Phrases |
'Useful' phrases |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Language-related proverbs
How to ask people whether they speak a particular language, and to say that you do. This is perhaps the kind of question other people might ask you, and it's useful to be able to understand it and to have an answer prepared.
Key to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal, m = said by men, f = said by women, >m = said to men, >f = said to women, sg = said to one person, pl = said to more than one person.
| Language | Do you speak X language? | Yes, a little |
|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | Praat u Afrikaans? (frm/sg/pl) Praat jy Afrikaans? (sg/inf) Praat julle Afrikaans? (pl/inf) Praat Meneer/Mevrou Afrikaans? (frm) |
Ja, 'n bietjie |
| Albanian | A flisni Shqip? | Po, pak |
| Amharic | አማርኛ ትችላለህ? (amarenya techelallueh?) m አማርኛ ትችያለሽ? (amarenya techiyalleush?) f |
አዎ፣ ትንሽ ትንሽ (ow, tennish tennish) |
| Arabic (Egyptian) |
(bititkallim/ee 'arabi?) بتتكلّم عربي | |
| Arabic (Modern Standard) |
(hal tatakallam al-lughah al-'arabīyah?) هل تتكلم اللغة العربية؟ | (na'am, qalīlan) نعم, قليل |
| Arabic (Syria/Lebanon) |
Btiḥk l-ʿarabī? >m Btiḥki l-ʿarabī? >f |
Aywa, šwayye |
| Armenian (Eastern) |
Հայերեն խոսո՞ւմ եք: (Hayeren khosum ek?) |
Այո', մի փոքր: (Ayo, mi pokker) |
| Azerbaijani | Siz Azərbaycanca danışırsınızmı? | Mən bir az Azərbaycanca danışıram |
| Basque | Euskaraz badakizu? | Bai |
| Bengali | আপনি বাংলা বলতে পারেন? (Apni Bangla bolte paren?) |
জি, একটু বলতে পারি। (Ji, ekṭu bolte pari) |
| Bosnian | Govorite li Bosanski? | Da, malo |
| Breton | Komz a rez brezhoneg? | Ya, un tammig hepken |
| Belarusian | Ці размаўляеце па-беларуску (Ci razmaulyajetsie pa-belarusku) | Так (Tak) |
| Bulgarian | Говорите ли български? (Govorite li bãlgarski?) frm Говориш ли български? (Govoriš li bãlgarski?) inf |
Да, малко (Da, malko) |
| Catalan | Que parla català? Parla català? (frm) Parles català? (inf) |
Sí, una mica Sí, un poc |
| Chamorro | Kao siña hao fumino'Chamoru? | Hunggan, didide' ha' Ha'a, didide' ha' |
| Chinese (Cantonese) |
你識唔識講廣東話呀 (neih sìkm̀sìk góng gwóngdùngwá a) |
我識講小小呀 (ngóh sìk góng síusíu a) |
| Chinese (Mandarin) |
你會不會講國語／
華語？
[你会不会讲普通话？] (nǐ huìbúhuì jiǎng guóyŭ/huáyŭ/pŭtōnghuà?) |
會，一點點
[会，一点儿] (huì, yīdiǎndiǎn/yīdiǎnr) |
| Chinese (Shanghainese) |
侬上海言话讲得来? (non zanhêreroo kânteqle va?) |
|
| Chinese (Taiwanese) |
你會曉講台語無? (Li2 e7-hiau2 kong2 tai5-gi2 bo5) |
會曉, 一點點 (e7-hiau2, jit-tiam-tiam) |
| Cornish | A wodhes kewsel Kernewek? | Gonn, kewsav boghes |
| Croatian | Govoriš li hrvatski? (inf) Govorite li hrvatski? (frm) |
Da, (nešto) malo govorim hrvatski |
| Czech | Mluvíte česky? (frm)
Mluvíš česky? (inf) Umíte česky? (frm) Umíš česky? (inf) |
Ano, trochu |
| Danish | Taler du dansk? (inf) | Ja, en smule Ja, lidt |
| Dutch | Spreekt u Nederlands? (frm) Spreek je Nederlands? (inf) |
Ja, een beetje |
| Esperanto | Ĉu vi parolas Esperanton? | Jes, iomete |
| Estonian | Kas te räägite eesti keelt? | Jah, natuke räägin |
| Faroese | Dugir tú føroyskt? | Ja, eitt lítið sindur |
| Fijian | O(ni) kila na vosa vakaviti? | Au kila vakalailai no vosa vakaviti |
| Finnish | Puhutteko suomea? (frm) Puhutko suomea? (inf) |
Kyllä, vähän (frm) Joo, vähän. (inf) |
| French | Vous parlez français?
(frm) Parlez-vous français? (frm) Est ce-que vous parlez français? (frm) Tu parles français? (inf) Parles-tu français? (inf) Est ce-que tu parles français? (inf) |
Oui, un peu
Oui, un petit peu |
| Friulian | Fevelistu furlan? | Sì, un pôc |
| Frisian (North) | Snååkest dü Frasch? | Joo, en batje |
| Frisian (Saterfrisian) | Sprache ju Seeltersk? | Jee, n Bitje |
| Frisian (West) | Prate jo Frysk? (frm) Pratst do Frysk? (inf) |
Ja, in lyts bytsje. |
| Georgian | ქართულად ლაპარაკობთ? (k’arthulad laparakobth?) - frm ქართული იცით? (k’arthuli icit?) - frm ქართულად ლაპარაკობ? (k’arthulad laparakob?) - inf ქართული იცი? (k’arthuli ici?) - inf |
დიახ, ცოტა (diakh, cota) |
| German | Sprechen Sie Deutsch (frm) Sprichst du Deutsch? (inf) |
Ja, ein bißchen |
| Greek | Μιλάς Ελληνικά; (Milás Elliniká?) - inf Μιλάτε Ελληνικά; (Miláte Elliniká?) - frm |
Ναι, λιγάκι (Ne, ligáki) |
| Hawaiian | ʻOlelo ʻoe ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi? | ʻAe, he liʻiliʻi |
| Hebrew | אתה מדבר עברית? (Atah medaber ‘ivrit?) m את מדברת עברית? (At medaberet ‘ivrit?) f |
כן, אני מדבר קצת עברית (Ken, ‘ani medaber ktzat ‘ivrit.) m כן, אני מדברת קצת עברית (Ken, ‘ani medaberet ktzat ‘ivrit.) f |
| Hungarian | Beszél magyarul? (frm) Beszélsz magyarul? (inf) |
Igen, egy kicsit |
| Icelandic | Talar þú íslensku? | Já, smávegis |
| Indonesian | Kamu bisa bicara bahasa indonesia? | Ya, sedikit |
| Inuktitut | ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑑᓲᖑᕖᑦ? (Inuktituuhuunguvin?/Inuktituusuunguvit?) |
|
| Iñupiaq | Inupiatuusruunguvin? | |
| Irish (Gaelic) | An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? | Tá, beagan/cúpla focal |
| Italian | Parli Italiano? | Si, un poco |
| Japanese | 日本語を話しますか
(Nihongo o hanashimasu ka?) 日本語が話せますか (Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?) 日本語が出来ますか (Nihongo ga dekimasu ka?) |
はい、話します
(Hai, hanashimasu) はい、話せます (Hai, hanasemasu) はい、出来ます (Hai, dekimasu) |
| Jèrriais | Pâl'-ou l'Jèrriais? (frm/pl) Pâles-tu l'Jèrriais? (inf) |
Oui, un mio |
| Kazakh | Қазақша сөйлесізбе (Qazaqşa söylesizbe?) | |
| Klingon | tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'e'? | |
| Korean | 한국말 하실 줄 아세요? (hangukmal hasil jul aseyo?) - frm 한국말 할 줄 아니? (hangukmal hal jul ani?) - inf |
예, 조금요 (yae, jogeumyo) - frm 응, 조금 (eung, jogeum) - inf |
| Lakota | Lakhota iyapi wóyaglake he? (m) Lakhota iyapi wóyaglake hwo? (f) |
Hiyá, wókitan |
| Lao | ເຈົ້າປາກພາສາລາວໄດ້ບໍ່? (jâo páak pháasaa láo dâi baw?) |
|
| Latin | Loquerisne Latine? Loquerisne linguam latinam? | Sic, paululum linguae Latinae dico |
| Latvian | Vai jūs runājat latviski? | Jā, nedaudz |
| Limburgish | Sjpraeks doe Limburgs? | Jao, ein bitje |
| Low German | Snack Se Plattdüütsch? (frm) Snackst du Plattdüütsch? (inf) |
Ja, 'n beten |
| Lithuanian | Ar kalbate lietuviškai? | Taip |
| Luxembourgish | Schwätzt du Lëtzebuergesch? | Jo, e bëssen |
| Macedonian | Дали говориш македонски?
(Dali govorish makedonski?) - inf Дали говорите македонски? (Dali govorite makedonski?) - frm |
Да, малку
(Da, malku) |
| Malay | Bolehkah anda bercakap bahasa Malaysia? Bolehkah anda bercakap bahasa Melayu? |
Boleh, sedikit |
| Maltse | Titkellem bil-Malti? | Ftit |
| Manx | Vel Gaelg ayd? | Ta, beggan |
| Māori | He reo Māori tōu? | |
| Mongolian | Та монгол хэл мэдэх үү? (Ta mongol hel medeh uu) frm/sg/pl Чи монгол хэл мэдэх үү? (Chi mongol hel medeh uu) sg/inf |
Тийм, би монгол хэл жаахан мэднэ (Tiym, bi mongol hel zhaahan medne) |
| Nepali | के तपाइ नेपाली बोल्नुहुन्छ? (ke tapain nepali bolnuhunchha?) |
हजुर, अलि अलि बोल्छु (hajur, ali ali bolchhu) |
| Norwegian (Bokmål) | Snakker De norsk? (frm/sg/pl) Snakker du norsk? (sg/inf) Snakker dere norsk? (pl/frm) |
Ja, litt |
| Norwegian (Nynorsk) | Snakkar du nynorsk? (sg) Snakkar de nynorsk? (pl) |
Ja, litt |
| Occitan | Parlas occitan? (inf) Parlatz occitan? (frm) |
Òc, un pauc Òc, una mica |
| Old English | Spriċst þū Englisce? | Gēa, hwæt-hwegu |
| Persian | شما فارسي صحبت مي کنيد؟ frm - (shomâ fârsi harf mizanid?) تو فارسي حرف مي زني؟ inf - (to fârsi harf mizani?) |
بله ، من فارسي حرف مي زنم (bale, man fârsi harf mizanam) بله، يه کم (bale, ye kam) |
| Plautdeutsch | Reden Se Plautdietsch? | Jo, en bätje |
| Polish | Czy mówi pan po polsku? (frm) Czy mówisz po polsku? (inf) Mówisz po polsku? Mówi Pan(i) po polsku? (frm) |
Tak, trochę, Tak troszkę |
| Portuguese | Você fala português? | Sim, um pouco |
| Romanian | Vorbiţi româneşte? | Da, puţin Da, un pic |
| Rovignese | Teî deîghi ruvigniz? | Seî, oûn puoco |
| Russian | Вы говорите по-русски?
(Vy govorite po-russki) - frm Ты говоришь по-русски? (Ty govoriš' po-russki) - inf |
Да, немного
(Da, nemnogo) |
| Scots | Dae ye speak the Scots? | Ay, a wee |
| Scottish Gaelic | A bheil Gàidhlig agat/agaibh? | Tha, beagan |
| Serbian | Да ли говориш српски (Da li govoriš srpski?) inf Да ли говорите српски (Da li govorite srpski?) frm |
Да, (нешто) мало говорим српски (Da, (nešto) malo govorim srpski) |
| Sicilian | Parri sicilianu? | Sì, 'mpuzzuddu |
| Shona | Unotaura ...? (sg) Munotaura ...? (pl) | |
| Slovak | Hovoríte po slovensky? (frm) Hovoríš po slovensky? (inf) Viete po slovensky? (frm) Vieš po slovensky? (inf) |
Áno, trochu |
| Slovenian | Ali govorite slovensko? | Ja, malo |
| Spanish | ¿Habla usted español? (frm) ¿Hablas español? (inf) |
Sí, hablo un poquito de español Sí, un poco |
| Swahili | Unazungumza kiSwahili? | Ndiyo, kidogo tu |
| Swedish | Talar du svenska? | Ja, lite |
| Tagalog | Nagsasalita ba kayo ng Tagalog? | Nagsasalita ako ng kaunti lamang |
| Telugu | మీరు తెలుగు మాట్లాడతారా ? (meeru thelugu maatlaadathaaraa?) |
... ఔను, కొంచం మాత్రంగా ! (aunu koṅchaṅ maathraṅgaa!) |
| Thai | คุณพูดภาษาไทยเบ็นไหม? (khun phûut phaasãa thai ben mãi?) |
|
| Tigrinya | ትግርኛ ትዛረብዶ? (tegreñña tezarebdo?) |
እወ (ewa) |
| Tok Pisin | Yu save tok Tok Pisin? | Ya, liklik |
| Tsez | Ми цез мецраь бакьхā? (Mi cez mecrä baƛʼxā?) |
Гьā, тIакIи-тIакIи (Hā, tʼakʼi-tʼakʼi) |
| Turkish | Türkçe biliyor musun? (inf) Türkçe biliyor musunuz? (frm) |
Çok az Türkçe biliyorum |
| Ukrainian | Ви розмовляєте українською? (Vy rozmovliajete ukrajinśkoju) |
Так, трохи (Tak, trochy) |
| Urdu | كيا آپ اردو بولتے ہیں؟ (Kya ap Urdu bolte hain?) |
صرف تھوڑی سی (Sirf thori si) |
| Uzbek | O'zbek tilida gapirasizmi? | |
| Vietnamese | Bạn có nói tiếng Việt không? | Có, chỉ một chút |
| Welsh | (Wyt) ti'n siarad Cymraeg? (inf) Ydych chi'n siarad Cymraeg? (frm) |
Ydw, tipyn bach |
| Yiddish | frm - (Redt ir Yidish?) רעדט איר ייִדיש inf - (Redstu Yidish?) רעדסטו ייִדיש |
(Yo, a bisele) יאָ, אַ ביסעלע |
| Yorùbá | ̣Se o n sọ Yorùbá? | Bẹẹ ni, diẹ |
| Zulu | Ukhuluma isiZulu na? | Yebo, ingcosana |
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"Do you speak English?" in many languages
http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/english.htm
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