Phrases in other languages
Is it just me that feels that it is only courtesy to learn a few words of the local language before visiting another country? It appears that I am alone in this view, judging by the ecstatic reaction of one Corfiot taverna owner to me asking for my food in Greek (I read the words off the Greek bit of the menu and added the word paracalo - please). As Nick Edwards says in the Rough Guide to Corfu, the utterance of even a few words of Greek elevates you from the status of tourista (grockle) to the status of xenia (guest, foreigner, honoured stranger).
So here is my contribution to international relations...
| English | Please | Thank you (very much) | Yes | No | Hello | Goodbye | Good morning / day | Good evening | Goodnight | More |
| Czech | Prosím | Děkuji (nam) | Ano | Ne | Ahoj | Nashledanou | Dobrý den! | Dobrý večer! | Dobrou noc! | > Czech |
| Dutch | Alstublieft | Dank je/u (zeer) | Ja | Nee | Hi / Dag | Dag | Goedemorgen | Goedenavond | Goedenacht | > Dutch |
| French | S'il vous plaît | Merci (beaucoup) | Oui | Non | Bonjour | Au revoir | Bonne matin | Bonsoir | Bonne nuit | > French |
| German | Bitte | Danke (schön) | Ja | Nein | Hallo / Guten Tag | Tschuss / Auf Wiedersehen | Guten Morgen | Guten Abend | Guten Nacht | > German |
| Greek | Paracalo | Efcharisto (poli) | Nai | Ochi | Ela / Yassou | Yassou | Kalimera | Kalispera | Kalinichta | > Greek |
| Italian | Per favore | (Molto) grazie | Si | No | Ciao | Arriverderci | Buongiorno | Buonasera | Buona notte | > Italian |
| Portuguese | Se faz favor / Por favor | (Muito) obrigado / obrigada | Sim | Não | Olá! | Adeus! | Bom dia | Boa tarde | Boa noite | > Portuguese |
| Spanish | Por favor | (Muchas) gracias | Sí | No | Hola | ¡Adiós! | Buenos diás | Buenos tardes | Buoenos noches | > Spanish |
| Welsh | Os gwelwch yn dda | Diolch (yn fawr) | There is no direct equivalent to the English 'yes' and 'no' in Welsh | Helo | Hwyl fawr | Bore da | Noswaith da | Nos da | > Welsh | |