Say "Thank You" in a local language
As we travel around the globe, we realise how important it is to show appreciation to the people who has helped us in one way or another with their great act of kindness.
Sometimes, we would really like to go a step further to express our thanks in their native languages, just to make someone feel special about their own country.
There are Six official languages recognised by the United Nations, so apart from English, the 5 others languages might come in handy:
There are as much as 6700 lauguages in the world and the majority are spoken by less than 1000 people, but if you are making a trip around the continents, these few languages may become handy:
Languages defines a national identity. Learning just one word in a language will surprise and enthrall someone that you took the time to learn a little of the native tongue. I asked for directions in the Vietnam and the guide was so surprised to hear a thank you from us in Vietnamese instead of the usual English thank you.
In the Indian subcontinent there are 26 official languages and around 1652 dialects spoken by the population. English is widely understood due to the period of colonization, but the diversity of the dialects shows the richness of the culture. The same applies to the large variety of dialects that exists everywhere in the world as well.
Perhaps before you go board the plane again, maybe just take 2 mins to learn how to say a simple "thank you".Trying out a new language and just saying a few words in the native language might just help bridge the distance and add a whole new perspective on your travel experience. The above list is definitely not extensive, but there are always a huge varity of phrase books and applications on your smart phone to help you out too. If all fails, there's always google :)
Do let us know the difference it makes when meeting the locals next time?
Cheers & till later.
Sometimes, we would really like to go a step further to express our thanks in their native languages, just to make someone feel special about their own country.
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| Picture courtesy of whooodats.com |
There are Six official languages recognised by the United Nations, so apart from English, the 5 others languages might come in handy:
- French- Merci Beaucoup
- Spanish- Grazias
- Arabic- Shukran
- Mandarin Chinese- Xie Xie
- Russian- Spasibo
There are as much as 6700 lauguages in the world and the majority are spoken by less than 1000 people, but if you are making a trip around the continents, these few languages may become handy:
Europe & Middle East
- German- Danke Schon
- Italian- Grazie
- Swedish- Tak
- Danish- Tak
- Norwegian- Takk
- Finnish- Kiitos
- Dutch- Dank u wel
- Polish- Dziekuje
- Czech- Dêkuji
- Hungarian- Köszönöm
- Portuguese- Obrigado
- Romanian- Multumesc
- Bulgarian- Blagodarya
- Greek- Efharisto
- Icelandic- Takk
- Maltese- Grazzi
- Croatian- Hvala
- Slovenian- Hvala
- Serbian- Hvala
- Albanian- Ju falem nderit
- Welsh- Diolch yn fawr
- Slovak- Dakujem
- Romansch- Grazia
- Ukrainian- Dyakooyu
- Uzbek- Rakhmat
- Irish- Go raibh maith agat
- Turkish- Tesekkür ederim
- Hebrew- Toda
- Persian- Tashakkur
- Sesotho - South Africa- ke ya leboha
Languages defines a national identity. Learning just one word in a language will surprise and enthrall someone that you took the time to learn a little of the native tongue. I asked for directions in the Vietnam and the guide was so surprised to hear a thank you from us in Vietnamese instead of the usual English thank you.
Central Asia
In the Indian subcontinent there are 26 official languages and around 1652 dialects spoken by the population. English is widely understood due to the period of colonization, but the diversity of the dialects shows the richness of the culture. The same applies to the large variety of dialects that exists everywhere in the world as well.
- Hindi- Dhanyabaad
- Nepalese- Dhan-ya-baad
- Urdu- Shukria
- Punjabi- Dhannvaad
- Pushtu- Tashakkur
- Gujarati- Dhanyawaad
- Tamil- Nandri
- Bengali- Dhanyabad
- Tibetan- Tujechhe
- Sri Lanka - Stuutiyi
Asia & South-East Asia
- Vietnamese- Cam On ( we remembered it as " come on")
- Lao- Khwap Jai
- Cantonese- Doh je ( Dialect), useful in HongKong & Canton Province in China
- Japanese- Arigato
- Korean- Komap-sum-nida
- Tagalog- Salamat
- Thai- Khwap Khun
- Mongolian- Bayarlaala
- Burmese- Chezu Ba
- Indonesian- Terima Kasih
- Malay- Terima Kasih
- Balinese- Tian matur suksana
Perhaps before you go board the plane again, maybe just take 2 mins to learn how to say a simple "thank you".Trying out a new language and just saying a few words in the native language might just help bridge the distance and add a whole new perspective on your travel experience. The above list is definitely not extensive, but there are always a huge varity of phrase books and applications on your smart phone to help you out too. If all fails, there's always google :)
Do let us know the difference it makes when meeting the locals next time?
Cheers & till later.
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