European Phrasebook
If you’re thinking of traveling to Europe, then there’s a strong chance you’re considering investing in European phrasebooks. These are highly useful for crossing the language barrier, and just as when you are traveling abroad elsewhere, it is a good idea to have a guide when going to Europe in order to be able to make basic conversation and get around. There are some very basic phrases which most European phrasebooks should include which will help you in the most common situations. For example you should make it your business to try and learn the words for basic manners as well as for ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’, ‘where is?’, ‘please may I have?’, ‘bill please’, ‘what is?’ and ‘do you speak English?’. These will all help you to be able to communicate enough to order things in shops and to get help when you’re lost or confused.
Of course European phrasebooks are more crucial in some parts of Europe than they are in others. If you are traveling to England and you speak English (which it’s fair to assume you do if you can read this), then you won’t have much need for a phrasebook. However that said there are European phrasebooks that focus on American to English translations and this provides an interesting and sometimes humorous insight into the differences between these languages. This can be quite useful to read as well before heading to the UK to prevent mix ups when buying pants for example.
Similarly in most areas of Western Europe European phrasebooks might not seem as necessary – if you are traveling to the built up areas of France, Germany or Italy for example then many locals will be able to speak English. However you would be surprised still at how many don’t and apart from that it’s also polite and fun to try and speak a bit of the local language. Most locals will appreciate your attempts and will be more warm towards you as a result so even when traveling to Western Europe, European phrasebooks are very useful.
If you are heading to Eastern Europe though, then European phrasebooks become a lot more important and you will find that in many areas that don’t have big tourist industries a lot of people don’t speak any English and nor will there be much help for English speaking people in the signs and information. It’s important then to pick European phrasebooks that translate both ways to allow you to interpret signs and maps, to help you to ask questions and to facilitate basic conversation. Even if you can’t translate quickly enough to understand what someone is saying to you in real time, you might be able to let your conversation partner see the book in order to point to what they mean.
Another option is to forego traditional European phrasebooks and go with an electronic device or one of the many downloadable apps for your Smartphone. These are getting more and more advanced and some even attempt to use voice recognition software in order to act like a real life Babel’s fish. While these attempts are admirable, they are still a few years away from being that effective. Be wary too that many phone apps of this nature require an internet connection which you might no have abroad.
This post was written by admin on December 2010
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This would have been helpful to have when I was in Europe. I met a person and they kept telling me something and even though I understood some, I could not make out completely what they were saying. I am sure if I had a copy of this I would not have had as many problems. I guess next time I will know better!
European phrasebooks are awesome. Own one and you won’t have to learn the language of the country you are going to visit. They are extremely useful. Also, european phrasebooks can be easily found. I bought 2 european phrasebooks on the Internet two years ago. Worths every penny.
These european phrasebooks come in handy. I have been using them since a couple of years ago. Decided to buy them after getting annoyed by some people in Italy. I have visited a city where just a few people knew English. At least they had european phrasebooks.
All tourists should buy some of these european phrasebooks, you simply don’t know when you need them.
I ordered some european phrasebooks on the Internet some time ago. They helped me a lot through time. Not knowing how to communicate in a country is quite nasty… so make sure you get one of those many european phrasebooks.
Happy New Year!
Are there any online European Phrasebooks available? They would be quite useful. At least for those who couldn’t buy any european phrasebooks before departure and they urgently need one. And once there are so many of us who have internet on our phones, onine european phrasebooks would come in handy.
my father has a collection of european phrasebooks. they are 10-20 years old, but I still use them. I find them very useful. all tourists should buy some european phrasebooks for when traveling.
European phrasebooks are a great addition to add when you pack your bags. I do not think I could have completely survived without mine. I just felt more at ease since I had it. I felt I could communicate better since I did not know a whole lot of German.
I have a collection of european phrasebooks. I use to buy one or two european phrasebooks in every country I visit. I find them extremely useful and every tourist should have a small collection. Or you can try learning every european language. But I’d say that using european phrasebooks is easier.
I bought some european phrasebooks on amazon. 2 of them have more than 3 languages included. So in my opinion, these are some must-have items for a tourist. Make sure you won’t leave the country without some european phrasebooks. They will help you enjoy your vacation at maximum.
European phrasebooks will always help you out. Not only when in difficulty. But you might learn some useful expressions even when traveling by train. In a couple of hours, european phrasebooks can help you learn a lot. You will feel great knowing how to deal with people. All that thanks to european phrasebooks!
I have never used any european phrasebooks. I won’t buy one either. I don’t see the point. I have always managed to discuss with people in English. If not, French. European phrasebooks are useless to me.
European phrasebooks can be found anywhere. They are cheap too. Tourists should definitely make use of them. I guarantee they are helpful. Moreover, european phrasebooks can help you learn a language pretty well.
I like reading European phrasebooks. Some of them I have already memorized . Knowing that you can ask or say things in different languages feels great.
Some European phrasebooks even sound funny.
I recommend to learn or to get European phrasebooks with you if you go in a trip in Europe.
I think that if you want to make a trip to Europe you must have with you European phrasebooks. You never know when you’ll need them.
European phrasebooks are very useful in any situation. For example, if you’re lost you can use your list of European phrasebooks to ask indications and also understand them.
A European phrasebook is a great idea to make a European trip more successful if you do not have any experience in talking a foreign language. I know that they have helped me both times I went to Europe. Without them I would not have been able to get along. They have simple phrases that make it easier to communicate with the people there.
If I take a trip to Europe I’ll take some European phrasebooks to me for sure.
In any situation, if there is a need I might use some European phrasebooks to manage. I’m saying this because I’m not so familiar with all foreign languages. And nobody is.
so,if you are in same situation with me, I guess some European phrasebooks will help you.
European phrasebooks are very helpful. If you go in a trip in Europe take a book like that from the picture of European phrasebooks with you and I’m sure that there will be no problems or any misunderstandings.
I have done this several times and I’ve even learned some European phrasebooks.
And if you are searching for phrasebooks in a particular language you’ll find a lot on the internet.
To take an electronic device with you when you are traveling around Europe it’s a great idea. That application with voice recognition that can translate European phrasebook for you would be very handy.
But is more fun to take with you European phrasebooks and try to manage with them. It’s fun trying to understand what those people say so that you can answer or ask them using just your European phrasebooks. I’ve done that and I’ve actually managed.
European phrasebooks are very helpful, indeed.
To me, knowing different European phrasebooks or foreign languages it’s kind of a purpose. I would like to know, if it’s possible, all languages on the planet.
And, if I visit a foreign country and people nearby talk about me in their language, I would like to understand all they are saying. I guess they will be very surprised when I’ll answer them in that language.
I used a phrase book when I traveled abroad three years ago. It made it very helpful for me. Many in the part of Europe I was in spoke English but it just made it easier for me. I felt way more comfortable with the phrasebook.
Phrasebooks are very important to have with your when you go somewhere new. I have been to Europe several times for business but I still take a phrase book with me. I would never want to get in a situation where I do not know what is going on. For me a European Phrasebook is a sense of security.
Do you think that European phrasebooks really help? I think that if you are trying to communicate and have no idea what you are saying they would not really help. Maybe they do. I have never used a European phrasebook so I do not know.
Randi, of course European phrasebooks are very helpful. For example if you want to get indications to find your way. You just use a European phrasebook to ask that and the people you ask to just show the way.
In my opinion European phrasebook are very helpful. It is important to know some of them before you live in a foreign country.
European phrasebooks are crucial when you go in a foreign country. In my opinion you cannot manage if you don’t know some.
If you don’t know some European phrasebook I think it is very important to know at least English. English is a language that many people know. Knowing it can be very helpful.
Knowing some European phrasebooks is very important. When you go in a foreign country you must know some basic expressions. They could be very helpful in a bad situation. You must think before you leave that anything can happen. And some European phrasebooks can get you out of trouble.
I agree with you people. You must know some European phrasebooks before you live in another country. But it is not absolutely necessary to learn them. You can buy a book of some European phrasebooks or travel with your notebook. You cannot learn so much European phrasebook every time you leave in a foreign country.
Nell, if you like foreign languages I don’t think it’s so hard to learn a few European phrasebooks. I found this very interesting. I like to be informed and to know many things. Learning some European phrasebooks sounds fun to me. Moreover memorizing a few things is good for your memory too.
I don’t think you can manage in a foreign country with a few European phrasebooks. I think it’s much better to get a book of European phrasebooks with you. This is much safely. You can forget some of you expressions and what will you do next? A book is more helpful.
I never go in a trip without my book of European phrasebooks. To me, it is very important. I’ve had some situations where these European phrasebooks helped me. Believe me they could be life safer. Don’t go in a foreign country without a book like this.
I have used a European phrasebook before. It does help out a lot. I know some German but needed help when I was there. I find it hard to communicate with others so this book really did help me out a lot.
A European phrasebook is necessary wherever you go. It helps you more if you don’t know the language of that country you are visiting. You just simply look for some European phrasebooks and you ask for the indications you need. I found this book necessary and also helpful. This book helped me in the past.