Important Phrases
TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELLING TO
Contents
1. Italian
5
Italian Phrases to Know Before Travelling
2. German
6
German Phrases to Know Before Travelling
3. Greek
9
Greek Phrases to Know Before Travelling
4. Spanish 10
Spanish Phrases to Know Before Travelling
Italian
Italian
Bound for the home of the Renaissance, the languid canals of Venice and the historical
treasures of Rome? Try these phrases to interact with the friendly, enthusiastic locals.
English to Italian Translations
HELLO
Ciao
I’M SORRY
GOOD MORNING
Buon Giorno
YES/NO
Si/No
PLEASE
Per favore
HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST?
Quanto costa questo?
THANK YOU
Grazie
WHERE IS THE SUBWAY/BATHROOM?
Dov’è la metropolitana/la toilette?
YOU’RE WELCOME
Prego
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
Come si chiama?
Mi dispiace
(While this phrase literally translates
to “you’re welcome,” it also has other
meanings as well like “I beg you” or
CAN YOU HELP ME?
Mi può aiutare?
“please, order” in a restaurant setting. I was
confused during my first trip to Italy because
I thought everyone was walking around
I DON’T SPEAK ITALIAN
Non parlo italiano.
talking about pasta sauce all the time.)
EXCUSE ME
Mi scusi
DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
Parli inglese?
5
German
So you’ve decided it’s time for beautiful Bavarian castles, a pint of fresh Paulaner
or a trip to the equally trendy and historic capital city of Berlin? Here are the same
English to German Translations
Helpful tip: The Eszett (ß) is pronounced as an s+z sound
HELLO
Hallo
I’M SORRY
Es tut mir leid
GOOD DAY
Gutten tag
YES/NO
Ja/Nein
THANK YOU
Danke
HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST?
Wieviel kostet das?
YOU’RE WELCOME
Bitte
WHERE IS THE SUBWAY?
Wo ist die U-Bahn (or S-Bahn for
above ground rapid transit)?
(As with Italian, the German word for
thank you has many meanings. It can also
mean please or pardon, depending on
the context).
EXCUSE ME (PLEASE)
Entschuldigen Sie (bitte)
WHERE IS THE BATHROOM?
Wo ist die Toilette?
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
Wie heißen Sie?
CAN YOU HELP ME?
Können Sie mir helfen?
6
DO YOU SPEAK GERMAN?
Sprichst du Deutsch? (informal)
Sprechen Sie Deutsch? (formal)
DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
Sprichst du Englisch? (informal)
Sprechen Sie Englisch? (formal)
CAN I HAVE A BEER PLEASE?
Kann ich bitte ein Bier haben
CHEERS
Prost
German
phrases (plus a few beer-related ones, of course).
Greek
Greek
So you’ve decided to tackle the cultural giant of Athens, or kick back on the Greek Islands
for some killer seafood and sunsets (lucky you). Here are some phrases to help get you
where you’re going, or just throw around for good will (substituted from Greek alphabet
for pronunciation).
English to Greek Translations
HELLO
Yassoo (informal) Yassas (formal)
HOW MUCH IS THIS?
Posso kanay afto?
GOOD MORNING
Kalimera
WHERE IS THE SUBWAY/BATHROOM?
Poo eenay to metró/to bánio?
THANK YOU
Efharisto/Efharistoomay
HOW ARE YOU?
Ti-kanis
(we thank you)
YOU’RE WELCOME
Parakalo
EXCUSE ME
SORRY I DON’T SPEAK GREEK
Signomi, then milow ellenica
YOU’RE WELCOME
Parakalo
Me synchoreíte
SORRY
Sygnomi
YES/NO
Nah/Ochi
DO YOU SPEAK GREEK?
Milatay Elliniká?
DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
Milatay Ag-glika?
9
Spanish
If it’s off to the legendary architecture, nightlife, siestas and paella of Spain,
English to Spanish Translations
HELLO
Hola
HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST?
¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
GOOD DAY
Buenos días
WHERE IS THE SUBWAY/BATHROOM?
¿Dónde está el metro/el baño?
PLEASE
Por favor
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
¿Cómo te llamas? (informal)
¿Cómo se llama Usted? (formal)
THANK YOU
Gracias
YOU’RE WELCOME
De nada
EXCUSE ME
Disculpe
CAN YOU HELP ME?
¿Me puedes ayudar?
(In Spanish there are many ways to say
excuse me that vary in meaning.)
I DON’T SPEAK SPANISH
Yo no hablo español
I’M SORRY
Lo siento
DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
¿Habla inglés?
YES/NO
Sí/No
10
HOW ARE YOU?
¿Cómo estás? (informal)
¿Cómo está usted? (formal)
Spanish
here are some phrases to get you through the afternoon naps and late nights.