Becoming ‘tourist fluent’ in a new language

One of my favorite parts of living in Cambodia was learning the language. It unlocked a way of traveling and connecting with locals that was so special and fun, transforming even the most mundane moments into opportunities to smile and connect. That year, I took a lot of short trips to other countries, often where I had friends on my same fellowship who had also learned their country’s language.

By the end of my year, I had arrived at a solid and minimal set of words that I learned when I arrived in a new place which let me not only navigate the world as a tourist, but also imbued my experiences with the joy of discovering other cultures and connecting with other humans.

I still kick myself that I didn’t write them down when they were fresh, but 12 years late is better than never, right? Here’s what I remember:

This and that are truly the most versatile of words. Combined with pointing, you can use these to navigate shopping experiences at a market, figure out where you need to go, and so much more.

Here, there, and over there. Also critical for helping you find your way. Learn the different ways to indicate distance, but recognize that you can do a lot with inflection. The difference between there (just there) and there (waaaaay over there) can simply be how you say the word “there” and what your face is doing.

Already turns any word or phrase into past tense.

These words plus a few key nouns will get you 80% of what you need to get around as a tourist. For example:

• “Is this the bus stop?” –> “Bus here?” / “No? Bus there?”
• “Did I miss the bus?” –> “Bus already?”
• Ordering food or buying things –> just point and say “this” or “that” rather than having to learn the words for every type of food.

Also some of the other basics:

• Hello: It’s nice to say hello in the language when you enter an establishment, to at least indicate that you are willing to muddle through communication and not just expecting them to know perfect English. In many languages, there’s a different way to say “hello” when you enter an establishment that is slightly more formal than how you’d say hello to a friend. It’s worth knowing the difference but don’t stress about it, either one conveys the message the same: I’m here and I’m making an effort to connect.
• Thank you: it’s also nice to say thank you in their language, even if your whole interaction was in English.
• Basic time and numbers, especially as they relate to money.
• Where and when are useful in part because you’ll probably be able to understand the answer. “When” or “what time” can also be used to ask when something opens: point to a closed establishment “what time?”
• Have: useful to help you find what you need. For example, “do you have X” can just be phrased as “have X?” Or you can use it to fend off people trying to sell you things with a quick “have already”.
• Go: useful to get around, so you can ask for example “does the bus go to X?” (“bus go X?”)
• How much and expensive: useful to navigate markets, shopping, and negotiating. It’s important also to learn the inflections that turn “expensive” from a confrontational word to one that is more fun and friendly. You want to go for “wooooof, expensive ruh roh” rather than “ugh that is too expensive I’m leaving” so that there’s an opening for negotiation.
• Sorry: learn the word for a low-key apology, for example what you’d say when bump into people in the subway. Also useful when you make a fool or yourself as the tourist buffoon that you are.
• Excuse me: most languages have a phrase or way to get people’s attention. Learn what this is to get better service at shops and restaurants, and also show that you did your basic research into local customs rather than just copy-paste translating from English.
• Please: a short workaround to having to learn how to ask for something. Instead of saying “could I have X?” you can usually just get away with “please X” – adding the please lets you keep it short without sounding like a demanding douche.
• Yes and no, self-explanatory.
• Also make sure to learn some critical nouns like: bathroom, hotel, food, bus/train/taxi/whatever transportation you’ll use, water, etc.

The best part of becoming tourist fluent, though, is how few words it takes to connect with people:

• Let’s go: every language has a way to say “let’s go!” This is great to deploy on a tour or in a group of people. It’s also a good way to express enthusiasm about something someone is telling you about - rather than having to learn to say “oh my gosh that sounds amazing I want to go,” you can just say “let’s go!” and they will get the gist of your excitement. (This is my favorite one to learn.)
• Delicious: Saying that the food is delicious is a great way to move your relationship with food service staff from transactional to connection. Connecting over food is a deeply human experience, knowing how to do so will inject small moments of joy into every part of your trip.
  • “How’s the food?” “Delicious!” big smiles
  • “What would you like to eat?” “Delicious!” (AKA: “something delicious please” / “what’s your favorite thing?”)
  • At a street market faced with many unknown foods: you can just point and ask “Delicious?” to find your best meal of the trip.
• Beautiful: People also love being complimented on the beauty of their country. Make sure you learn the word for an object that is beautiful rather than a person. Nothing weirder than calling a mountain sexy (but also, a great way to connect through laughter so go for it).
• One more: as in, “one more beer please.” Crucial for if you find yourself drinking with locals, and another fun way to connect with wait staff. Can also be used to buy another round of drinks for said group of locals, point at each person and ask “One more?” until everyone joyfully agrees.
• No worries: a great way to express that you’re here on vacation and interested in having a good time. Delayed bus? No worries. Item too expensive and negotiations have broken down? No worries. Restaurant is out of a food you ordered? No worries.
• If it’s a holiday, learn whatever the phrase is for that holiday. My favorite New Year’s Eve was at a fish farm / beer garden in northern Thailand. It took us a really long time to communicate “how do you say Happy New Year?” but once we broke through, the rest of the night was full of joyful “sabbai dee pi mai!” It was the only thing we really knew how to say in Thai and yet was enough to make for one of the most fun nights of our trip.
• How do you say?: the phrase that keeps on giving.
• I don’t understand / I don’t speak: very useful when your tourist fluency gets you in too deep!

I’m sure I’m missing many, but this is at least a good start! Go forth and become tourist fluent, and report back what else you found useful. :)

Thanks to my friend Rose for co-brainstorming this list with me!

Edit: woops, looks like I’ve already written about this before! Ah well, it was a fun refresher.