Language barriers are the number one source of travel anxiety. More than getting lost, more than missing a flight, the fear of not being able to communicate in a foreign country keeps people up the night before a trip. But here is the good news: you do not need to be fluent. You need about 50 phrases.
We analyzed thousands of real travel interactions across restaurants, hotels, markets, train stations, and emergency situations to identify the phrases that actually matter. These are the 50 phrases that will get you through 95% of travel situations in any country.
For each phrase, we have included translations in Spanish and French. If you want all 50 in Japanese, Vietnamese, and Hindi as well, TapSay has them all ready with one tap.
Greetings & Basics (5 Phrases)
First impressions matter everywhere. A simple greeting in the local language immediately changes how people treat you.
1. Hello / Good day
ES: Hola / Buenos días FR: Bonjour
2. Thank you
ES: Gracias FR: Merci
3. Please
ES: Por favor FR: S'il vous plaît
4. Excuse me / Sorry
ES: Disculpe / Lo siento FR: Excusez-moi / Pardon
5. Do you speak English?
ES: ¿Habla inglés? FR: Parlez-vous anglais ?
Restaurant & Food (10 Phrases)
Eating is half the joy of travel. These phrases cover everything from getting seated to paying the bill. For a deeper dive into restaurant communication, see our complete restaurant ordering guide.
6. A table for two, please
ES: Una mesa para dos, por favor FR: Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît
7. Can I see the menu?
ES: ¿Puedo ver el menú? FR: Puis-je voir le menu ?
8. I would like this one (pointing)
ES: Quisiera este FR: Je voudrais celui-ci
9. I am vegetarian
ES: Soy vegetariano/a FR: Je suis végétarien(ne)
10. I am allergic to nuts
ES: Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos FR: Je suis allergique aux noix
11. No spicy, please
ES: Sin picante, por favor FR: Pas épicé, s'il vous plaît
12. Water, please
ES: Agua, por favor FR: De l'eau, s'il vous plaît
13. The bill / check, please
ES: La cuenta, por favor FR: L'addition, s'il vous plaît
14. This is delicious!
ES: ¡Está delicioso! FR: C'est délicieux !
15. What do you recommend?
ES: ¿Qué recomienda? FR: Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?
Directions & Navigation (8 Phrases)
GPS can fail. Batteries die. Sometimes you just need to ask a human being how to get somewhere.
16. Where is the train station?
ES: ¿Dónde está la estación de tren? FR: Où est la gare ?
17. How do I get to the airport?
ES: ¿Cómo llego al aeropuerto? FR: Comment aller à l'aéroport ?
18. Is it far from here?
ES: ¿Está lejos de aquí? FR: C'est loin d'ici ?
19. Turn left / Turn right
ES: Gire a la izquierda / Gire a la derecha FR: Tournez à gauche / Tournez à droite
20. Go straight ahead
ES: Siga todo recto FR: Allez tout droit
21. Where is the nearest ATM?
ES: ¿Dónde está el cajero más cercano? FR: Où est le distributeur le plus proche ?
22. Can you show me on the map?
ES: ¿Puede mostrármelo en el mapa? FR: Pouvez-vous me montrer sur la carte ?
23. Where is the bathroom?
ES: ¿Dónde está el baño? FR: Où sont les toilettes ?
Shopping & Markets (7 Phrases)
Whether you are at a Grand Bazaar or a small artisan shop, these phrases help you navigate prices and make purchases confidently.
24. How much does this cost?
ES: ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? FR: Combien ça coûte ?
25. That is too expensive
ES: Es demasiado caro FR: C'est trop cher
26. Can you give me a discount?
ES: ¿Me puede hacer un descuento? FR: Pouvez-vous me faire une réduction ?
27. I will take it
ES: Me lo llevo FR: Je le prends
28. Do you accept credit cards?
ES: ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito? FR: Acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit ?
29. Do you have a smaller size?
ES: ¿Tiene una talla más pequeña? FR: Avez-vous une taille plus petite ?
30. Just looking, thank you
ES: Solo estoy mirando, gracias FR: Je regarde juste, merci
Emergency & Safety (5 Phrases)
You hope you never need these, but if you do, you need them instantly. These are the phrases worth memorizing before any trip.
31. I need help!
ES: ¡Necesito ayuda! FR: J'ai besoin d'aide !
32. Please call an ambulance
ES: Por favor, llame a una ambulancia FR: Appelez une ambulance, s'il vous plaît
33. Where is the nearest hospital?
ES: ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? FR: Où est l'hôpital le plus proche ?
34. I lost my passport
ES: Perdí mi pasaporte FR: J'ai perdu mon passeport
35. Please call the police
ES: Por favor, llame a la policía FR: Appelez la police, s'il vous plaît
Hotel & Accommodation (8 Phrases)
From check-in to checkout, these phrases cover the essentials of any hotel or hostel stay.
36. I have a reservation under [name]
ES: Tengo una reserva a nombre de [nombre] FR: J'ai une réservation au nom de [nom]
37. What time is check-out?
ES: ¿A qué hora es el check-out? FR: À quelle heure est le départ ?
38. The Wi-Fi is not working
ES: El Wi-Fi no funciona FR: Le Wi-Fi ne fonctionne pas
39. Can I have extra towels?
ES: ¿Puedo tener toallas extra? FR: Puis-je avoir des serviettes supplémentaires ?
40. Is breakfast included?
ES: ¿El desayuno está incluido? FR: Le petit-déjeuner est-il inclus ?
41. Can I store my luggage here?
ES: ¿Puedo dejar mi equipaje aquí? FR: Puis-je laisser mes bagages ici ?
42. The air conditioning is not working
ES: El aire acondicionado no funciona FR: La climatisation ne fonctionne pas
43. Could I have a quieter room?
ES: ¿Podría tener una habitación más tranquila? FR: Pourrais-je avoir une chambre plus calme ?
Transportation (7 Phrases)
Taxis, buses, trains, and ferries. Getting from A to B is often the most stressful part of travel, and the part where clear communication matters most.
44. How much to go to [place]?
ES: ¿Cuánto cuesta ir a [lugar]? FR: Combien pour aller à [endroit] ?
45. Please use the meter
ES: Por favor, use el taxímetro FR: Utilisez le compteur, s'il vous plaît
46. Stop here, please
ES: Pare aquí, por favor FR: Arrêtez-vous ici, s'il vous plaît
47. One ticket to [destination], please
ES: Un billete a [destino], por favor FR: Un billet pour [destination], s'il vous plaît
48. Which platform for [destination]?
ES: ¿Qué andén para [destino]? FR: Quel quai pour [destination] ?
49. Is this the bus to [place]?
ES: ¿Este es el autobús a [lugar]? FR: C'est le bus pour [endroit] ?
50. I need to go to this address
ES: Necesito ir a esta dirección FR: J'ai besoin d'aller à cette adresse
How to Actually Use These Phrases
Having a list is one thing. Using it effectively is another. Here are some tips from experienced travelers:
- Learn the first five by heart. "Hello," "Thank you," "Please," "Sorry," and "Do you speak English?" go an incredibly long way. Even a bad accent earns goodwill.
- Show, do not speak. If your pronunciation is not great, showing a phrase on your phone screen is more effective than saying it badly. This is exactly why flashcard-based translation tools like TapSay work so well in practice.
- Pair phrases with gestures. Pointing at a menu item while showing "I would like this one" makes your intent unmistakable.
- Practice the emergency phrases before you need them. In a real emergency, you will not have time to scroll through a list. Know where phrases 31-35 are in your app or notebook.
- Context matters more than grammar. Saying "hospital?" with a worried expression communicates just as well as a perfect sentence. These phrases give you structure, but your body language does the rest.
Beyond 50: Getting the Full Travel Phrase Library
These 50 phrases will handle most situations. But real travel throws curveballs: dietary restrictions, medical conditions, specific directions, cultural courtesies. TapSay includes over 900 phrases across categories like dining, shopping, emergencies, transportation, health, and social situations, in English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Hindi.
Every phrase is available offline. No typing, no internet, no awkward voice recognition. Just tap and show.
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Bookmark this page as your pre-trip checklist, and make sure you have these phrases ready before you board that plane. The difference between a stressful trip and a smooth one is often just knowing the right words.
Planning a trip to Japan? Read our specialized guide: 40 Phrases You'll Actually Use in Japan