1.Exit
This will be the first word you will be looking for after landing. Suppose the airport you just landed in doesn’t have English translation, how are you going to find your way out (I know you will follow other passengers) but what if your bag is last on the baggage carousel? I learnt this the hard way when I was using the subway train in Sao Paulo(Brazil). There was one instance where I had taken a train going in the wrong direction. I jumped out the next station to change platforms and before you know it I had exited the boom gates( instead of turning left). So I had to buy a new train ticket( what a waste of money).
2. Entrance
Especially in the non-touristy areas, you just have to the the local translation of the word entrance. You don’t want to be the one who is always being shouted at ” No! No! use the other door!” especially in grocery shops.
3. Hello
Locals tend to pay more attention to you and be willing to help when you greet them in their native language. I really had a tough time in Paris when I was trying to get directions to my hostel. I greeted the first person and he said ” no! no English”. The same applied to the second, third and forth person. I even got frustrated that these people don’t even wanna hear me out. I later learnt that I would have rather greeted in their native language than English (apparently English is not their preference ).
4. Thank you
Trust me, you will mention this word plenty times but there’s no point if the person you are saying to doesn’t understand it.
5. Numbers
You don’t have to learn 1- 100 lol, but just the basics, comes very handy when placing food orders at take away places. Also when you are being given directions( it’s not always guaranteed that you will meet someone who speaks English), you will have an idea that he means you must turn on the forth street.
6. Left and right
Yeah sure, you understood that its the forth street but which direction do you take?
Learning these six simple words will make your trip a lot more pleasant.
