Language Basics For Visiting European Countries

PHOTO: Avalon Panorama. Courtesy Avalon Waterways.

River cruising is one of travel’s hottest trends. And it’s no wonder … seeing the countryside from your stateroom, getting to know the land in an intimate journey, unpacking once, and tasting the local food and wine during included meals. Before you embark on your European river cruise, learn a few words from the regional language so you can mingle with the locals!

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Language: Bulgarian
Where is this spoken: Bulgaria

Good morning: Dubro utro
Good evening: Duber vecher
Hello: Zdraveyte
Goodbye: Dovizhdane
Please: Molya
Thank you: Blagodarya or Mersi (informal)
Yes: Da
No: Ne

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Language: Czech
Where is this spoken: Czech Republic

Hello!: Nazdar!
Good morning/afternoon: Dobry den
Goodbye: Na schledanou
Please: Prosim
Thank you: Dekuji
Yes: Ano
No: Ne
Have a nice day!: Hezky den!

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Language: Dutch
Where is this spoken: Belgium, Holland

Good morning: Goede morgen
Good afternoon: Goede middag
Good evening: Goede avond
Goodbye: Tot Ziens
Yes: Ja
No: Nee
Please: Alstublieft
Thank you very much: Dank u wel

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Language: French
Where is this spoken: Belgium, France

Good morning/day (until 5 pm): Bonjour
Good evening: Bonsoir
Goodbye: Au revoir
Please: S’il vous plaît
Thank you: Merci
Yes: Oui
No: Non
Have a nice day!: Bonne journée!

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Language: German
Where is this spoken: Austria, Belgium, Germany

Good morning: Guten Morgen
Good day: Guten Tag
Good evening: Guten Abend
Please/You’re welcome: Bitte
Thank you: Danke
Yes: Ja
No: Nein

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Language: Hungarian
Where is this spoken: Hungary

Good morning (until 9 am): Jóreggelt
Good day: Jónapot
Good evening: Jóestét
Goodbye: Viszlát
Please: Kérem
Thank you: Karsarnarm
Yes: Igan
No: Nam

Now that you know a few words of the local language, you’re ready to go! I also suggest downloading Google Translate before heading to Europe in case there are words you need to translate. But don’t worry, river cruise lines always have an English-speaking guide around!