When traveling in foreign countries, it’s always helpful to know a few stock phrases and key words even (or especially) if you don’t speak the language fluently. One useful phrase is “I’m sorry, I don’t speak [insert language here].” Although it may be difficult to master even that much of the language, it may make the locals more apt to forgive your inevitable linguistic gaffes.
In that spirit, here are 11 ways to plead ignorance in a foreign language.
- Catalan: Ho sento, no parlo el català.
- Croatian: Žao mi je, ne govorim hrvatski.
- Czech: Promiňte, nemluvím c[caron]esky.
- Danish: Undskyld, jeg kan ikke tale dansk.
- Finnish: Anteeksi, en puhu suomea.
- Flemish: Het spijt me, ik spreek geen Vlaams.
- Hungarian: Sajnos, nem beszélek magyarul.
- Luxembourgish: Et deet mer leed, mä ech schwätchen nët Lëtzeburgesch.
- Maltese: Ma nitkellimx bil-Malti.
- Norwegian: Beklager, jeg snakker ikke norsk.
- Polish: Przepraszam, nie mówię po polsku.
Source: BBC
