{"id":1717,"date":"2016-04-12T00:00:15","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T00:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/?p=1717"},"modified":"2022-07-20T21:59:09","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T21:59:09","slug":"5-useful-phrases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/tips-inspiration\/5-useful-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Kit: 5 Useful Phrases for Travellers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Foreign languages can be tricky, and even the most well-intentioned travellers can get shy trying to use the more unfamiliar ones. But there are a handful of words and phrases that every self-respecting (and other-culture-respecting) traveller should learn.<\/p>\n

\"google-translate\"<\/p>\n

Our multilingual guide \u2013 with the English word or phrase followed by 15 international languages \u2013 can help get you started with the basics.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve included a bit of context or explanation where necessary. For instance, in some languages you use different words or phrases to address men from those you use to speak to women.<\/p>\n

Tip: Keep in mind too that there\u2019s often more to being polite than simply using the right words. You may want to dig a bit deeper into your destination\u2019s customs and proper etiquette before you go in order to avoid any embarrassing or offensive situations.<\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve also made the assumption that because you are travelling to a foreign country and will likely be meeting or speaking to people for the first time, you\u2019ll use the formal versus the informal forms of greeting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"hello-11\"<\/p>\n

1) Hello. How are you?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Everyone’s go-to icebreaker.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arabic: Ahlan. Kayf haalak?<\/p>\n

Note: When greeting a group of people in Arabic, the proper, polite approach is to individually greet each person. Bear in mind that many Arabic-speaking nations think it rude for men and women to publicly greet one another.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cantonese: N\u00e9ih h\u00f3u. N\u00e9ih h\u00f3u ma.<\/p>\n

French: Bonjour. Comment allez-vous?<\/p>\n

German: Hallo. Wie geht es dir?<\/p>\n

Hindi: Namaste. \u0100p kaise hai\u1e45?<\/p>\n

Italian: Ciao. Come stai?<\/p>\n

Japanese: Konnichiwa. O genki desu ka?<\/p>\n

Khmer: Niak sohk sabaay te?<\/p>\n

Note: Traditionally, Cambodians say hello and goodbye <\/em>\u2013<\/em> particularly the first time <\/em>\u2013<\/em> with the sampeah: they put their palms together (like praying) and bow their heads. While sampeahing, you should also say the formal Khmer greeting <\/em>\u201c<\/em>Choum reap sor<\/em>\u201d<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mandarin: Ni h\u01ceo.<\/p>\n

Persian\/Farsi: Salam. Shoma chetur hastin?<\/p>\n

Portuguese:\u00a0Ol\u00e1<\/a>.\u00a0Como est\u00e1?<\/a><\/p>\n

Spanish:\u00a0\u00a1Hola!<\/a>\u00a0\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1 usted?<\/a><\/p>\n

Thai: S\u00e0-w\u00e0t-dee. S\u00e0-baai dee m\u0103i.<\/p>\n

Vietnamese: For males, use Ch\u00e0o anh. Anh kh\u1ecfe kh\u00f4ng? And for females, say\u00a0Ch\u00e0o ch\u1ecb<\/a>. Ch\u1ecb kh\u1ecfe kh\u00f4ng?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"thank-you\"<\/p>\n

2) Thank you<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you want to express your gratitude, here\u2019s how to do it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arabic: Shukran Jazilan (translates to \u201cthanks a lot\u201d).<\/p>\n

Cantonese: Use \u201cD\u00f2jeh\u201d when thanking someone for a present, and \u201c\u1e3ehg\u00f2i\u201d when expressing gratitude for a service.<\/p>\n

French: Merci.<\/p>\n

German: Danke.<\/p>\n

Hindi: Dhanyav\u0101d.<\/p>\n

Italian: Grazie.<\/p>\n

Japanese: Arigat\u014d<\/p>\n

Khmer: Aw kohn.<\/p>\n

Malay: Terima kasih.<\/p>\n

Mandarin: Xi\u00e8xi\u00e8.<\/p>\n

Persian: Mamn\u016bnam.<\/p>\n

Portuguese: Use \u201cObrigado\u201d for men and \u201cObrigada\u201d for women.<\/p>\n

Spanish: Gracias.<\/p>\n

Thai: K\u00f2p kun.<\/p>\n

Vietnamese: Use \u201cC\u1ea3m \u01a1n \u00f4ng\u201d for men; use \u201cC\u1ea3m \u01a1n b\u00e0\u201d for women.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"toilet\"<\/p>\n

3) Where are the toilets?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Commit this one to memory first! This is not the question you want to forget how to say when you\u2019ve had too many cups of tea or pints of beer!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arabic: Ayn al-\u1e25amm\u0101m?<\/p>\n

Cantonese: Use \u201cChis\u00f3 h\u00e1i b\u012bndouh a?\u201d or \u201cS\u00e1is\u00e1ug\u0101an h\u00e1i b\u012bndouh a?\u201d<\/p>\n

French:\u00a0O\u00f9 se trouvent les toilettes?
\nGerman: Wo ist die toilette?<\/p>\n

Hindi: T\u0101yalet kah\u0101\u1e41 hai\u1e45?<\/p>\n

Italian:\u00a0Dov’\u00e8 il bagno?
\nJapanese: Toire wa doko desu ka?<\/p>\n

Khmer: Bawng-kohn neuv ai naa?<\/p>\n

Malay: Di mana tandas?<\/p>\n

Mandarin: C\u00e8su\u01d2 z\u00e0i n\u01cel\u01d0.<\/p>\n

Persian: Dashtshuee kojast?<\/p>\n

Portuguese: Onde est\u00e1 a casa de banho?<\/p>\n

Spanish: \u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 el ba\u00f1o?<\/p>\n

Thai: H\u00f4ng n\u00e1am y\u00f2o n\u0103i?<\/p>\n

Vietnamese: C\u1ea7u ti\u00eau \u1edf \u0111\u00e2u?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"howmuch\"<\/p>\n

4) How much is it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The answer to this all-important question may determine whether you bring home that coveted souvenir.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arabic: Ask either \u201cBekam?\u201d or \u201cAddesh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cantonese: N\u012bgo g\u00e9id\u014d ch\u00edn a?<\/p>\n

French: Combien \u00e7a co\u00fbte?<\/p>\n

German:\u00a0Wie viel kostet das?<\/p>\n

Hindi: Kitane k\u0101 hai?<\/p>\n

Italian:\u00a0Quanto costa?<\/p>\n

Japanese: Ikura desu ka?<\/p>\n

Khmer: Nih th’lay pohnmaan?<\/p>\n

Malay: Berapa harganya ini?<\/p>\n

Mandarin: Zh\u00e8ge du\u014dsh\u01ceo qi\u00e1n?<\/p>\n

Persian: Gheymatesh chande?<\/p>\n

Portuguese: Quanto custa?<\/p>\n

Spanish: \u00bfCu\u00e1nto cuesta?<\/p>\n

Thai: Raa-kaa t\u00e2o r\u00e0i?<\/p>\n

Vietnamese: C\u00e1i n\u00e0y gi\u00e1 bao nhi\u00eau?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"goodbye\"<\/p>\n

5) Goodbye<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Parting is such sweet sorrow, but it\u2019s not so sweet if you don\u2019t have these words up your sleeve.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arabic: You\u2019ll often hear \u201cMa’a as-salaama\u201d, which means \u201cgoodbye\u201d or \u201cIla-liqaa\u201d, which translates to \u201cuntil we meet again\u201d.<\/p>\n

Cantonese: Use \u201cJoigin\u201d or \u201cB\u0101aibaai\u201d.<\/p>\n

French: Au revoir.<\/p>\n

German:\u00a0Auf Wiedersehen.
\nHindi: Namaste.<\/p>\n

Italian:\u00a0Arrivederci.<\/p>\n

Japanese: Say\u014dnara<\/p>\n

Khmer: Choum reap lear.<\/em><\/p>\n

Malay: Use \u201cSelamat tinggal\u201d if you\u2019re the one leaving and \u201cSelamat jalan\u201d if you\u2019re the one staying.<\/p>\n

Mandarin: Z\u00e0iji\u00e0n.<\/p>\n

Persian: Bedrood.<\/p>\n

Portuguese: Adeus (frm).<\/p>\n

Spanish: Adi\u00f3s.<\/p>\n

Thai: laa g\u00f2n n\u00e1.<\/p>\n

Vietnamese: Use \u201cCh\u00e0o anh\u201d for men and \u201cCh\u00e0o ch\u1ecb\u201d for women.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Foreign languages can be tricky, and even the most well-intentioned travellers can get shy trying to use the more unfamiliar ones. But there are a handful of words and phrases that every self-respecting (and other-culture-respecting) traveller should learn. Our multilingual guide \u2013 with the English word or phrase followed by 15 international languages \u2013 can… Continue reading Travel Kit: 5 Useful Phrases for Travellers<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1718,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[407,69],"tags":[451],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-1717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fun-facts-and-snippets","category-tips-inspiration","tag-lingo","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Say Hello in Different Languages - Useful Travel Phrases<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ni hao. Como est\u00e1? Arigat\u014d! Arrivederci. 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