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Languages

Spanish

Swahili

British


Although in most of the places we visited many people spoke English, we did try to blend in the best we could using some of the local language.  Along the way we picked some very simple phrases to help us get by in the many countries we visited.  Without phrase books or any preparation, here are some of the words we learned and used.  Please know that the spelling may be wrong -- we only said them, never had to write them!

 

Spanish

Helpful in Santiago, Quito, Rapa Nui
buenas dias good morning
buenas tardes good afternoon
buenas noches good night
gracias thank you
de nada your welcome, no problem
permiso excuse me
si yes
por favor please
cambio change
aqua con gas sin hielo water, with gas, without ice
aqua sin gas sin hielo water, no gas, without ice
muy bueno very good
sopa soup
banos bathroom
adios good bye
hola hello
quarente forty
caida follow (as in the card game 'quarente')
   

 

Swahili

Helpful in Kenya (Nairobi), Tanzania
jambo hello
karibu welcome (both "you are welcome here", and "you are welcome" as a response to 'thank you')
asante (asante sana) thank you (thank you very much)
hakuna matata no problem (remember 'Lion King'?)
samahani sorry or excuse me
chui cheetah
simba lion
duma leopard
kwaheri good bye
twende let's go
pole pole slowly
mzuri (mzuri sana) fine, very fine (as in 'I am fine, thank you')
lala salama sleep well
habari how are you?
tafadhali please
serengeti endless plains
   

 

British English

Helpful in London, and the Amazon Basin with our friends from Britain 
fag cigarette
bugger $(*%$*%$
randy horny
wellies rubber boots
flat apartment
queue line
   

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