Spanish, a foreign language
spoken by over 300 million people all over the globe but rarely taught in our
schools for one reason or the other. Something so popular is bound to be handy
when attempting to cover every continent out there, so here are a few phrases
that should help you seem to be a bit more cultured.
- Hola\oh-la\- Kind of obvious but most locals would prefer you say
hello in their native tongue
- No habloespañol\noh ah-blohehs-pah-nyol\- If the
shop owner is rambling in Spanish and you’re not sure whether they’re selling
you a souvenir or initiating you into an occult, don’t be shy to say you don’t
speak the language
- ¿Cuánto?\kwahn–toh\- When haggling your way through busy shops you
want to pretend you’re a local to avoid rip-offs, which is why it’s necessary
to ask ‘how much’ in Spanish
- TengoHambre\tango ahm-bray\-‘I’m hungry’. Yes expressing your
hunger is a crucial aspect of surviving a different culture, followed closely
by…
- Yo no como- \yo no koe-moe\- ‘I don’t eat’ (insert least favorite
dish here)
- Me encantaestepaís\mehen-kantaesteh pa-yeas\- Finally, to win a
place in the locals’ hearts, express your love of their country, a sure way to
transform from tourist to foreign resident
By Noha Osman