Western European language basics
Last Updated: Nov. 07, 2009
There is no need to enroll in French, Italian, German and Spanish classes for your European Tour. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on how to say some of the basics (eg. hello, please, thank you) in the native tongue of each of the countries you visit. It is often not only useful, but also polite to know a few of the basics in the local language and it’s a good idea to try and remember and uses these basics.
English is a widely spoken and understood as a second or third language amongst many Western Europeans, particularly those of the younger generations.
Western European Language Basics
| English | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Greek | Dutch |
| Good Morning | Bonjour | Buenos Dias | Buongiorno | Guten Morgen | Kalimera | Goedemorgen |
| Good Bye | Au revoir | Adios | Arrivederci | Auf Wiedersehen | Yasou | Tot ziens |
| Please | S’il vous plait | Por favor | Perfavore | Bitte | Parakalo | Alstublieft |
| Thank You | Merci | Gracias | Grazie | Danke Schon | Effaristo | Dank u |
| Yes | Oui | Si | Si | Ja | Ne | Ya |
| No | Non | No | No | Nein | Oki | Nee |
| Where is? | Ou est? | Donde ésta? | Dové | Wo ist? | Poo eeneh? | Waar is? |
| The toilet | Les toilettes | El lavabo | Il gabinetto | Die toilette | To oahlehtes | De toilet |
| The bank | La banque | Banco | Banca | Die bank | Trapeze | Bank |
| Post office | La poste | Correos | Ufficio postale | Die post | Takedromeo | Postkantoor |
| How much? | Combine? | Cunato? | Quanto? | Wieviel? | Posso? | hoeveel? |
| The bill | L’addition | La cuenta | Il conto | Die rechnung | To loghariazmo | rekening |
| Ladies | Dames | Enoras | Donne | Damen | Yinekon | Dames |
| Gents | Messieurs | Senores | Uomini | Herren | Anthron | Heren |
| Stamp | Timbre | Sello | Francobollo | Briefmarke | Grammatesimo | Stamp |
| One/two | Un/deux | Uno/due | Uno/due | Eins/zwei | Ena/thio | Een/twee |
| Three/four | Trios/quatre | Tres/cuarto | Tre/Quattro | Drei/vier | Tria/tesera | Drie/vier |
| Five/six | Cinq/six | Cinco/seis | Cinque/sei | Funf/sechs | Pende/eksi | Vijf/zes |
| Seven/eight | Sept/huit | Siete/ocho | Sette/otto | Sieben/acht | Epta/okta | Zeven/acht |
| Nine/ten | Neuf/dix | Nueve/diez | Nove/dieci | Neun/zehn | Enea/theka | Negen/tien |
| Open | Overt | Abierto | Aperto | Geoffnet | Anikton | Open |
| Closed | Fermé | Cerrado | Chiuso | Geschlossen | Kilson | Gesloten |
| Hot | Chaud | Caliente | Caldo | Heiss | Zesto | Hete |
| Cold | Froid | Frio | Freddo | Kalt | Krio | Koude |
| Water | Eau | Agua | Acqua | Wasser | Nero | Water |
| Tea | Thé | Té | Té | Tee | Chai | Thee |
| Coffee | Café | Café | Caffé | Kaffee | Kafe | Koffie |
| Beer | Biére | Cerveza | Birra | Bier | Bira | Bier |
| Wine | Vin | Vino | Vino | Wein | Krasi | Wijn |
| Excuse me (sorry) | Excusez-moi | Perdon | Scusi | Entschuldigung | Sygnomi | Sorry |
| Cheers | Santé | Salut | Saluté | Prost | Yamus | Proost |
These Languages are of use in….
French – France, Southern Belgium (including Brussels) parts of Switzerland
Spanish – Spain (Spanish will be understood in most parts of Spain, however Catalan and Basque are spoken in Barcelona and the North of the country)
Italian – Italy, parts of Switzerland, Albania
German – Varying dialects throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Greek – Greece
Dutch – Dialects throughout the Netherlands and Northern Belgium
Add a Comment Comments (8)
-
four in spanish is cuatro, not cuarto.
cring
posted on Aug. 05, 2009
Flag as Inappropriate
-
I would check the spelling on some of the translations! I speak French and know a bit of Spanish and noticed a couple mistakes. We wouldn’t want to embarass ourselves speaking another language now!!!!!
Guylaine2009
posted on Jun. 14, 2009
Flag as Inappropriate
-
How much? In Spanish is “Cuanto?” not “Cunato”.. Just by the way..
Also, if you bump into any Spainard accidentally “Lo Siento” is a simple way of saying “Sorry”SamJane
posted on May. 26, 2009
Flag as Inappropriate
-
hehe i like the look of dutch. speak english with a slight accent and you’ve got it! half the words are even spelt exactly the same as english! lucky though.. because im assuming ill be a little “out of my mind” in amsterdam as it is!!
Mel
posted on May. 13, 2009
Flag as Inappropriate
-
Actually in French, combien is how much, not combine.
AlbertaGirl20
posted on Apr. 14, 2009
Flag as Inappropriate
-
Very helpful! Though I’m pretty sure I’m butchering most of the words =/
Jas
posted on Aug. 28, 2008
Flag as Inappropriate
-
‘de nada’ is a great phrase to know in Spain as it means ‘no worries’ or ‘you’re welcome’ – after someone says ‘gracias/thanks’ – really helpful
also – the word ‘dos’ actaully means two in spanish.. =)
Kris
posted on May. 09, 2008
Flag as Inappropriate
-
‘Prego’ is also a great word to know in Italy (along with Ciao Bella…or Bello depending on your taste) – Prego though is simply a polite term that means ‘you’re welcome’ or ‘please’ (as in “please, can I help you) – you’ll hear it a lot and it’s a good, useful and polite word to know and use yourself.
mattyvcontiki
posted on Dec. 12, 2007
Flag as Inappropriate
Featured Travel Photos
Photo by Lauren Jones
Photo by beabadtzi
Photo by jolinarodriguez
Recent Tips
There's a lot to see in Italy, but beware of the seriously hot summer weather.
For a great view of the city (especially at night) go to the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris. It also offers a great vantage point for viewing the water show at the Bellagio.
This is a FANTASTIC tour for a city person. The shopping, dining, nightlife, and cultural opportunities are limitless as each city seems to outshine the last.
