: fàilte (FAL-tyuh)
• good-bye: mar sin leat (mar SHIN let)
• please: mas e do thoil e (mah SHEH daw HOL eh)
• thank you: tapadh leat (TAH-pah let)
• sorry: tha mi duilich (hah mee DOO-leekh)
• that one: am fear sin (am fer SHIN)
• how much?: cia mheud (kah VIT)
• English: Beurla (BYER-luh)
• yes: ²tha (hah)
• no: ³chan eil (chan YIL)
• I don't understand: chan eil mi a' tuigsinn (khan YIL mee uh TOOK-shin)
• Where's the bathroom?: càit a bheil an taigh beag? (KATCH-uh vil an TUH-eeh bik)
• generic toast: slàinte (SLAN-tyuh)

Serbian (Slavic)

Ekavian Dialect

• Serbian: srpski /srp-skee/ (srpskee)
• hello: zdravo /zdrA-vO/ (z like in zebra) Literal translation: healthy
• good morning: dobro jutro
• good afternoon: dobar dan
• good evening: dobro veče
• good-bye: doviđenja /dOvidʲɛnʲɑ/ Literal translation: until we see again
• please: molim /mO-lim/ (moleam)
• thank you: hvala /hvA-la/ Literal translation: praise
• that one: to (not as English to)
• how much?: koliko? /ko-lɛ-ko/ (coleeco, co-, -co => cup)
• English: engleski /ɛn-glɛ-ski/ (-skee)
• yes: da /dA/
• no: ne /nɛ/
• generic toast: živeli! /ʒi-vɛ-li/ (zhivelee) Literal translation: live!
• sorry: izvinite /ezveene/ (formal)
• I don't understand: ne razumem /na rAzumam/
• Where is [the bathroom (toilet)]?: Gde je toalet? /gdɛ jɛ toAlEt/
• Do you speak English?: Da li govorite engleski?

Slovak (Slavic)

NOTE: adjectives are in masculine singular nominative, if there are two ways of saying something (formal/informal), the formal one is used. Stress is always on the first syllable of the word.

• Slovak (adjective): slovenský (SLOvenskeee) /slovɛnskiː/
• Slovak (adverb): po slovensky (POslovenskee) /po slovɛnski/
• hello: dobrý deň (DObreee dyen) /dobriː ɟɛɲ/ Literal translation: good day
• good-bye: dovidenia (DOveedyeniya) /doviɟɛɲi̯a/
• please: prosím (Vás) (PROseeem vaas) /prosiːm vaːs/
• thank you: ďakujem (Vám) (DYAkooyem vaam) /ɟakujɛm vaːm/
• that one: tamten (TAMten) /tamtɛn/
• how much?: koľko (KOlko) /koʎko/
• English (adjective): anglický (ANglytskeee) /aŋgliʦkiː/
• English (adverb): po anglicky (POanglytskee) /po aŋgliʦki/
• yes: áno (AANO) /aːno/
• no: nie (niye) /ɲi̯ɛ/
• generic toast: Na zdravie (NAzdravye) /na zdravi̯ɛ/
• sorry: Prepáčte (PREpaachtye) /prɛpaːʧcɛ/
• I don't understand: Nerozumiem /NYerozoomyem/ (ɲɛrozumi̯ɛm/)
• Where is [the bathroom (toilet)]?: Kde je [záchod]? (KDYE YE ZAA-khod) /gɟɛ jɛ zaːxot/
• Do you speak [English]?: Hovoríte [po anglicky]? (HOvoreeetye POanglytskee) /hovoriːcɛ po aŋgliʦki/

Slovene (Slavic)

• Slovene: slovensko /slɒ'venskɒ/
• hello: zdravo /'zdrɑvɒ/ Literal translation: healthy
• hello: živijo /'ʒɪʊjɒ/
• good-bye: nasvidenje (also na svidenje) /na'svɪdɛnjɛ/
• please: prosim /'prɔsim/
• thank you: hvala /'hvɑla/
• that one: tisti /'tɪstɪ/ (ti-, -ti => Tibet)
• how much?: koliko? /'kɔlɪkɒ/ (co-, -co => cup)
• English: angleško /ɑn'gleʃkɒ/
• yes: da /dʌ/ (official), ja (colloquial)
• no: ne /nɛ/
• generic toast: na zdravje /nɑ zdrɑʊjɛ/ Literal translation: to (our) health

Spanish (Romance)

NOTE: For words ending in a vowel or the letters n or s, stress is on the penultimate (next to last) syllable. Words ending in other consonants, especially verbs, are stressed on the last syllable. Exceptions require a written accent. The th pronunciation is typical of standard Spanish as spoken in most of Spain, and is replaced by the s pronunciation in Latin America and some regions of Spain, such as the Canary Islands.

• Spanish: castellano , español (listen)
• hello: hola (listen), also buenos días
• good-bye: adiós (listen), hasta luego
• please: por favor
• thank you: gracias ,
• you’re welcome: de nada (literally, it was nothing)
• sorry: perdón
• that one: ése (masculine); ésa (feminine)
• how much?: cuánto
• English: inglés
• yes: sí
• no: no
• I don’t understand: no comprendo , no entiendo
• I don’t know: yo no sé
• where’s the bathroom?: ¿Dónde está el baño? (listen)
• generic toast: salud (literally, health)
• Do you speak English?: ¿Habla inglés? (listen)

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) as in "yes, please" or snälla (snella) as in "please, show me to the station" or "var så god" (vahr saw goh) as in "please come in and make yourself at home"
• excuse me: ursäkta mig (uor-SECKTAH may)
• 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)
• banana: banan (buh-NAAN)
• what time is it?: vad är klockan? (vaad air KLAWCK-an)
• Where's the bathroom?: var är toaletten? (vahr eyr twah-LET-en)
• I don't understand: jag förstår inte (yah fur-SHTOHR in-teh)
• Do you speak English?: Talar du engelska? (TAH-lahr doo ENG-elska) [with NG as in 'siNGer', not as in 'fiNGer']

Tagalog / Filipino (Malayo-Polynesian)

• English: Inglés (ing-GLES)
• Filipino: Pilipino (pih-lih-PIH-noh)
• Tagalog: Tagalog (tah-GAH-lick)
• hello: kumustá (koo-mus-TAH)
• good-bye: paalam (pa-AH-lam)
• please: Depending on the nature of the verb, either pakí- (pah-KEE) or makí- (mah-KEE) is attached as a prefix to a verb. ngâ (ngah) is optionally added after verb to increase politeness.
• thank you: salamat (sah-LAH-mat)
• that one: iyan (ee-YAN)
• how much?: magkano? (mag-KAH-noh?)
• yes: oo (O-awe) [o has neutral pronunciation]
• no: hindî (hin-DEH)
• sorry: pasensya pô (pah-SEN-shah PO)
• I don't understand: Hindî ko maintindihan (hin-DEE koh ma-in-TIN-dih-HAN)
• Where's the bathroom?: Nasaán ang banyo? (NA-sa-AN ang BAN-yoh?)
• generic toast: Mabuhay! (mah-BOO-high) [literally - "long live"]
• Do you speak English? Marunong ka bang magsalitâ ng Inglés? (mah-ROO-nohng kah bang mag-sah-li-TAH nahng eeng-GLESS?)

Tamil (Dravidian)

Tatar (Turkic)

• äye - yes
• yuq - no
• isänme(sez)/sawmı(sız) - hello
• sälâm - hi
• saw bul(ığız)/xuş(ığız) - goodbye
• zínhar öçen - please
• min - I
• sin - you
• ul - he / she / it
• bez - we
• sez - you
• alar - they
• millät - nation
• İngliz(çä) - English

Telugu (Dravidian)

• Telugu: Andhra Bhasha
• hello: namaskaaram
• good-bye: Selavu
• please: Daya chesi
• thank you: Dhanyavadamulu
• that one: adi
• how much?: Enta
• English: Aanglam
• yes: Avunu
• no: Kaadu

• generic toast: Kakarakaaya 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
• nevermind, it doesn't matter: maski
• I don't know: mi no save (save is two syllables sa-ve)

Turkish (Turkic)

• Turkish: Türkçe //
• hello: merhaba /merhaba/
• good day: Günaydin
• good bye: güle güle /gyle gyle/
• please: lütfen /lytfen/
• thank you: teşekkür ederim //
• how much: ne kadar
• English: İngilizce //
• yes: evet
• no: hayır //

Ukrainian (Slavic)

Note: adjectives have different forms when describing feminine, masculine or neuter nouns.

Vietnamese (Austroasiatic)