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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.

Contents

1.1 English (Germanic)
1.2 Afrikaans (Germanic)
1.3 Albanian (Albanian)
1.4 Arabic (Semitic)
1.5 Bangla language (Indo-Aryan)
1.6 Basque
1.7 Belarusian (Slavic)
1.8 Bosnian (Slavic)
1.9 Breton (Celtic)
1.10 Bulgarian (Slavic)
1.11 Catalan (Romance)
1.12 Chinese, Cantonese (Sinitic)
1.13 Chinese, Mandarin (Sinitic)

1.14 Chinese, Shanghainese (Sinitic)
1.15 Chinese, Taiwanese (Sinitic)
1.16 Croatian (Slavic)
1.17 Czech (Slavic)
1.18 Danish (Germanic)
1.19 Dutch (Germanic)
1.20 Englisc (Old English) (Germanic)
1.21 Esperanto (International Auxiliary Language)
1.22 Estonian (Finno-Ugric)
1.23 Finnish (Finno-Ugric)
1.24 French (Romance)
1.25 Frisian (Germanic)
1.26 Georgian (Caucasian)
1.27 German (Germanic)
1.28 Greek (Greek)
1.29 Haitian Creole (Romance)
1.30 Hawaiian (Malayo-Polynesian)
1.31 Hebrew (Semitic)
1.32 Urdu/Hindi language (Indo-Iranian)
1.33 Hungarian (Finno-Ugric)
1.34 Icelandic (Germanic)
1.35 Indonesian (Malayo-Polynesian)
1.36 Irish (Celtic)
1.37 Italian (Romance)
1.38 Japanese
1.39 Kannada (Dravidian)
1.40 Khmer
1.41 Korean
1.42 Latin (Italic)
1.43 Latvian (Baltic)
1.44 Lithuanian (Baltic)
1.45 Low Saxon (Germanic)
1.46 Macedonian (Slavic)
1.47 Maltese (Semitic)
1.48 Malay (Malayo-Polynesian)
1.49 Maori (Malayo-Polynesian)
1.50 Malayalam (Dravidian languages)
1.51 Marathi (Indian languages)
1.52 Nahuatl (Uto-Aztecan)
1.53 Nigerian pidgin (English-based pidgin)
1.54 Norwegian (Germanic) - Bokmål
1.55 Norwegian (Germanic) - Nynorsk
1.56 O'odham (Uto-Aztecan)
1.57 Pennsylvania German, Pennsylvania Dutch (Germanic)
1.58 Polish (Slavic)
1.59 Portuguese (Romance)
1.60 Romanian (Romance)
1.61 Russian (Slavic)
1.62 Sanskrit (Indo-Iranian)
1.63 Sardinian (Romance)
1.64 Scots (Germanic)
1.65 Scottish Gaelic (Celtic)
1.66 Serbian (Slavic)
1.67 Slovak (Slavic)
1.68 Slovene (Slavic)
1.69 Spanish (Romance )
1.70 Swahili (Bantu)
1.71 Swedish (Germanic)
1.72 Tagalog / Filipino (Malayo-Polynesian)
1.73 Tamil (Dravidian)
1.74 Tatar (Turkic)
1.75 Telugu (Dravidian)
1.76 Tok Pisin (Neo-Melanesian English creole)
1.77 Turkish (Turkic)
1.78 Ukrainian (Slavic)

Examples

English (Germanic)

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

Translation Phrase IPA
English English
hello hello UK /hɛˈləʊ/

US /hɛˈloʊ/

good-bye good-bye /ˌgʊdˈbaɪ/
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 ʌn.dəˈstænd/
US /aɪ ˈdoʊnt ʌn.dɚˈstænd/
Where's the bathroom? Where's the bathroom UK /wɛəz ðə ˈbɑːθˌɹʊm/
US /wɛɹz ðə ˈbæθˌɹum/
generic toast bottoms up! UK /ˈbɒ.təmz ˈʌp/
US /ˈbɑːɾəmz ˈʌp/
Do you speak English? Do you speak English? /duː juː spiːk ˈɪŋglɪʃ/

Afrikaans (Germanic)

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/

Albanian (Albanian)

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation Sound
Albanian shqip /ʃkʲip/ (shkEEp) (Albanian shqip.ogg)
hello tungjatjeta (abbrev. tung) /tungʲatjɛta/ (tUhn-ngIAt-IEta) (Albanian tungjatjeta.ogg)
good-bye mirupafshim /mirupafʃim/ (mEEr-Uh-oA-fshEEm) (Albanian mirupafshim.ogg)
please ju lutem /ju lutɛm/ (iU LU-tehm) (Albanian ju lutem.ogg)
thank you faleminderit /faʟɛmindɛrit/ (fAh-leh-mEE-nde-rEEt) (Albanian faleminderit.ogg)
that one atë /atə/ (ATEH) (Albanian atë.ogg)
how much? sa është? /sa əʃtə/ (sAh ush-te) (Albanian sa është.ogg)
English anglisht /angliʃt/ (ahn-GLEE-sht) (Albanian anglisht.ogg)
yes po /po/ (POE) (Albanian po.ogg)
no jo /jo/ (IOH) (Albanian jo.ogg)
sorry më fal /mə fal/ (mUh FAL) (Albanian më fal.ogg)
I don't understand nuk kuptoj /nuk kuptoj/ (nUhk KUP-toi) (Albanian nuk kuptoj.ogg)
where's the bathroom? ku është banjoja? /ku əʃtə baɲoja/ (kuh ush-tEh bA-nio-jA) (Albanian ku është banjoja.ogg)
generic toast gëzuar /gəzuar/ (gUh-zuh-ar) (Albanian gëzuar.ogg)
Do you speak English? flisni Anglisht? /flisni angliʃt/ (flee-snEE ahn-GLEE-sht) (Albanian flisni anglisht.ogg)
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).

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation
Arabic العربيّة /alʕaraˈbijja/ (al-ara'bijja)
Hello مرحبًا /marˈħaba/ (mar'Haba)
Good-bye إلى اللقاء /ilalliˈqaʔ/ (ila-lli'qa')
Please من فضلك /min ˈfadˁlak/ (min 'fad/lak)
Thank you شكرًا /ˈʃukran/ ('Sukran)
That one ذلك /ˈðalika/ ('Dalika)
How much? كمْ؟ /kam/ (kam)
English الإنجليزيّة /alʔinʤliˈzijja/ (formal),
/alʔingliˈzijja/ (colloquial)
Yes نعم /ˈnaʕam/ ('na-am)
No لا /laː/ (la:)
Where's the bathroom? أين الحمّام؟ /ʔejnalħamˈmaːm/ (einal-Ham'ma:m)
What is your name? ما إسمك؟ /ˈmaː ˈʔismuk/ ('ma: 'ismuk)
Goodbye مع السلام /maʕa ssaˈlaːma/ (ma-a ssa'la:ma)
I don't know لا أعرف /laː ˈʕarifu/ (la: 'aarifu)
I don't understand لا أفهم /laː ˈʔafham/ (la: 'afham)
I don't remember لا أتذكر /laː ʔataˈðakkar/ (la: ata'Dakkar)
Welcome أهلاً وسهلاً بكم /ˈahlan waˈsahlan ˈbikum/ ('ahlan wa'sahlan 'bikum)
I am sick أنا مريض /ʔana maˈriːdˁ/ ('ana ma'ri:d/)
Hello لسلام عليكم! /assaˈlaːm ʕaˈlejkum/ (assa'la:m aa'lejkum)
Hello (response), how are you? وعليكم السلام! كيف الحال؟ /waʕaˈlejkumu ssaˈlaːm. kejfa lħaːl/ (wa-a'lejkumu ssa'la:m. kejfa lHa:l)
Fine, and you? بخير، الحمد لله. وكيف أنت؟ /biˈxejrin, alˈħamdu lilˁˈlˁahi. waˈkejfa ʔint/ (bi'xejrin, al'Hamdu lil/'l/ahi. wa'kejfa int)

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'.

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation Remarks
hello assalamwalaikum
nOmoshkar
(Muslims)
(Hindus)
good morning suprobhat (not commonly used)
greetings shubhech-chha
how are you? (apni) kemon achhen?
how is it going? ki khobor?
good-bye khoda hafez
nOmoshkar
see you later pOre dekha hObe
talk to you later pOre kOtha hObe
see you again abar dekha hObe
adieu biday
please dOya kore
onugroho purbok

(very formal)
thank you dhonnobad
sorry duk-khito
English ingreji
nice/good bhalo / besh
bad baje
that one oiTa/oTa
how much does this cost? eiTar dam kOto?
how much does that cost? oiTar dam kOto?
what is your name? apnar nam ki?
I can't understand ami bujhte parchhi na
can you help me? apni ki amake shahaj-jo korte paren?
I don't know ami jani na
I don't speak Bangla ami bangla bolte pari na
I don't understand Bangla ami bangla bujhi na
do you speak English? apni ki ingreji bolte paren?
could you repeat what you just said? doya kore abar bolben ki?
doya kore arekbar ektu bolun
yes hai
ji / ji hai
(informal)
(formal)
no na
ji na
(informal)
(formal)
what? ki?
how? kibhabe?

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)

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation
Belarusian Беларускі (bye-lah-ROOH-skee)
hello прывітанне (pree-vee-TAHN-nye)
good-bye да пабачэння (duh puh-buh-CHEN-nyuh)
please калі ласка (kuh-LEE LUS-kuh)
thank you дзякуй (DZYUH-kooy)
sorry выбачайце (vee-buh-CHUY-tsye)
that one той, тая, тое (TOY, TUY-uh, TOY-eh)
how much? колькі? (KOL-kee)
yes так (TUHK)
no не (NYE)
I don't understand Не разумею (nye ruh-zoo-MEY-ooh)
where's the bathroom? дзе туалет? (dzye too-uh-LET)
generic toast за здароуе (zuh zduh-ROW-yeh)
Do you speak English? Ці размауляеце па-англійску? (tsee ruz-muw-LYUY-et-eh puh un-GLEE-skoo)

Bosnian (Slavic)

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation Remarks
Bosnian bosanski
hello zdravo, merhaba, selam
good-bye doviđenja, alahimanet
please molim
thank you hvala
sorry oprostite
that one to, taj
how much koliko?
English engleski
yes da
no ne
I don't understand ne razumijem
Where is the bathroom gdje je WC?
generic toast na zdravlje (to our health)
Do you speak English govorite li engleski?

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)

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation Remarks
hello здравей (zdrávei)
hello здрасти (zdrásti) (informal)
good morning Добро утро (dóbro útro)
good day Добър ден (dóbŭr den)
good evening Добър вечер (dóbŭr véčer)
good night Лека нощ (léka nošt)
goodbye Довиждане (doviždáne)
how are you? Как си? (kák si)
I'm fine Добре съм (dóbre sŭm)
Where is the toilet? Къде е тоалетната? (k'de e toalétnata?)
all the best Всичко най-хубаво (vsíčko nai-hubávo)
regards Поздрави (pozdraví)
thank you Благодаря (blagodariá)
happy birthday Честит рожден ден! (čestít roždén den)
Bulgarian language Български език (bŭlgárski ezík)
yes да (da)
no не (ne)
of course разбира се (razbíra se)
Please, enter! Влезте, моля! (vlézte mólia) (formal [2nd p. plural])
Enter! Влез! (vlez) (informal [2nd p. singular])

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 és /ˈkwɑmˈbɑl/; /ˈkwɑnˈtes/
yes: /ˈsɪ/
no: no /ˈno/
I don't understand: No ho entenc /ˈno wənˈteŋ/
Where's the bathroom?: On és el bany?; on és el labavo? /ˈonˈezəlˈβaɲ/; /ˈonˈezəlˈləˈβɑβu/
generic toast: Salut! /səˈlut/
Do you speak English?: Que parla anglès? /kə ˈpɑrlə ənˈglɛs/
Do you speak Catalan?: Que parla català? /kə ˈpɑrlə kətəˈlɑ/

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.

Translation Phrase Jyutping IPA
Cantonese: 廣東話 gwong2 dung1 waa2 /kwɔːŋ2 tʊŋ1 wɑː2/
hello 你好 nei5 hou2 /nei5 hou2/
good-bye 再見 zoi3 gin3 /tsɔːi3 kiːn3/
bye-bye 拜拜 baai1 baai3 /pɑːi1 pɑːi3/
please 唔該 m4 goi1 /m̩4 kɔːi1/
thank you (for gifts) 多謝 do1 ze3 /tɔː1 tsɛː3/
thank you (for services rendered) 唔該 m4 goi1 /m̩4 kɔːi1/
sorry 對唔住 deoi3 m4 zyu6 /dɵy3 m̩4 tsyː6/
this one 呢個 ni1 go3 /niː1 kɔː3/
that one 嗰個 go2 go3 /kɔː2 kɔː3/
how much? 幾多 gei2 do1 /kei2 tɔː1/
yes hai3 /hɐi3/
no 唔係 m4 hai3 /m̩4 hɐi3/
I don't understand 我唔明白 ngo5 m4 ming4 baak6 /ŋɔː5 m̩4 mɪŋ4 bɑːk6/
Where's the bathroom? 洗手間喺邊度呀? sai2 sau2 gaan1 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa3 /sɐi2 sɐu2 kɑːn1 hɐi2 piːn1 tou6 ɑː3/
Do you speak English? 你識唔識講英文呀? nei5 sik1 m4 sik1 gong2 jing1 man2 aa3 /nei5 sɪk1 m̩4 sɪk1 kɔːŋ2 jɪŋ1 mɐn2 ɑː3/

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 || 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.

Translation Phrase Pinyin IPA Pronunciation Remarks
Mandarin Chinese 普通话 / 普通話 or
国语 / 國語
(pǔtōnghuà)
(guóyǔ)
[pʰù tʰʊ̋ŋ xwɑ̂]
[kwɔ̌ jỳ]
(poo-toong-hwa)
(gwo yew)
hello 你好 (ní hǎo) [nǐ xàw] (knee-how)
good-bye 再见 / 再見 (zàijiàn) [tsâj ʨjɛ̂n] (dzai-jyen)
please 请 / 請 (qǐng) [ʨʰìŋ] (cheeng)
thank you 谢谢 / 謝謝 (xièxie) [ɕjɛ̂-ɕjɛ̂] (shyeh-shyeh)
that one 那个 / 那個 (nèige) [nêj gə] (nay guh) See Usage Note 1
how much? 多少 (duōshǎo) [twɔ̋ ʂàw] (dwo shahw)
English 英文 (Yīngwén) [jɪ̋ŋ wə̌n] (ing one)
yes (shì) /ʂɻ̂/ (sher as in sherpa) See Usage Note 2
no () [pû] (boo)
where's the toilet? 厕所在哪里 / 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)

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)

Translation Romanization A Romanization B IPA
Shanghainese: Zanheëwo (English z) Shanghaieau /zɑ̃hɛ ɛ̤ʊ̤/}

please tschin cin /ʧʰin/
thank you jaja non (French j) jaja non /ʒaja nõ/
sorry teiverchi deivecie /tɛvɐˑʧʰi/
that one étzach éze /ˈɛtsɐʔ/
over there émitach émiedag /ˈɛmitɐʔ/
how much? Cidi? Giedied? /ʧidi/
yes éh ai /ˈɛ/
no: mmer, vio mme, vio /m̩mɐʔ/, /viɔ/
home: Ollishan Ogliechan /oˑɺiʃɑ̃/
Where's the bathroom?: Tsisuke laeler älitach? Cysougei legle aliedag? /tsʰlsɯkɛ ɺɐˑɺɐʔ a̤ɺitɐʔ/
English Ínven Engven /ˈinvən/
Do you speak English?: Non Ínven weiter kanre va? Non Engven weide ganre va? /nõ ˈinvən wɛtɐʔ kãː va/
I love you Wo ei non Au aire non /ʊ̤ ɛː nõ/
I adore you: Wo eimor non Au aimor non /ʊ̤ ɛmoʔ nõ/
I adore you so Wo eimosser non Au aimorsag non /ʊ̤ ɛmoˑsɐʔ nõ/
I like you a lot Wo lo héushi non äch Au lo heuchie non e /ʊ̤ ɺɔː ˈhøʃi nõ ɐ̤ʔ/

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.

Translation Characters Romanization Remarks
Taiwanese 臺灣話 Tâi-oân-oē, Hō-ló-oē
hello 食飽未 Chia̍h pá boeh? (literally, Have you eaten yet?
goodbye 平安 pêng-an (literally, Peace, can also be used as a greeting. Note this is primarily Christian usage.)
please 拜託 pài-thok
thank you 多謝 To-siā
that one 彼個 hit-ê
how much? 若濟 goā choē?
yes
no 唔是 m̄-sī
sorry 歹勢
失禮
pháiⁿ-sè
sit-le
(literally means, embarrassed
(more formal)
I don't understand what is said 我聽無 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?

Croatian (Slavic)

Translation Phrase
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)

Translation Phrase Pronunciation IPA Remarks
Czech Česky CHEHskee /'ʧɛski/
hello dobrý den DObree den /'dobriː dɛn/ Literal translation: good day
good-bye na shledanou na sKHLEdanow /na 'sxlɛdanou/
please prosím PROseem /'prosiːm/
thank you děkuji vám DYEkooyi vam /'ɟɛkuji vaːm/
that one tamten tamten /tamten/
how much? kolik KOlik /'kolik/
English anglicky anglytskee /angliʦki/
yes ano /ɑno/
no ne /ne/
sorry promiňte /promiɲte/
generic toast Na zdraví /na zdraviː/
I don't understand Nerozumím /nɛrozumiːm/
Where's the bathroom? Kde je toaleta? /gdɛ jɛ toaleta/
Do you speak English? Mluvíte anglicky? /mluviːtɛ angliʦki/
I don't speak Czech Nemluvím česky /nɛmluviːm 'ʧɛski/
Do you speak Czech? Mluvíte česky? /mluviːtɛ 'ʧɛski/
Where can i find a restaurant? Kde najdu restauraci? /gdɛ najdu rɛstauraʦi/
Where is the nearest hospital? Kde je nejbližší nemocnice? /gdɛ jɛ nejbliʃiː nɛmoʦniʦɛ/

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)

(Usage Note: No word directly corresponds to the word "please". Danish and Finnish express the concept of politeness in a request in various ways.)

  • 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: dank je wel /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)

Englisc (Old English) (Germanic)

  • English: Englisc /'ɛŋglɪʃ/
  • hello (to one person): wes hál /wɛz haːl/; (to more than one): wesaþ hál /'wɛzaθ haːl/
  • good-bye: God þé mid síe /gɔd ðeː mɪd 'siə/
  • please: (be understood. A matter of course, if not ic bidde /ɪtʃ 'bɪdːə/ )

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

  • thank you: ic þancie þé /ɪtʃ 'θaŋkiə ðeː/
  • that one: geon /jɔn/
  • how much?: hú fela? /huː 'fela/
  • yes: gése /jeːsə/
  • no: /noː/
  • Where is the bathroom?: Hwǽr is þæt gangsetl? /ʍær ɪz ðæt 'gaŋsetl/
  • where do you come from?: Hwanon cymst þu? ? /'ʍanon cymst ðuː/
  • do you speak English?: Spricst þu Englisce? /sprɪtʃəst ðuː 'ɛŋglɪʃə/
  • I don't understand: Ic ne understande /ɪtʃ ne ʊndɛr'standə/

Esperanto (International Auxiliary Language)

  • hello: saluton /sa'luton/
  • good-bye: ĝis revido /ʤis re'vido/
  • please: mi petas /mi 'petas/
  • thank you: dankon /'dankon/
  • you're welcome: bonvenon /bon'venon/
  • that one: tiu /'tiu/
  • how much?: kiom /'kiom/
  • English: Anglo /'anglo/
  • yes: jes /jes/
  • no: ne /ne/
  • sorry: pardonon /par'donon/
  • I don't understand: mi ne komprenas /mi ne kom'prenas/
  • Where's the toilet?: kie estas la necesejo? /'kie estas la neʦe'sejo/
  • generic toast: Je via sano /je 'via 'sano/
  • Do you speak English?: Ĉu vi parolas la anglan? /ʧu vi pa'rolas la 'anglan/
  • Excuse me, I don't speak very good Esperanto: Pardonu min, mi ne bone parolas Esperanton /par'donu min mi ne 'bone pa'rolas espe'ranton/
  • I don't know: Mi ne scias /mi ne 'sʦias/

Estonian (Finno-Ugric)

  • Estonian: eesti
  • hello: tere
  • good-bye: head aega
  • please: palun
  • thank you: aitäh
  • you're welcome: palun
  • that one: see
  • how much?: kui palju
  • English: inglise
  • yes: jah
  • no: ei
  • sorry: vabandage
  • I don't understand: Ma ei saa aru
  • generic toast: terviseks
  • Do you speak English?: Kas te räägite inglise keelt?
  • Where is the bathroom/toilet? Kus on WC? Kus on vannituba?
  • Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year! Häid Jõule ja õnnelikku uut aastat!

Finnish (Finno-Ugric)

  • Finnish: suomi /'suo mi/ (SUE-o-mi)
  • hello: päivää /'pæjvæː/ (pay-vaeh) (except the vowels are like "pay" with the vowel from "cat" followed by the vowel from "tick"; the syllable "vaeh" has the long syllable from "bad")
  • good-bye: näkemiin /'nækemiːn/ (NACK-eh-MEAN)
  • please:  1
  • thank you: kiitos /'kiːtos/ (key-toss)
  • that one: tuo /'tuo/ (to-oh)
  • how much?: kuinka paljon /'kujnka 'paljon/ (kuyn-kah pal-yon)
  • English: englanti /'ɛŋlanti/ (ENG-lan-TEH)
  • yes: kyllä /'kylːæ/ (kul-laeh)
  • no: ei /ej/ (ey)
  • sorry: anteeksi /'anteːksi/ ("On take see")
  • where is the toilet?: missä on vessa? /'misːæ on 'vesːa/(MIS-sah on VEHS-sah)
  • generic toast: kippis /'kipːis/ (KIP-pis)
  • do you speak English?: puhutteko englantia? /'puhutko 'ɛŋlantia/ (poo-hoot-teh-koh eng-lawn-tia)
  • I don't understand: en ymmärrä /ɛn 'ymːærːæ/ (en um-mar-ra)
  • I don't know: en tiedä /ɛn 'tiɛdæ/ (en tee-eh-da)

French (Romance)

  • French: français /frɑ̃sɛ/ ("fraw(n)-SAY")
  • hello: bonjour /bɔ̃ʒuʁ/ ("boh(n)-JHURE")
  • good-bye: au revoir /o ʁəvwaʁ/ ("oh-reh-VWAR")
  • please: s'il vous plaît /sil vu plɛ/ ("seal voo PLAY")
  • thank you: merci /mɛʁsi/ ("mare-SEE")
  • you're welcome "bienvenue" (Canada) (bi-EHN ven-eu), "de rien" ("de ree-an") (Rest of the world)
  • that one: cela /səla/ ("say-LAH")
  • how much?: combien /kɔ̃bjɛ̃/ ("ko(n)m-BYEN")
  • English: anglais /ɑ̃glɛ/ ("ah(n)-GLAY")
  • yes: oui /wi/ ("wee")
  • no: non /nɔ̃/ ("nah(n)")
  • sorry: pardon /paʁdɔ̃/ ("pahr-DO(n)"), excusez-moi /ɛkskyzemwa/ ("ex-ku-say-MWA")
  • I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas /ʒə nə cõ'pʁɑ̃ 'pa/ ("zhe ne co(n)m-pro(n) PAH")
  • where's the bathroom?: Où sont les toilettes? /u sɔ̃ le twa lɛt/ ("ooh so(n) lay twa-LET)8
  • generic toast: Santé! /sɑ̃te/ ("sahn-TAY") (Literally: Health)
  • Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais? /paʁ le vu ɑ̃ glɛ/ ("par-lay voo zah(n)-GLAY")
  • Excuse me, I don't speak French very well.: "Pardonnez-moi, mais je ne parle pas très bien français ." (par-dohn-ay MWAH may zheu neuh parl pah tray byen frahn-SAY)
  • I don't know: Je ne sais pas /ʒə nə sɛ 'pa/ ("dju neh say PAH")

Frisian (Germanic)

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

  • Frisian:
    W: Frysk /fri.sk/ (freask)
    N: Friisk /fri:sk/ (freask)
  • hello:
    W: a goeie /ɑ gujə/ (ah gooye)
    N: moin /mOIn/ (moin)
  • good-bye:
    W: oant sjen /ɔnt ʃɛn/ (ont shen)
    N: adjiis /Adji:s/ (a-jease)
  • please:
    W: asjeblyft /ɑʃəbli.ft/ (ashebleaft)
    N: weesegödj /ve:z&gödj/ (veisegud-y)
  • thank you:
    W: tige tank /'tiːɣə tɑnk/ (teaghe tank)
    N: foole tunk /fo:l&tunk/ (foughle toonk)
  • that one:
    W: dy /di./ (dea)
    N: di /dI/ (dih)
  • how much?:
    W: hoefolle? /hufolə/ (who folle)
    N: hüfoole? /h^fo:l&/ (huh foughle)
  • English:
    W: Ingelsk /iŋəlsk/ (ingelsk)
    N: Aingelsch /&j:ñ&lS/ (ayngelsh)
  • yes:
    W: ja /ja/ (yaah)
    N: joo /jo:/ (yo)
  • no:
    W: nee /ne./ (nay)
    N: nåån /nO:n/ (nawn)
  • where's the bathroom?:
    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)
  • generic toast:
    W: tsjoch /ʧoX/ (chokh)
    N: sünhäid /sönhEId/ (sun-heyd)
  • Do you speak English?:
    W: Kinne jo Ingelsk? /kɪnə jo. ɪŋəlsk/ (kinne yo ingelsk?)
    N: Koost dü Aingelsch? /ko:stö &jñ@lS/ (coastuh ayngelsh)
  • I don't understand:
    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)
  • Sorry:
    W: Pardon /pədɔn/ (p'donn)
    N: Fertrüt me /ftr^t me/ (f-trut meh)

Georgian (Caucasian)

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation Literal meaning
Georgian ქართული /kartʊli/ (Kartuli)
Hello! გამარჯობა! /gamarʤoba/ (Gamarjoba!) "victory"
How are you? როგორა ხართ? /rɔgɔra xart/ (Rogora khart?)
Good, you? კარგად, შენ? /k'argad ʃɛn/ (K'argad, shen?)
Excuse me! ბოდიში! /bɔdɪʃɪ/ (Bodishi!)
Please თუ შეიძლება /tʊ ʃɛɪʣlɛba/ (Tu Sheidzleba) "if possible"
Welcome კეთილი იყოს თქვენი მობრძანება! /k'ɛtɪlɪ ɪqʼɔs tkvɛnɪ mɔbrʣanɛba/ (Ke'tili iq'os tkveni mobrdzaneba!)
Thank you გმადლობთ! /gmadlɔbt/ (Gmadlobt)
You are welcome არაფრის /araprɪs/ (Arapris) "for nothing"
English ინგლისური /ɪnglɪsʊrɪ/ (Inglisuri)
Do you speak English? ინგლისური იცით? /ɪnglɪsʊrɪ ɪʦɪt/ (Inglisuri itsit?)
I don't speak Georgian ქართული არ ვიცი /kartʊli ar vɪʦɪ/ (Kartuli ar vitsi)
Yes დიახ /dɪax/ (Diakh)
No არა /ara/ (Ara)
Georgia საქართველო /sakartvɛlɔ/ (Sakartvelo)

German (Germanic)

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation Sound
German Deutsch /dojʧ/ (doytch) (CPIDL German - Deutsch.ogg)
hello hallo /hə'loː/ (HUL-low) (CPIDL German - Hallo.ogg)
good-bye auf Wiedersehen /awf 'viːdəzeːn/ (owf VEE-der-zayn) (CPIDL German - Auf Wiedersehen.ogg)
please bitte /'bɪtə/ (BIT-ta) (CPIDL German - Bitte.ogg)
thank you danke /'daŋkə/ (DAHNG-keh) (CPIDL German - Danke.ogg)
that one das /dɑs/ (DAHSS) (CPIDL German - Das.ogg)
how much? wie viel? /vi fiːl/ (vee feel?) (CPIDL German - Wie viel.ogg)
English Englisch /'ʔɛŋlɪʃ/ (ENG-lish) (CPIDL German - Englisch.ogg)
yes ja /ja/ (yah) (CPIDL German - Ja.ogg)
no nein /najn/ (nine) (CPIDL German - Nein.ogg)
where's the bathroom? Wo ist die Toilette? /vo ʔɪst diː toi'lɛtə/ (vo ist dee toy-LET-tuh) (CPIDL German - Wo ist die Toilette.ogg)
generic toast prosit
prost
/pʁo'zit/
/pʁoːst/
(PRO-zeet)
(PROAST)
(CPIDL German - Prosit.ogg)
(CPIDL German - Prost.ogg)
Do you speak English? Sprechen Sie Englisch? /'ʃpʁɛçən ziː 'ʔɛŋlɪʃ/ (SHPRAY-khen zee ENG-lish) (CPIDL German - Sprechen Sie Englisch.ogg)
I don't understand Ich verstehe nicht. /ɪç fə'ʃteːə nɪçt/ (eekh fair-SHTAY-uh neekht) (CPIDL German - Ich verstehe nicht.ogg)
Sorry Entschuldigung /ʔɛnt'ʃʊldɪgʊŋ/ (ent-SHOOL-dee-goong) (CPIDL German - Entschuldigung.ogg)
I don't know Ich weiß es nicht /ɪç vajs ɛs nɪçt/ (eekh vice es neekht)

Greek (Greek)

Translation Greek IPA Pseudo English
Greek Ελληνικά /ɛlini'ka/ (el leen ee KA)
hello Γειά σας /ja sas/ (YA sas)
please παρακαλώ /paraka'lɔ/ (puh rah kah LOW)
thank you Ευχαριστώ /ɛfxarɪ'stɔ/ (eff kha reess TOE)
that one εκείνο /e'kinɔ/ (e KEE no)
how much? Πόσο κάνει; /'pɔsɔ 'kani/ (POSS o kah knee)
English Αγγλικά /aŋgli'ka/ (ang glee KA)
yes ναι /nɛ/ (neh) (this is a faux amis for many European language speakers)
no όχι /'ɔçi/ (AW hee)
sorry συγγνώμη /siŋ'nɔmi/ (sing NOE mee)
I don't understand Δεν καταλαβαίνω /ðɛn katala'vɛnɔ/ (THEN cut a la VENN oh)
where's the bathroom? Πού είναι οι τουαλέτες; /pu 'inɛ i tua'lɛtɛs/ (poo EE neh ee too uh LET tess)
generic toast Γειά μας /'ja mas/ (YAH mass)
Do you speak English? Μιλάτε αγγλικά; /mi'latɛ aŋgli'ka/ (mee LAH teh ang glee KA)

Haitian Creole (Romance)

  • Haitian: Ayisyen
  • hello: bonjou
  • good-bye: orevwa
  • please: souple, tanpri
  • thank you: mèsi
  • yes: wi
  • no: non
  • how much?: Konbyen?
  • Where is the restroom?: Kote twalèt la?

Hawaiian (Malayo-Polynesian)

  • Hawaiian: Hawai`i /oːlelo hawaiʔi/ (ha why ee)
  • hello: aloha /aloha/ (a low ha)
  • good-bye: A hui hou. /ahuihou/ (a hoo-ee hoe)
  • please: e `olu `olu `oe /eʔoluʔoluʔoe/ (ey owe-loo owe-loo owe-ay)
  • thank you: mahalo /mahalo/ (ma ha low)
  • yes: `ae /ʔae/ (ah ay)
  • no: `a`ole /ʔaʔole/ (uh-oh lay)
  • how much?: `ehia? /ʔehia/ (ay hee uh)
  • Where is the restroom?: Aia i hea ka lumi ho`opaupilikia? /aiaiheakalumihoʔopaupilikia/ (ah ee ah ee ka loo mee hoe owe pow pee lee kee uh)
  • generic toast: Ola /ola/ (Oh la)

(Other useful words in Hawaiian:)

  • foreigner, also racist term for whites: haole /haole/ "how-lee"

Hebrew (Semitic)

Translation Hebrew Transliteration IPA
Hebrew: עברית ivrit /ɪv'ʁɪt/
hello/peace שלום shalom /ʃʌ'lom/
good-bye להתראות lehitraot /&lɛhitʁʌ'ot/
nice to meet you נעים מאוד; Na’im Me’od
please/you're welcome בבקשה bevakasha /&bɛvʌkʌ'ʃʌ/
thank you תודה toda /&to'dʌ/
thank you very much תודה רבה; toda raba
that one את זה et ze /ɛt zɛ/
how much? ?כמה kama /&'kʌmʌ/
how much does this cost? ?כמה זה עולה Kama Zeh Oleh?
English: אנגלית anglit /ʌn'glɪt/
yes כן ken /&kɛn/
no/not לא lo /&lo/
generic toast (literally, "to life") לחיים le-chaim /&lɛ'Xaim/
good morning בוקר טוב Boker Tov
good night לילה טוב Laíla Tov
what's happening? ?מה קורה Ma Kore?
what's up? ?מה נשמע Ma Nishma?
good טוב Tov
Where is the restroom? איפה השרותים?‏ Eifo ha-sheirutim?

Urdu/Hindi language (Indo-Iranian)


  • hello (urdu)- as salam waalekum, (hindi)- namashkaar, namaste
  • good bye (urdu)- khuda haafiz, allah haafiz, (hindi)- ?????
  • please (urdu), (hindi) - mehrbaani karo,
  • thank you (urdu), (hindi) - shukria
  • sit down (urdu)- aap tashrif raklijie, (hindi)- aap bhetjaaye
  • yes (urdu), (hindi)- hain '
  • no (urdu), (hindi)- nahi
  • sorry (urdu), (hindi)- maaf karlijie
  • I don't understand, (urdu), (hindi)- mere samajne me nahi araha
  • English, (urdu), (hindi)- Angrezi

Hungarian (Finno-Ugric)

Note: gy (ɟ) is pronounced like in would you; ny (ɲ) like in can you; ö and ő (ø) like in fur; a (ɒ) 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.

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

Icelandic (Germanic)

  • Icelandic: íslenska /iːslenska/ (EES-len-ska)
  • hello: góðan dag /gouːðandaːγ/ (GOH-than dahg)
  • good-bye: bless /blɛsː/
  • please: gjörðu svo vel /gjør θʏ sɔ vɛːl/ (GYUHR-thuh so vel)
  • thank you: takk fyrir /taʰk fɪːrɪr/ (tahk FEER-eer)
  • that one: þetta /θe tːa/ (thetta)
  • how much?: hversu mikið /xversʏ mɪːcɪð/ (KVAIR-suh mickith)
  • English: enska /enska/ (enn skah)
  • yes: /jauː/ (yow)
  • no: nei /nej/ (nay)
  • generic toast: skál! /skauːl/ (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 /itaˈljano/ (ee-tah-lee-AN-oh)
  • hello: ciao /ˈʧao/ (chah-ow)
  • good-bye: arrivederci /arːiveˈderʧi/ (a-ree-veh-DARE-chi)
  • please: per favore /per faˈvore/ (per fa-VOAR-ay)
  • thank you: grazie /ˈgratsje/ (GRAT-zee-eh)
  • that one: quello /ˈkwelːo/ (KWEL-low) (masculine); quella /ˈkwelːa/ (KWEL-lah) (feminine)
  • how much? quanto /ˈkwanto/ (KWAN-tow)
  • English: inglese /iŋˈglese/ (in-GLAY-say)
  • yes: /si/ (see)
  • no: no /no/ (no)
  • sorry: scusa /ˈskuza/ (SKOO-za); scusi /ˈskuzi/ (SKOO-zee) (polite treatment)
  • I don't understand: non capisco /noŋ kaˈpisko/ (non kuh pee skow)
  • where's the bathroom?: dov'è il bagno? /doˈvɛ il ˈbaɲːo/ (do veh eel bah nyoh)
  • generic toast: salute /saˈlute/ (sall-OO-teh); cincin /ʧinˈʧin/ (cheen cheen)

Japanese

  • Japanese: 日本語 (にほんご, nihóngo) /ni ho n go/ or /ɲi hoŋ ŋo/ (nyee-hon-go)
  • hello:
    • good day: 今日は (こんにちは, kónnichi wa) /ko ɲːi ʧi wa/ (kohn-nyee-chee-wa)
    • good evening: 今晩は (こんばんは, kónban wa) /ko n bã(ʊ̃) 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: godzaimass/ (oh ha yoh god zigh mahss) sometimes shortened to おはよう (ohayóu)
    • hello on telephone: もしもし (móshi-moshi) /moʃmoʃi/ (mosh moshy)
  • good-bye:
    • good-bye: さようなら (sayóunara) /sajo: na ɾa/ (sigh yoh na ra)
    • good-bye when leaving home: いってきます (ittekimásu) / it:ekimasu/ (ittay kimas)
    • good-bye when being left home: いってらっしゃい (itterasshái) / it:eraʃ:ai/ (ittay rash shy)
  • please:
    • -下さい (-ください, kudasái) /kudasa i/ (cuda-sigh) (as part of a sentence, i.e., "Please sit down.")
    • どうぞ (dóuzo) /do:dzo/ (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) /onegai ʃimass/ (oh-ne-gai she-mahss)
  • thank you: 有り難う (ありがとう, arígatou) /a ɾi ga toː/ (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) /soɾe/ (so reh)
  • how much? いくらですか。 (íkura désu ka) /i ku ɾa/ (i-ku-ra des ka)
  • English: 英語 (えいご, eigó) /eː ŋo/ or /ej go/ (ay-go)
  • yes: はい (hái) /ha i/ or /haj/ (high)
  • no: いいえ (iié) /iːe/ (ee-eh)
  • thanks before eating: いただきます (itadakimás) /itadakimasu/
  • to be excused after eating: ごちそうさまでした (gotch-sou-samá déshita) /gotʃ_so:sama deʃta/
  • 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 des ka) or just お手洗いどこ  (おてあらいどこ, oteárai dóko) /oteaɾai wa doko des ka/ /otearai 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 i ŋo 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) /ga i ko ku ji n/ or /gaj ko kudʒin/ (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 /hangugʌ/
  • hello: 안녕하세요 annyeonghaseyo/anːjʌŋhasejo/ (ah nyuhng ha say yo)
  • hello (saying to friends or younger persons): 안녕 annyeong /aːnjʌŋ/ (ah nyuhng)
  • good-bye (Leaving): 안녕히게세요 annyeonghigeseyo /anːjʌŋhigɛsejo/ (ah nyuhng hee geh say yo)
  • good-bye (Being left): 안녕히가세요 annyeonghigaseyo /anːjʌŋhigasejo/ (ah nyuhng hee ga say yo)
  • good-bye (saying to friends or younger persons): 안녕 annyeong /aːnjʌŋ/ (ahn nyuhng)
  • please may I have: 주세요 juseyo /ĵusejo/ (ju say yo) Note: to be used after the object. ie: Taxi ju say yo. = Taxi please.
  • thank you: 고맙습니다 gomapseupnida /komapsɯmnida/ (go mahp s'm nee dah), 고마워 gomawo /komawʌ/ (go mah woe)
  • that one: 저것 jeogeot /cʌgʌt/ (juh gut)
  • how much?: 얼마예요? eolmayeyo /ʌlmaɛjo/ (uhl ma eh yo)
  • yes: 녜; ne /nɛ/ (neh) or 예 ye /jɛ/ (yeh)
  • no: 아니오 anio /anio/ (ah nee oh) or 아뇨 anyo /anjo/ (ahn yoh)
  • sorry: 미안합니다 mianhamnida /mianhamnida/ (mee ahn hahm nee dah)
  • I don't understand: 모르겠습니다 moreugesseumnida /morɯkes'ɯmnita/ (mow l' guess 'im nee dah)
  • where's the toilette?: 화장실이 어디예요? hwajangsili eodiyeyo /hwacaŋsili ʌtijɛjo/ (hwah jahng see lee uh dee ay yo)
  • generic toast: 건배! geonbae /kʌnbɶ/ (gun beh) (2nd vowel is same as in English "bat"), 위하여! wihayeo /wihajʌ/ (wee hah yuh)
  • Do you speak English?: 영어 할 줄 아세요? yeongeo hal jul aseyo /jʌŋʌ hal cul asɛjo/ (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 /'luʧis/ (LOO-cheess) /'luːkis/ (LOO-kiss), with (LOO-cheess) being the ecclesiastical pronunciation, and (LOO-kiss) how the Romans said lucis.

Translation Latin IPA (Ecclesastical) Pseudo-English IPA (Classical) Pseudo-English
Latin lingua Latina /'lingwa la'tina/ (lah-TEE-nah) /'lingwa la'tiːna/ (lah-TEE-nah)
hello ave! /'ave/ (Ah-vay) /'aːweː/ (Ah-way)
goodbye vale! /'vale/ (vah-lay) /'waːleː/ (wah-lay)
please si placet /si 'plaʧet/ (see PLAH-chet) /siː 'plakɛt/ (see PLAH-ket)
thank you gratias tibi ago /'gratsias 'tibi 'ago/ (GRAH-tsee-as TI-bee AH-goh) /'graːtiaːs 'tibi 'agoː/ (GRAH-tee-as Ti-bee AH-goh)
that one ille, illa, illud /'ilːe, 'ilːa, 'ilːud/ (ILL-lay, ILL-lah, ILL-lud) /'ilːɛ, 'ilːa, 'ilːud/ (ill-leh, ill-lah, ill-lud)
how much? quot? /kwot/ (quote) /kwot/ (quaht)
yes certe, ita vero /'ʧerte/ (CHAIR-tay) /'kɛrteː/ (kert-eh)
no non, nullo modo /'non, 'nulːo 'modo/ (noan, NUL-loh MO-doh) /'noːn, 'nulːo 'mɔdoː/ (known, NUL-oh MO-doh)
sorry ignosce mihi /i'ɲoʃe 'mihi/ (een-YOH-shay MEE-hee) /i'ŋnoːskɛ 'mihi/ (ing-know-skeh Mi-hee)
I don't understand non comprehendo /noŋ kompre'hendo/ (noan com-pray-HEN-doh) /noːŋ komprɛ'hɛndoː/ (known com-pray-HEN-doh)
where's the bathroom? ubi sunt latrinae? /'ubi sunt la'trine/ (OO-bee sunt lah-TREE-nay) /'ubi sunt la'triːnai/ (OO-bee sunt lah-tri-neye) (neye rhyming with eye)
generic toast salutem! /sa'lutem/ (sah-LOO-tehm) /sa'luːtɛ̃/ (sah-LOO-tehm)
Do you speak English? loquerisne anglice? /lokwe'risne 'aŋgliʧe/ (loh-quay-RISS-nay AHNG-glee-chay?) /lɔkwɛ'risnɛ 'aŋglikeː/ (loh-queh-riss-neh ah-ngli-keh?)

Latvian (Baltic)

  • Latvian: Latviešu
  • hello: Sveiks!
  • goodbye: uz redzēšanos
  • please: lūdzu
  • thank you: paldies
  • yes:
  • no:
  • 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 /merhba/
  • good day: bonġu /bondZu:/
  • bye: ċaw /tSaw/, saħħa /sahha/
  • 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! /sahha/
  • do you speak English?: titkellem bl-ingliż? /titkellem bliNli:s/
  • Malta is a beautiful island: Malta hija ġżira sabiħa /ma:lta hi:ja dZzi:ra sabi:ha/

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/
  • 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
  • English: english
  • 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
  • rain: mazha
  • hotel: hotel
  • way: vazhi

Marathi (Indian languages)

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

Nahuatl (Uto-Aztecan)

(classical ortography)

  • Nahuatl: Nahuatlahtolli
  • hello: niltze
  • good-bye: nimitzittaz
  • thank you: tlazohcamati
  • that one: inon
  • yes: quema (ordinary), quemacatzin (reverential)
  • no: ahmo (ordinary), ahmotzin (reverential)
  • English: Inglesthahtolli
  • Do you speak [English]?: Nitetlahtoa [Inglestlahtolli]?
  • What is your name?: Tlen mo tocatzin?

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: vær så snill /'wæːr so snil/
  • Thank you: takk /tɑk/ (takh)
  • That one: han/ho/den /den/ (den) or det /deː/ (deh)
  • How much?: kor mye?
  • 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?: kor er toalettet?
  • Where do you come from?: kor kjem du frå?
  • Do you speak English?: snakkar du engelsk?
  • Generic toast: skål /skoːl/
  • Where can I find a restaurant?: kor kan eg finne ein restaurant?
  • Where is the nearest hospital?: kor er det nærmaste sjukehuset?

O'odham (Uto-Aztecan)

  • O'odham: O'odham ñiok /ɔʔɔtˀm ˈɲiɔk/
  • English: Milga:n ñiok /miɮˈgaːn ˈɲiɔk/
  • hello: Ṣap kaic /ʃap ˈkaiʧ/ (lit. what did you say?)
  • good-bye: Do va ep em ñei /dɔ va ˈəp əm ɲəi/
  • that one: hegai /həgaɪ/
  • yes: ha'u /haʔʊ/
  • no: pi'a /piʔa/

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.: 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)

Translation Phrase IPA Pronunciation Remarks
Polish language Język polski,
polszczyzna
['jɛ̃zik 'pɔlski]
[pɔl'ʃʧizna]
Jezyk polski.ogg
Polszczyzna.ogg
hello cześć ['ʧɛɕtɕ] Czesc.ogg informal, used both for greeting and good-bye, lit. "honour"
good morning, good afternoon dzień dobry ['dʑɛɲ ,dɔbri] Dzien dobry.ogg lit. "good day"
good-bye do widzenia [dɔvi'ʣɛɲa] Do widzenia.ogg lit. "until seeing"
good night dobranoc [dɔ'branɔʦ] Dobranoc.ogg
please proszę ['prɔʃɛ̃] Prosze.ogg
you're welcome proszę bardzo [ˌprɔʃɛ̃'barʣɔ] Prosze bardzo.ogg
don't mention it nie ma za co [ˌɲɛma'zaʦɔ] Niezamaco.ogg lit. "(there's) nothing you have to (thank) for"
thank you dziękuję [dʑɛ̃'kujɛ̃] Dziekuje.ogg
this one m: ten
f: ta
n: to
[tɛn]
[ta]
[tɔ]
Ten ta to.ogg
that one m: tamten
f: tamta
n: tamto
['tamtɛn]
['tamta]
['tamtɔ]
Tamten tamta tamto.ogg
how much? ile? ['ilɛ] Ile.ogg
English language angielski [aŋ'gɛ´lski]
yes tak [tak] Tak.ogg
no nie [ɲɛ] Nie.ogg
I don't understand Nie rozumiem [ɲɛrɔ'zumiɛm] Nie rozumiem.ogg
where's the bathroom? Gdzie jest łazienka? [ˌgdʑɛjɛst wa'ʑeŋka] Gdzie lazienka.ogg
generic toast: Na zdrowie! [na zdrɔv'ɛ] Na zdrowie.ogg lit. "to health"
do you speak English? Czy mówi Pan po angielsku?
Czy mówi Pani po angielsku?
Czy mówisz po angielsku?
i'muvipan poaŋ'gɛ´lsku]
i'muvipani poaŋ'gɛ´lsku]
i'muviʃ poaŋ'gɛ´lsku]
Czy mowi pan.ogg
Czy mowi pani.ogg
Czy mowi sz.ogg
Pan - sir, mr.; Pani - mrs.; the third form is both impersonal and informal
what is it? Co to jest? [ʦɔtɔ'jɛst] Co to jest.ogg
Welcome to Poland! Witamy w Polsce [vi'tami 'fpɔlsʦɛ] Witamy.ogg

Portuguese (Romance)

translation phrase IPA Pronunciation
Portuguese: português PT. /purtu'geʃ/ BR. /portu'gejʃ/
hello: olá /ɔ'la/
good-bye: adeus PT. /ɐ'ðewʃ/ BR. /a'dewʃ/
please: por favor PT. /puɾ fɐ'voɾ/ BR. /poɾ fa'vo:/
thank you (m); thank you (f): obrigado; obrigada /obɾi'gaðu/; PT. /obɾi'gaðɐ/ 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 cõpriɛ̃ðu/
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! PT. /a vɔsɐ/ BR. /a vɔsa/
saúde PT. /sɐuðɨ/ BR. /saudZi/
Do you speak English?: Fala inglês? PT. /falɐ ĩgleʃ/ BR. /fala ĩglejʃ/

Romanian (Romance)

  • Romanian: româneşte /romɨˈneʃte/, limba română /ˈlimba roˈmɨnə/
  • hello: Bună ziua /ˈbunə ˈziwa/
  • good bye: La revedere /la reveˈdere/
  • please: Vă rog /və ˈrog/
  • thank you: Mulțumesc /multsuˈmesk/, Mersi /merˈsi/
  • how much?: Cât? /kɨt/
  • English: engleză /engleˈzə/
  • do you speak English?: Vorbiţi engleză? /vorˈbitsʲ engleˈzə/
  • yes: da /da/
  • no: nu /nu/
  • I don't understand: Nu înţeleg /nu ɨntseˈleg/
  • generic toast: Noroc! /noˈrok/
  • where's the bathroom?: Unde e baia? /ˈunde je ˈbaja/

Russian (Slavic)

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 nos bidere /anos'biDere/ "a-nohss-BI-dere"
  • please: pro piaghere /'pro pja'Gere/ "pro pee-ah-gh-er-ay"
  • thank you: grassias /'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:
  • I don't understand:
  • where's the bathroom?:
  • hello, and generic toast: salude /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 wit 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 [C and S Dat jIn, NeC Dat en, at en, NE at in]
  • no: nae [ne:, nQ NE 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, NE 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 symbol. Words ending in other consonants, especially verbs, are stressed on the last syllable. Exception words are accented on the stressed syllable. The th [θ] pronunciation is typical of standard Spanish as spoken in Spain, and is replaced by the s pronunciation in Latin America.

  • Spanish: castellano /kaste'ʎano/, /kaste'ʝano/ español /espa'ɲol/ (Spanish castellano español.ogg)
  • hello: hola /'ola/ (Spanish hola.ogg), also buenos días
  • good-bye: adiós /a'ð̞jos/ (Spanish adios.ogg)
  • please: por favor [por fa'β̞or]
  • thank you: gracias /'graθjas/, /'grasjas/
  • sorry: perdón [per'ð̞on]
  • that one: ése /'ese/ (masculine); ésa /'esa/ (feminine)
  • how much?: cuánto /'kwanto/ (Spanish cuanto.ogg)
  • English: inglés [iŋ'gles]
  • yes: /'si/
  • 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] (Spanish dónde está el baño.ogg)
  • generic toast: salud [sa'luð̞] Literal translation: health
  • Do you speak English?: ¿Habla usted inglés? [ˈaβ̞lawsˈteð̞iŋˈgles] (Spanish habla inglés.ogg)

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"
  • 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
  • I don't understand: jag förstår inte
  • Do you speak English?: Talar du engelska?

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?)


Tamil (Dravidian)

translation phrase IPA
Tamil தமிழ் t̪ɐmɨɹ
hello வணக்கம் Vanakkam vanakːam
good-bye சென்று வருகிறேன் sentru varukireen sentu varukireen
please தயவு செய்து dayavu seithu tajavu seiθu
thank you நன்றி nandri nantʕi
sorry மன்னிக்கவும் mannikkavum
that one அது adhu a tʰu
how much? எவ்வளவு evvalavu evːalavu
yes ஆம் aam aːm
no இல்லை illai ilːaj
I don't understand எனக்குப் புரியவில்லை
Where's the bathroom? குளியலறை எங்கே உள்ளது?
generic toast (not used in formal occassions and to elders): (Hey) டேய்! dei de:i
English ஆங்கிலம் aangilam aːŋilam
Do you speak English? நீங்கள் ஆங்கிலம் பேசுவீர்களா?

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 /andʰra bʰaʃa/
  • hello: namaskaaram /namaskaːram/
  • good-bye: Selavu /selavu/
  • please: Daya chesi /daja ʧesi/
  • thank you: Dhanyavadamulu /dʰanjavadamulu/
  • that one: adi /adi/
  • 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

Turkish (Turkic)

  • Turkish: Türkçe /tyrktʃe/
  • hello: merhaba /merhaba/
  • good bye: güle güle /gyle gyle/
  • please: lütfen /lytfen/
  • thank you: teşekür ederim /teʃekyr ederim/
  • how much: ne kadar
  • English: İngilizce /ingilizdʒe/
  • yes: evet
  • no: hayır /hajɯr/

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 /ˈdjakuju/ DYA -koo-yoo
Last updated: 08-26-2005 00:17:25
Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13