Word for the Travel Wise (11/25/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

This weekend is one of the craziest for shopping of the entire year and when you’ve reached your max or find you went far or over your spending limits it might be time to use this phrase heard in Sierra Leone…

Today’s phrase is a Mende phrase used in Sierra Leone:

Ngii loni a hani weka gbi. – I don’t want anything else.

Mende is going to be yet another toughie to learn online. For now I suggest going through this Mende Phrasebook published by the Bumumbu Press during colonial times to help Mende speakers learn English. In turn it can help you learn Mende in modern times.

Past Mende words: Nya sinjii ve, wa mu li na, nyaa fisama

Word for the Travel Wise (11/24/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Whether you’re in search of postage in Nicaragua to send a postcard back home or surfing the web for some new stamps to add to your collection here is a Spanish word that might make your hunting easier. That is if the person you’re dealing with doesn’t speak English or your native tongue.

Today’s word is a Spanish word used in Nicaragua:

timbre – postage

Amerispan, Cactus Language and IMAC are all good starting points to learning abroad. A free membership at Spanish Unlimited gives you the opportunity to learn a new word everyday by email, gain pen pals and hear audio of the words. Their website is actually a good resource tool for many different Spanish related topics. I won’t even begin to list some of the texts out there that could further your studies because there are entirely too many. If you know of some language books that would be useful please feel free to list them.

Past Spanish words: escalar, cercano, realidad, enfermo, jalar, isla

Word for the Travel Wise (11/23/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


Today marks the day of my all-time favorite holiday where year-long stories are exchanged with family and friends over warm plates of turkey, ham, stuffing, and veggies. As people from all corners of the country either relax in the comfort of their own homes or dine out at some fabulous restaurant there will be many toasts, cheers and wishes for good-health over their good meal. It is for this very occasion that I pass this small fruit of knowledge your way to whoever may be reading at this hour.

Today I leave you with various ways to say Bon appetit!

  • Croatian – Dobar tek!
  • German – Guten appetit!
  • Hebrew – Bete’avon!
  • Hungarian – Jó étvágyat!
  • Korean – Mani deuseyo!
  • Persian – Noosh-e jan!
  • Polish – Smacznego!

For a complete list as found on the New York Public Library site in their World Languages Collection follow the link found here. Happy Thanksgiving all!

Word for the Travel Wise (11/22/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

It was the eve before Thanksgiving and some American was off abroad in a land where people spoke Vietnamese. They searched for turkey, but no one understood; they asked for gravy, but received phô instead and to make matters worse they were dirty from toe to head. If there was one word the poor tourist could remember it was the word for laundry place.

Today’s word is a Vietnamese word used in Vietnam:

phòng giat (fom zuht) – laundry place

To continue learning Vietnamese online start with phrase list found at the NY Public Library. This Wanna Learn / Geocities page has some free words and phrases listed. It was one of few I could find online for free though you won’t get far. Rosetta Stone offers audio and web courses for a fee and there’s always the opportunity to take a Vietnamese language class in Hanoi, Vietnam with CIEE. For those flying through the country for just a few short days pick up the phrasebook.

Past Vietnamese words: Xe Ðap, xinh xinh, cam hut thuoc, tam biêt, bàn dô

Word for the Travel Wise (11/21/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Over the last few weeks we’ve blogged quite a bit about traveling for Iran and for various reasons. If you’re wanting to check out the so-called dangerous nuclear sites that could very well land on your travel itinerary or if you’re an agent looking for some extra pocket cash – try generating a buzz for travel to Iran. I have no real special reasons for wanting to visit Iran other than it’s incredibly cool and packed with tons of ancient history to be explored. One of these the timing will be perfect and you will receive postcards from Persia. I’m hoping that time comes sooner than later.

Today’s word is a Farsi (Persian) word used in Iran:

safar kardan – to travel

Excellent sites for learning Persian online include a personal favorite called Easy Persian and Farhangsara. Both sites have an excellent beginner’s guide into the language and use images, sound and music to assist you in the process. Check out Lonely Planet’s Farsi (Persian) Phrasebook for a shorthand guide at the ancient lingo.

Past Farsi words: be salamati, toot farangee, kheyli golabi, tazeh, dovidan, khastam