How to Say Common Phrases in Multiple Languages

The simple phrases: "hello," "sorry," "thank you," "you're welcome," "goodbye," "I love you." These are very basic manners that can be very useful to learn in different languages. If you're on a whirlwind tour of the world, or you just want to know how to be very polite in a multi-cultured society, tuck this mini-guide into your bag and learn a little every day.

1

Thank You

  1. [1]
    • Afrikaans : Dankie (standard).
    • Bengali : ধন্যবাদ (Dhon-no-baad).
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : អរគុណ (Ar-Kun).
    • Cantonese : 多謝 (Doll jie).
    • Dutch : Dank u (formal). Dank je (informal).
    • Estonian : Aitäh.
    • Finnish : Kiitos.
    • French : Merci.
    • German : Danke schön (formal). Danke (informal).
    • Hebrew : Toda raba, Toda
    • Icelandic : Takk (Tahck).
    • Italian : Grazie.
    • Japanese : Arigato gozamaisu (formal). Arigato (informal).
    • Korean : Kamsabinida (frm.), Komawo (inf.).
    • Korean :고맙습니다 (Koh-mahp-soom-ni-da)
    • Krio : Tenki.
    • Latin : Gratias ago.
    • Malay : Terima kasih.
    • Malayalam : നന്ദി (Na-nni).
    • Mandarin Chinese : 谢谢 (Shyieh, Shyieh).
    • Norwegian : Takk/Tusen takk/Takk skal du ha.
    • Persian :متشکرم (moteshakkeram).
    • Portuguese : Obrigado (male)/obrigada(female).
    • Romanian : Mulțumesc (formal). Mersi (informal).
    • Russian : Спасибо (spa-SI-ba).
    • Serbian : Hvala.
    • Sindhi : Meherbaani. (مهرباني)
    • Sinhalese : Sthuthi.
    • Somali : Mahadsanid.
    • Spanish : Gracias.
    • Swedish : Tack.
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Maraming salamat.
    • Tamil (தமிழ்) : Nandri (நன்றி) .
    • Telugu : ధన్యవాదాలు (dhan-ya-vaadhalu).
    • Turkish : Teşekkürler.
    • Urdu : Shukriya (شکریہ).
    • Vietnamese : cám ơn (感恩)
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2

Okay / You're welcome

  1. [2]
    • Afrikaans : Okay / Plesier.
    • Bengali : ঠিক আছে (thik aase).
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : មិនអីទេ (Min-Ey-Te).
    • Cantonese : 唔使客氣 (Mmm sai hak hei).
    • Dutch : Graag gedaan.
    • Estonian : Okei / Palun.
    • Finnish : Ole hyvä.
    • French : Je vous en prie. (formal). De rien (informal).
    • German : Gerngeschehen (formal). Bitte (informal).
    • Icelandic : Gjörðu svo vel (Gj-uh-rthu svoh vel).
    • Japanese : Doo itashimashite.
    • Korean : 천만에요 (Jeon-man-eyo).
    • Krio : Fo natin.
    • Malay : Sama-sama.
    • Malayalam :sheri/ ane sheri
    • Mandarin Chinese : 好的 (Haw de).
    • Norwegian : Vær så god/Skulle bare mangle.
    • Persian :خواهش میکنم(xaahesh mikonam).
    • Portuguese : De nada.
    • Romanian : Cu plăcere.
    • Russian : Пожалуйста (Pazhalusta).
    • Sindhi : Bhalikaar.
    • Spanish : De nada.
    • Swedish : Var så god.
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Walang anuman.
    • Turkish : Rica ederim.
    • Urdu : Khush Amadeed.
    • Telugu : saré.
    • Tamil : Seri/paravailla
3

Where is it?

  1. in different languages.
    • Afrikaans : Waar is dit?
    • Bengali : এটা কোথায়? (eeta ko thay?)
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : វានៅឯណា? (Vea-Nov-Ea-Na).
    • Cantonese : 邊度? (Bean duo?).
    • Dutch : Waar is het?
    • Estonian : Kus see on?
    • Finnish : Missä se on?
    • French : Où est-il ?
    • German : Wo ist es?
    • Hebrew : Eifo Ze?
    • Icelandic : Hvar er það? (Kvar ehr thadh?)
    • Japanese : Doko desu ka?
    • Korean : 어디? (eo-di?)
    • Krio : Na weh ee be?
    • Latin : Ubi id est?
    • Malay : Dimanakah ia?
    • Malayalam :athe evadaya
    • Mandarin Chinese : 哪儿 (Nar Yowe)
    • Norwegian : Hvor er det?
    • Portuguese : Onde é?
    • Romanian : Unde este?
    • Russian : Где это? (Gdye eta?)
    • Sindhi : Eho Kithey Ahey?
    • Sinhalese : Eka koheda thiyenne?
    • Spanish : ¿Donde está?
    • Swedish : Var är det?
    • Tagalog/Filipino : 'Asan na 'yon? or Nasaan na iyon?
    • Telugu : ఎక్కడ (yekkada)
    • Tamil: Atthu enga irruku
    • Turkish : Nerede?
    • Urdu : Wo Kahan Ha?
    • Vietnamese : ở đâu? (兜於)
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4

What did you say?

  1. in different languages.
    • Afrikaans : Ekskuus? / Kom weer? / Sê gou weer? / Wat het jy gesê?
    • Bengali : আপনি কি বললেন? (aap ni ki bol len?) or simply (ki bol len?)
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : អ្នកនិយាយអ្វី? (Nek-Niyay-Ar-Vey).
    • Cantonese : 你講乜嘢? (Nei gong mut yea?).
    • Dutch : "Wat zegt u?" or "Kunt u dat herhalen?"
    • Estonian : Mida sa ütlesid? / Mis sa ütlesid?
    • Finnish : Mitä sanoitte?
    • French : Qu'est-ce que vous avez dit? Or simply Pardon?
    • German : Was haben Sie gesagt?
    • Hebrew : Ma Ata Amarta?
    • Icelandic : Hvad sagðirðu? (Kvath sahgthirthu?)
    • Japanese : Nan to ii mashita ka?
    • Krio : Wetin yu say?
    • Latin : Quid dixisti?
    • Malay : Apa yang telah kamu katakan?
    • Malayalam :ne entha paranje?
    • Mandarin Chinese : 你说了什么？ (Ni Shuo Le Shen Me?)
    • Norwegian : Hva sa du?
    • Persian :چی فرمودید؟(chi farmudid?)
    • Portuguese : O que é que disse?(formal)/ O que é que disseste?(informal)
    • Romanian : Ce ați spus?/Ce ați zis? (formal) Ce ai spus?/Ce ai zis? (informal)
    • Russian: Что ты сказал? (Chto ti skazal?)
    • Serbian: та сте рекли?
    • Sindhi : Cha Chayo Tawhaan?
    • Sinhalese : Mokakda oya kiwwe?
    • Spanish : Repite, por favor.
    • Swedish: Vad sa du?
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Ano'ng sinabi mo? or Ano yung sinabi mo?
    • Telugu : yemannaru?
    • Tamil Enna sona?
    • Turkish : Ne dedin sen?
    • Urdu : Aap nay kia kaha?
5

You may sit down

    • Afrikaans : U kan maar sit. (Formal) / Jy kan maar sit. (standard)
    • Bengali : আপনি বসতে পারেন । (aap ni bosh-tey pa ren)
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : អ្នកអាចអង្គុយបាន (Nek-Arch-Ang-Kuy-Ban).
    • Cantonese : 你可以坐低 (Nei ho yi cho dai).
    • Dutch : U kunt gaan zitten.
    • Estonian : Sa võid istuda.
    • Finnish : Voit istuutua.
    • French : Vous pouvez vous asseoir.
    • German : Sie können sich hinsetzen.
    • Hebrew : Ata yahol lashevet.
    • Japanese : Dozo o kake kudasai.
    • Krio : Yu kin sidom
    • Latin : Sedeas.(You may sit.)/Sedeas si placeas.(You may sit if you please.)
    • Malay : Awak boleh duduk.
    • Malayalam : nieke erikian patuim
    • Mandarin Chinese : 你可以坐下了。 (Ni Ke Yi Zuo Xia Le.)
    • Norwegian : (Polite: Vær så snill å...)Sett deg ned
    • Persian : میتوانید بنشینید(mitavaanid beneshinid)
    • Portuguese : Pode-se sentar.(formal)/ Podes-te sentar. (informal)
    • Romanian : Puteți să vă așezați./Puteți să luați loc. (formal) Poți să te așezi./Poți să iei loc. (informal)
    • Russian : Вы можете сесть. (Vi mozhetye sest)
    • Sindhi : Tawhaan Wehi Saghho Tha.
    • Sinhalese : Oyata waadi wenna puluwan.
    • Spanish : Puedes sentarte. (or, formally: puede sentarse)
    • Swedish: Slå dig ner.
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Maari kang maupo or Maupo ka.
    • Telugu : Miiru koorchovachu
    • Tamil Okkaru
    • Turkish : Oturabilirsin.
    • Urdu : Aap Baith saktaiy hain
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6

I love you

  1. [3]
    • Afrikaans : Ek is lief vir jou!
    • Bengali : আমি তোমাকে ভালোবাসি (aami to-ma-key valou bashi) Informal
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : ខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់អ្នក? (Nhom-Sro-Lah-Nek).
    • Cantonese : 我愛你 (Ngo ngoi nei).
    • Dutch : Ik houd van je(formal) or Ik hou van je
    • Estonian : Ma armastan sind.
    • Finnish : Minä rakastan sinua
    • French : Je t'aime. Je t'adore.
    • German : Ich liebe dich.
    • Hebrew : Ani ohevet(Change to Ohev if from Male) otha(From Female To male). Ani ohev(Change to ohevet if from Female) otah(From Male To Female).
    • Japanese : Aishiteru.
    • Korean : 사랑해 (Sa-rang-hae)
    • Krio : ah lek you bad bad wan
    • Latin : Te amo.
    • Malay : Saya cintakan awak
    • Mandarin Chinese : 我爱你 (Wo ai ni).
    • Norwegian : Jeg elsker deg. (to a spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend) Jeg er glad i deg. (to family/friends)
    • Persian :دوستت دارم(dustat daaram)
    • Portuguese : Eu amo-te / Eu te amo (most common). [4]
    • Romanian : Te iubesc!
    • Russian : Я тебя люблю. (Ya tebya lyublyu)
    • Sinhalese : Mama oyata aadarei.
    • Spanish : Te quiero. (to friend/boyfriend/girlfriend) Te amo (to family/spouse)
    • Swedish: Jag älskar dig.
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Mahal kita or Iniibig kita.
    • Telugu : నేను నిన్ను ప్రేమిస్తున్నాను (nenu ninnu premistunnanu)
    • Tamil Ennku onna romba peddikum
    • Turkish : (to family or friends) Seni seviyorum. (To boyfriend or girlfriend) sana aşığım
    • Urdu : Main Ap say mohabut Karta hoon (Infact "I love You" is more common than this)
    • Vietnamese : Tôi yêu em (倅要㛪)
7

I Would Like That

    • Afrikaans : Ek sal daarvan hou (standard).
    • Bengali : আমি ওটা চাই (aami ota chai).
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : ខ្ញុំចូលចិត្តវា (Nhom-Chol-Chit-Vea).
    • Cantonese : 我中意呢個 (Ngo chung yi nei gor).
    • Dutch : Dat lijkt me leuk/lekker ('lekker' is used for food, 'leuk' means 'nice' or 'fun').
    • Estonian : Ma tahan seda.
    • Finnish : Oli kiva tavata.
    • French : Je voudrais ceci.
    • German : Das gefaellt mir.
    • Japanese : Sore ga hoshii des. Suki desu. (I like it)
    • Latin : Illud velim./Illud vellissem.
    • Malay : Saya memang sukakan itu.
    • Mandarin Chinese : 我喜欢它 (Wo Shee Hwan Ta).
    • Norwegian : Det hadde vært hyggelig.
    • Portuguese : Gostei disso.
    • Romanian : Mi-ar plăcea!
    • Sinhalese : Mama ekata kamathi.
    • Spanish : Me gustaria eso.
    • Swedish: Jag gillar det.
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Gusto ko iyan.
    • Urdu : Mujhay woh pasand aiay ga.
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8

Nice seeing you

    • Afrikaans : Dit was lekker om jou te sien!
    • Bengali : তোমাকে দেখে খুশি হলাম (toma-key dey-khey khu-shi holam).
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : រីករាយដែលបានជួបអ្នក (Rek-Rey-Del-Ban-Chub-Nek).
    • Cantonese : 好高興見到你 (Ho go hing gin duo nei).
    • Dutch : Het was leuk om je/u te zien.
    • German : Es war nett, Sie zu sehen.
    • Hebrew : Tov lir'ot ____(Otha if to male. Otah if to Female).
    • Japanese : Yokoso. /Hisashi buri (It's been a long time)/Hajimemashite, yoroshiku onegai shimasu. (It is our first time. Let us be cordial with each other. Said when you meet the first time.)
    • Krio : good fo watch yu (pronounced waach).
    • Latin : Te spectare gaudeo.
    • Malay : Gembira bertemu dengan awak.
    • Mandarin Chinese : 很高兴见到你。 (Hen Gao Xing Jian Dao Ni?)
    • Malayalam :Ninne kandathil enikku santhosham undu.
    • Norwegian : Hyggelig å møte deg/Hyggelig å se deg.
    • Persian :از ملاقات شما خوشحال شدم(az molaaghate shomaa xosh haal shodam).
    • Portuguese : Bom te ver!
    • Romanian : Încântat (f. încântată) să vă văd. (formal) Încântat (f. încântată) să te văd. (informal)
    • Sinhalese : Obawa dakinna labeema sathutak.
    • Spanish : Encantado(/a if you are female, 'I am thrilled to meet you) a conocerte(/se if you want to be formal). /Mucho gusto.
    • Swedish: Trevligt att träffas.
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Masaya ako na nakita ka.
    • Urdu : App say mil kar acha laga.
    • Telugu : Mimmalni kalavatam santhoshamuga undhi (Im happy to meet you)
9

How are you?

  1. in different languages. [5]
    • Afrikaans : Hoe gaan dit met jou/u? ('u' is the formal way)
    • Bengali : কেমন আছেন? (kemon aasen? formal) or কেমন আছো? (kemon aaso? informal)
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : សុខសប្បាយជាទេ? (Sok-Sa-Bay-Chea-Te).
    • Cantonese : 你好嗎？ (Nei ho ma?).
    • Dutch : Hoe gaat met jou/u ( 'u' is the formal way) ?
    • French : Comment allez-vous ? Or: Ça va?
    • Finnish : Mitä kuuluu? / Kuinka voit?
    • German : Wie geht es Ihnen? (formal) Wie geht's? (informal)
    • Hebrew : Ma shlomha (to male). Shlomeh (to female).
    • Japanese : Genki desu ka? (Are you fine?)
    • Korean : 안녕하십니까 (anneyong hasimnikka) Krio : How yu do? (how pronounced ow)
    • Latin : Ut vales.(Are you fine?)
    • Malay : Apa khabar?
    • Mandarin Chinese : 你好吗 (Nee How Ma)
    • Malayalam :Sukhamano?
    • Norwegian : Hvordan går det/Hvordan har du det?
    • Persian :حال شما چطور است؟(haale shomaa chetor ast?)
    • Portuguese : Como está?(formal)/ Como estás(informal)
    • Romanian : Ce faceți? (formal) Ce faci? (informal)
    • Russian : Как дела? (Kak dyela?) (informal)
    • Sinhalese : Oyata kohomada?
    • Spanish : ¿Como estás? (informal) ¿Como está Usted? (formal) ¿Que tal? (informal)
    • Swedish: Hur mår du? / Hur är det?
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Kumusta ka? (not Kamusta ka)
    • Telugu : Meeru yela vunnaru?(informal) or Baagunnara? (formal and informal)
    • Turkish : Nasılsın?
    • Urdu : Ap ka kia haal hai
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10

Sorry

  1. [6]
    • Afrikaans : Jammer. / Askies.
    • Bengali : দুঃখিত (duk-khi-tow).
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : សុំទោស (Som-Tuh).
    • Cantonese : 對唔住 (Dui mmm ju).
    • French : Je suis désolé(e).
    • Finnish : Anteeksi.
    • German : Es tut mir Leid.
    • Japanese : Gomen nasai OR sumimasen.
    • Krio : ah sorri oh
    • Korean : 미안합니다 Mi-an-ham-nida (formal) Mi-an-ay (Casual)
    • Latin : Mihi paenitet.
    • Malay : Minta maaf.
    • Mandarin Chinese : 对不起 (dway boo chee).
    • Malayalam :kshamikku.
    • Norwegian : Unnskyld.
    • Persian :متاسفم(mote?assefam).
    • Polish : Przepraszam.
    • Portuguese : Desculpe(formal)/ Desculpa(informal).
    • Romanian : Îmi pare rău./Îmi cer scuze.
    • Russian : Извините (Eezveenitye).
    • Sinhalese : Samawenna.
    • Spanish : Lo siento.
    • Swedish: Förlåt.
    • Tagalog/Filipino : Patawad, Paumanhin.
    • Telugu : క్షమించండి (ksha-minchandi).
    • Turkish : Üzgünüm.
    • Urdu : Sorry (same).
11

I am fine/not good.(response to how are you)

    • Afrikaans : Dit gaan goed, dankie (good).Dit gaan nie so goed nie (bad).
    • Bengali : আমি ভালো আছি (aami valo acchi) fine / আমি ভালো নেই (aami valo nei) not good.
    • Cambodian (Khmer) : សុខសប្បាយ (Sok-Sa-Bay) / មិនល្អទេ (Min-La-Or-Te).
    • Cantonese : 我幾好 (Ngo gei ho) / 我唔係幾好 (Ngo mmm hai gei ho).
    • Finnish : Olen kunnossa (good). En ole hyvä (bad).
    • French: Je vais bien (good). Je vais mal (bad). Comme ci, comme ça (so, so)
    • German: Es geht mir gut (good). Es geht mir schlecht (bad).
    • Japanese : I am fine: Hai, genki desu. / I am very fine: Genki ippai desu. / I am not fine (informal): Yoku nai. I am not fine (formal): Yoku arimasen.
    • Krio : ah no well/ gud.
    • Latin : Bene sum (good). Male sum (bad).
    • Malay : Saya sihat (good). Saya tidak sihat (bad).
    • Mandarin Chinese: 我很好/不太好 (Wo Hen Haw)(good). (Wo Bu Tai Haw)(bad).
    • Norwegian : Det går ----- *bra=good *greit=ok *ikke så bra=dårlig
    • Portuguese : Estou bem.
    • Romanian : Sunt bine (good). Nu sunt bine (bad).
    • Sinhalese : Mama hondin (good). Mama etharam hondin nemei inne (bad).
    • Spanish: Estoy bien (good). Estoy mal (bad).
    • Swedish : Jag mar bra (good). Jag är inte bra (bad).
    • Telugu : Nenu baagunnaanu (good).
    • Turkish : iyiyim (good) iyi değilim / kötüyüm (not good)
    • Urdu : Theek
    • Vietnam : Tôi khỏe (good)
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    How do I say, "Oh My God" in a different language?
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    In French, one would say "mon Dieu." .
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    What do I say in Mandarin when someone says "thank you"?
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    You can say "Bú Yòng Xiè", which literally means "No thanks needed". Although it might sounds rude, it is actually a formal way to say "You're welcome".
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    How do I say "how old are you" in Mandarin?
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    First of all, always ask this question of a person who is around the same age as or younger than you. "How old are you?" in Mandarin is: Ní jî suì le?
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about learning different languages, check out our in-depth interview with Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD .

      References

      1. ↑ https://reference.yourdictionary.com/reference/other-languages/how-to-say-thank-you-in-many-languages.html
      2. ↑ https://www.indifferentlanguages.com/words/you%27re_welcome
      3. ↑ https://reference.yourdictionary.com/reference/other-languages/how-to-say-i-love-you-in-many-languages.html
      4. ↑ Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/howareyou.htm
      6. ↑ https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/sorry.htm
      7. ↑ Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. Expert Interview
      8. ↑ Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. Expert Interview

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