Problem
How do I ask for what I want in a foreign country?
1 Make a list of questions you are likely to ask - and the replies!
2
How do I remember Romanian word?
1 By repetition.
2 By seeking similarities.
English - Romanian
I can remember the Romanian word for pepper sound like Pippa.
The word for salad looks like s a l a t a. But there's a small bowl over the final, third a. When I type by pressing down the a key on my keyboard I get several accents on a Mac machine but not the vital one. It would be easier to copy the word including accent from google translate.
The word for sandwich looks the same without the ending and make a v instead of a w. I would recognise those words on a menu.
What you say:
hello
Good
morning
Good morning
Where
can I park?
how much is it?
how long can we stay?
is
restaurant
Where is the restaurant
it
open
is it open
I
We
want
breakfast
lunch
tea
cake
sandwich
biscuit
fruit
something healthy
coffee
a snack
dinner
a quick dinner
a cheap dinner
a one course meal
a two course meal
dinner with local food and entertainment
I would like breakfast
how much is it
I would like a table for two
thank you
I would like coffee
double espresso with milk on the side
scrambled eggs
boiled eggs
mixed grill
a croissant
the set meal
the buffet
where can I get /find
a glass of water
a cup of tea
milk
the bill
that was delicious
Can you charge it to the room
My room number is
toilet
where is the toilet
ladies
gents
I am lost
I have lost my husband
I need my passport
do you take credit cards
do you take American Express
where is the exit?
Are there any landmarks or museums nearby?
Do you have a map?
I would like the hotel / restaurant address card
A restaurant
A coffee shop / café
I want to take a tour
how much
anything cheaper
can we get there by car
can we park there
are they open now
what time do they close
can we get into the hotel late at night
do you have a second room key
can we have a late checkout?
where can we leave our luggage
can we collect it any time?
Can we leave it hidden in a locked room?
Who has the key
please give us a receipt for the number of items left / deposited
the bill
thank you
goodbye
What they might reply:
Good afternoon.
Good evening.
It's on the right.
on your right
on my right
left.
straight ahead.
go out of this door
turn left
turn right
upstairs
downstairs
open
closed
closing soon
hurry
take the lift
take the stairs
you can't miss it
ask again
Thank you.
Good night.
Have a safe trip.
Gestures you can use
smile
wave
beckon
show a map
raise your eyebrows
from and look puzzled with your head on one side
point right and raise you eyebrow
point left and raise your eyebrow
shake your head
smile and nod for thanks
thumbs up for thanks (check which countries this does not apply)
wave down t a x i s (like patting a dog) for taxis in China, Singapore, much of Asia - watch what locals do or ask
Pictures you can use
A big question mark
Information desk (to ask for the information desk)
Raise eyebrows and shrug
AIRPORT
Have/show a page of pictures for: an airport, departing plane, check-in, lounge, toilet, food, drink, shop selling suitcase, locks and padlocks on sale
Transport
Have a card or page showing
bus, tram, taxi, shared uber, coach, underground train, platform,
Numbers one to ten, the destinations you will visit (and intermediate points)
Shopping
Have a card showing a shop selling ladies clothes, a shop selling men's clothes, a shoe shop, walking shoes, trainers, flip flops, smart shoes, a wedding outfit, an evening outfit, jeans, skirts, blouses shirts, ties, socks, gloves, hats, skis, poles, boots, socks, goggles, swimsuit, swim cap, beach shoes, t-shirt, baseball cap, brimmed hat for woman, for man, sunglasses, sighted glasses, optician, dentist, doctor, pharmacy (UK chemist).
Restaurants
Coffee shop, self-service, fast food, seated, silver service with tablecloths.
Story - Diabetic, Syrup in Juice, Translation
I was with my late father who had late onset diabetes in a hawker centre in Singapore wanting to by Fresh fruit from a fruit stall. He opted for a juice drink. However, after I watched the assistant putting all the juices in the mixer I saw her reach for a jar marked sugar syrup. I shouted no, and stop. She spoke only Mandarin and called the manageress. She explained their milkshake and juices were always made with sugar syrup. eventually we had the choice of paying for more fruit and milk, or cancelling the order. I think we paid for more fruit, We also asked them to write down the words in Mandarin for Diabetic, and no sugar in food nor drinks. Afterwards I typed out the words in English and Mandarin and printed a copy for both my father and myself, wo whoever was ordering had the translation handy.
Food nationality flags
To ask for a national restaurant or look for your favourite foods in a restaurant:
You can cut labels off fruit you buy, keep labels of baked bean tins, print national flags from the internet, photograph flags outside hotels and restaurants or restaurant menus.
Some countries and flags and food styles to look for:
American, Asian, Belgian, Cambodian, Chinese, Czech, English, French, German, Halal, Hungarian, Israeli, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Jewish style, Kosher, Malay, Mexican, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, UK Union Jack flag; Vegan or label saying suitable for vegetarians. If you are diabetic and don't want syrup added to your cocktail or milkshake, good the word diabetes or no sugar in other languages.
Shop Names and Brand name reminders (show your loyalty card picture on your loyalty card or phone or cut out pictures from magazines):
McDonalds, KFC, Costa, Starbucks, M & S, Harrods, Poundshop, Tesco.
For help at an internet cafe or hotel business centre have translations words or pictures for:
computer access; google, Facebook, linked, googlemaps, bus timetable, airline confirmation, airline ticket booking, printing slides, printing a business card, envelopes, notepaper, printing paper, postcards, postage stamps, postage franking,
COLOURS AND SIZES
Have a card showing your colour and size eg
Gift wrap
newborn baby outfit
greeting cards for baby, new year, xmas, congratulations (on wedding)
red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, violet, purple, black, white, striped, dots, Paisley, rainbow, bright colours, pale colours, muted colours, gray, camouflage, national flag.
This is a huge list. You might just want to pick out one item in advance. Or collect material on arrival. For example, collecting a leaflet from the first Costa you see in the departing or arriving airport so that you can ask for one in a city a day later.
From Google translate
English - Romanian
No sugar please. Diabetic. Fără zahăr, te rog. Diabetice.
English - Malay
No sugar please. Diabetic. Tiada gula sila. Kencing manis.
English - Mandarin
No sugar please. Diabetic. 请不要糖糖尿病。
English - Indonesian
No sugar please. Diabetic. Tidak ada gula silahkan. Diabetes.
English - Russian
No sugar please. Diabetic. Нет сахара, пожалуйста. Диабетическая.
See my previous posts on Romanian.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share posts.
