The top 21 phrases to master in different languages

  • 22 Nov, 2021
  • Franki Napolitano
  • No Comments

Learn Hello, Thank you, Can I have the Bill Please and Help! In our 21 phrases to learn blog, covering French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, German and Japanese, all translated by native speakers

When you go abroad, learning common phrases in different languages is always a good idea, don’t you think? Even if it’s just being able to say hello, goodbye, knowing your P&Qs or being able to order a drink, it makes you feel a little more polite than just expecting the locals to know English.

Given this, we thought it’d be helpful to bring you the 21 most common phrases in different languages to learn before your next trip!

Luckily for us in the APS Team, we have plenty of native speakers of the below languages, so you’ll be happy to know you won’t just be talking in Google Translate speak..!

Use the jump links to skip to the sections that may be relevant.

Being Polite | Making Conversation | Ordering Food & Drink | Needing help

Being polite in French / Italian / Polish and other languages

Hello

Learn to say Hello in 6 different languages

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Spanish – Hola

Italian – Ciao

French – Bonjour

Polish – Cześć

German – Hallo

Japanese – こんにちは  / ko-n-ni-chi-wa

Goodbye

How to say Goodbye in Italian, Spanish, German

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Spanish – Adiós

Italian – Ciao

French – Au Revoir

Polish – Do widzenia

German – Auf Wiedersehen

Japanese – さようなら / sai-yoh-na-ra

Yes

Say Yes in 6 different languages

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Spanish – 

Italian – 

French – Oui

Polish – Tak

German – Ja

Japanese – はい (hai)

Please

Saying Please in different languages

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Spanish – Por favor

Italian – Per favore

French – S’il vous plaît

Polish – Proszę

German – Bitte

Japanese – 〜ください・お願いします (~ku-da-sa-i / onegaishimasu)

No

How to say No in 6 different languages

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Spanish – No

Italian – No

French – Non

Polish– Nie

German – Nein

Japanese – いいえ (iie (ii-eh))

Thank you

Learn how to say Thank You in Japanese!

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Spanish – Gracias

Italian – Grazie

French – Merci

Polish – Dziękuję

German – Danke

Japanese – ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu)

How are you?

Do you know how to say 'How are You' in different languages?

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Spanish – ¿Cómo estás?

Italian – Come stai?

French – Comment ça va?

Polish – Jak się masz?

German – Wie geht es dir?

Japanese – おげんきですか / ogenki desu ka

I’m fine, thanks

helping you learn common phrases in different languages

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Spanish – Estoy bien, gracias

Italian – Sono buono, grazie

French – Bien merci

Polish – Czuję się dobrze, dzięki

German – Es geht mir gut, danke

Japanese – げんきです/ genki desu

Sorry

Common phrases in different languages - Discover how you say Sorry in 6 different languages

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Spanish – Lo siento

Italian – Mi dispiace

French – Pardon

Polish – Przepraszam

German – Es tut mir leid

Japanese – すみません / sumimasen

Excuse Me / Pardon

Common phrases in different languages - How to say Excuse me / pardon in Polish and French

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Spanish – Disculpe

Italian – Mi scusi

French – Excusez-moi

Polish – Przepraszam

German – Entschuldigung

Japanese – すみません / sumimasen

Now that we’ve mastered phrases in different languages for being polite, let’s move on to how to make and keep conversations going.

Making conversation in Spanish / Japanese / German and other languages

What’s your name?

How to say What's your name in Italian and French and 4 other languages

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Spanish – ¿Cómo te llamas?

ItalianCome ti chiami?

French – Comment t’appelle tu?

Polish – Jak masz na imię?

German – Wie heisst du?

Japanese – お名前はなんですか / o-na-ma-e wa nan desu ka

My name is…

helping you learn phrases in different languages - How to say My name is

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Spanish  – Me llamo…

Italian – Mi chiamo…

French – mon nom est… / je m’appelle …

Polish – Nazywam się…

German – Ich heisse…

Japanese – 私は〜〜です / watashi wa — desu

I don’t understand

How do you say I don't understand in Spanish or French?

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Spanish – No entiendo

Italian – Non capisco

French – Je ne compris pas

Polish – Nie rozumiem

German – Ich ferstehe nicht

Japanese – わかりません / wakarimasen

Could you speak slower, please?

This is how you say 'Could you speak slower, please?' - helping you learn phrases in different languages

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Spanish – ¿Podrías hablar mas despacio, por favor?

Italian – Potresti parlare lentamente, per favore

French – Pouvez-vous parler plus lentiment s’il vous plait?

Polish – Mógłbyś mówić wolniej, proszę

German – Können Sie bitte langsam sprechen?

Japanese – ゆっくり話してください / yu-kku-ri ha-na-shi-te ku-da-sa-i

Now on to the all important phrases in different languages to help you order refreshments, compliment the chef and ask for the bill.

Ordering Food & Drink in Spanish / French / Italian and other languages

I’d like a beer / coffee / water please

Common phrases in different languages - How to order a drink 'I'd like a beer / coffee / water please'

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Spanish – Me gustaría una cerveza / un café / un agua

Italian – Vorrei una birra / un caffe / una acqua

French – Je voudrais une bière / un café / d’eau

Polish – Poproszę piwo / kawę / wodę

German – Ich möchte ein Bier/ Kaffee/ Wasser

Japanese – ビール・コーヒ・水をください / bi-ru / ko-hi / mizu o ku-da-sa-i

Could I see a menu? / Please bring me a menu

Common phrases in different languages - Could I see a menu / please bring me a menu

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Spanish – ¿Puedo ver la carta?

Italian – Vi prego di portarmi un menu

French – Pourrais-je voir un menu s’il vous plaît

Polish – Czy mogę prosić o menu?

German – Die Speisekarte, bitte

That was delicious!

How to say That was delicious! in Italian and Spanish and 4 different languages

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Spanish – Estaba exquisito!

Italian – Era delizioso!

French – C’était délicieux!

Polish – To było pyszne!

German – Es war lecker!

Japanese – おいしかったです / o-i-shi-ka-t-ta desu

Can I get the bill, please

Know how to say Can I have the bill, please in 6 different languages"

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Spanish – La cuenta, por favor

Italian – Il conto, per favore

French – l’addition s’il vous plaît

Polish – Poproszę rachunek

German – Die Rechnung, bitte

Japanese – おかんじょうをお願いします / o-kanjo-u o o-ne-ga-i-shi-masu – although not really used. In most restaurants in Japan, they bring the bill to you as you eat, you wouldn’t usually need to ask for it 

Lastly, and actually arguably, some of the most important phrases in different languages to learn in case you’re ever in distress, need assistance or need to borrow a phone.

Asking for help in different languages

Help!

How do you say Help! in Polish or Spanish? APS is helping you learn common phrases in different languages

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Spanish – ¡Ayuda!

Italian – Aiuto!

French – Aidez-moi!

Polish – Pomocy!

German – Hilfe!

Japanese – 助けて! / ta-su-ke-te

Can I use your phone?

Common phrases in different languages -  Do you know how to say Can I use your phone? in Italian?

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Spanish – ¿Puedo usar tu teléfono?

Italian – Posso usare il tuo telefono?

French – Puis-je utiliser votre téléphone?

Polish – Czy mogę skorzystać z Twojego telefonu?

German – Kann ich Ihr Handy benutzen?

Japanese – お電話を使ってもいいですか / o-den-wa wo tsu-ka-tte mo ii desu ka

Leave me alone!

Know how to say Leave me alone! in 6 different languages for if you're feeling threatened

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Spanish –  ¡Déjame en paz!

Italian – Lasciami solo!

French – Laissez moi tout seul!

Polish – Zostaw mnie w spokoju!

German – Lass mich allein!

Japanese – ほっといてよ!/ ho-tto-ite-yo

So, what are you waiting for? If this has whet your appetite to really learn a new language, Memrise comes highly recommended by the team here!

All images courtesy of Pixabay.

About Franki Napolitano

Working in the travel industry has really opened my eyes to the attitudes, issues and obstacles people can face just trying to go on holiday. Whether it's due to their health, family situations or budgets, travel should be accessible for all. I cover everything from travelling with a disability to how to save money while you travel, hoping to make the holiday process easier for everyone.