Learning a language is an important part of any significant European travel experience.
While you’re guaranteed to get into some confusing situations during your travels, there’s no replacement for preparation.
With that in mind, here are 25 key phrases to know before your trip to Europe, with their German, French, Italian, Spanish and Turkish translations.
SKIP TO TRANSLATIONS FOR …
Daily life
Restaurants and money
Emergencies
Traveling
10 phrases for daily life while traveling in Europe
These words will get you through several minute-to-minute activities, earning you instant credit for being a traveler who cared enough to do the minimum research.
Hello
- German: Hallo
- French: Bonjour
- Italian: Ciao
- Spanish: Hola
- Turkish: Merhaba
Goodbye
- German: Verabschiedung
- French: Au revoir
- Italian: Arrivederci
- Spanish: Adios
- Turkish: Güle güle
Yes
- German: Ja
- French: Oui
- Italian: SÌ
- Spanish: Sí
- Turkish: Evet
No
- German: Nein
- French: Non
- Italian: No
- Spanish: No
- Turkish: Hayir
Please
- German: Bitte
- French: S’il te plaît
- Italian: Per favore
- Spanish: Por favor
- Turkish: Lütfen
Thank you
- German: Danke
- French: Merci
- Italian: Grazie
- Spanish: Gracias
- Turkish: Teşekkürler
I’m sorry
- German: Es tut mir Leid
- French: Je suis désolé
- Italian: Mi dispiace
- Spanish: Lo siento
- Turkish: Üzgünüm
Excuse me
- German: Verzeihung
- French: Excuse-moi
- Italian: Mi scusi
- Spanish: Disculpe
- Turkish: Affedersin
My name is ____
- German: Ich heiße _____
- French: Mon nom est ____
- Italian: Mi chiamo ____
- Spanish: Me llamo _____
- Turkish: Benim adım ____
Where is the bathroom?
- German: Wo ist die Toilette
- French: Où se trouvent les toilettes ?
- Italian: Dov’è il bagno?
- Spanish: ¿Dónde está el baño?
- Turkish: Banyo nerede?
Five phrases for eating and drinking and paying in Europe
Students should know these five phrases at a minimum to make sure they can eat on the economy and buy things need while studying abroad.
May I please have a menu?
- German: Die Speisekarte, bitte
- French: Le menu, s’il vous plaît
- Italian: Il menu, per favore
- Spanish: El menú, por favor
- Turkish: Menü lütfen
May I have the bill/check?
- German: Die Rechnung, bitte
- French: L’addition s’il vous plait
- Italian: Il conto per favore
- Spanish: La cuenta, por favor
- Turkish: Hesap lütfen
Where is the market/grocery store?
- German: Wo ist der Markt
- French: Où est le marché ?
- Italian: Dov’è il mercato?
- Spanish: ¿Dónde está el mercado?
- Turkish: Market nerede?
How much does this cost?
- German: Wie viel kostet es?
- French: Combien ça coûte ?
- Italian: Quanto costa questo?
- Spanish: ¿Cuánto cuesta este?
- Turkish: Bu kaça mal oluyor
Do you take credit cards?
- German: Akzeptieren sie kreditkarten?
- French: Prenez-vous les cartes de crédit ?
- Italian: Accettate carte di credito?
- Spanish: ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?
- Turkish: Kredi kartı kabul ediyor musunuz?
Six phrases for emergency or medical situations while traveling in Europe
There might not be time to consult a phrase book or translation app in an emergency. Know these phrases before you travel in case you get caught in an emergency situation while studying abroad.
Fire!
- German: Feuer!
- French: Feu!
- Italian: Fuoco!
- Spanish: ¡Fuego!
- Turkish: Ateş!
I need a doctor
- German: Ich brauche einen arzt
- French: J’ai besoin d’un docteur
- Italian: Ho bisogno di un dottore
- Spanish: Necesito un doctor
- Turkish: Bir doktora ihtiyacım var
I feel sick
- German: Mir ist schlecht
- French: Je me sens malade
- Italian: Mi sento male
- Spanish: Me siento enferma
- Turkish: Kötü hissediyorum
I need medicine
- German: Ich brauche medizin
- French: J’ai besoin de médicaments
- Italian: Ho bisogno di medicine
- Spanish: Necesito la medicina
- Turkish: Ilaca ihtiyacım var
I need help.
- German: Ich brauche hilfe
- French: J’ai besoin d’aide
- Italian: Ho bisogno di aiuto
- Spanish: Necesito ayuda.
- Turkish: Yardıma ihtiyacım var.
Where is the police station?
- German: Wo ist die polizei station?
- French: Ou est la station de police ?
- Italian: Dov’è la stazione di polizia?
- Spanish: ¿Dónde está la estación de policía?
- Turkish: Durdurun şu hırsızı!
Four phrases for traveling in Europe
Just because you’re in country doesn’t mean your travel is over. Here are six phrases that can be crucial to getting around locally while studying abroad.
What does a ticket cost?
- German: Was kostet ein ticket?
- French: Combien coûte un billet ?
- Italian: Quanto costa un biglietto?
- Spanish: ¿Qué cuesta un billete?
- Turkish: Bilet ne kadar?
When does it arrive? (for any mode of transportation)
- German: Wann kommt es an?
- French: Quand arrive-t-il ?
- Italian: Quando arriva?
- Spanish: ¿Cuánto dura este viaje?
- Turkish: Ne zaman gelir?
Where is the bus stop?
- German: Wo ist die bushaltestelle?
- French: Où est l’arrêt de bus ?
- Italian: Dov’è la fermata dell’autobus?
- Spanish: ¿Dónde esta la parada de autobus?
- Turkish: Otobüs durağı nerede?
Where is the metro/subway?
- German: Wo ist die metro?
- French: Où est le métro ?
- Italian: Dov’è la metro?
- Spanish: ¿Dónde está el metro?
- Turkish: Metro nerede?
