Central Europe is a region rich in history and linguistic diversity, with each country boasting its own official language. While English is widely understood in major cities and tourist areas, making an effort to learn a few local phrases can greatly enhance your travel experience and deepen your connection with the local culture.
Languages and Useful Phrases
The official language of Austria is German, though Austrian German has its own unique expressions and dialects.
Useful phrases:
Hallo (hah-loh) – Hello
Danke (dahn-keh) – Thank you
Bitte (bih-teh) – Please/You're welcome
Entschuldigung (ent-shool-dee-goong) – Excuse me/Sorry
Sprechen Sie Englisch? (shpreh-ken zee eng-lish?) – Do you speak English?
Czech, a West Slavic language, is the official language of the Czech Republic.
Useful phrases:
Dobrý den (doh-bree dehn) – Good day/Hello
Děkuji (dyeh-koo-yi) – Thank you
Prosím (proh-seem) – Please/You're welcome
Promiňte (proh-min-teh) – Excuse me/Sorry
Mluvíte anglicky? (mloo-vee-te ang-lits-kee?) – Do you speak English?
Hungarian (Magyar), a Finno-Ugric language, is the official language of Hungary and is unrelated to most European languages.
Useful phrases:
Szia (see-uh) – Hi/Bye
Köszönöm (keh-suh-nuhm) – Thank you
Kérem (keh-rehm) – Please
Elnézést (el-neh-zaysht) – Excuse me/Sorry
Beszél angolul? (beh-sehl ang-oh-lool?) – Do you speak English?
Locals in Austria, Czechia, and Hungary greatly appreciate when visitors make an effort to use their languages, even for simple greetings or courtesies. Such gestures are often met with smiles and a warm reception.
Useful tips:
Speaking some basic phrases is always viewed as a kind gesture
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