Key phrases to know for a safe family holiday
BY READERS DIGEST
10th Apr 2019 Travel
Travelling with children can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. By teaching yourself and your little ones a few key phrases, holidays instantly become far simpler—and more fun, too!
The ability to ask for directions to the nearest loo, get a hold of a children’s menu or get the route to the nearest pharmacy in the local lingo can be a huge help, especially when in a spot of bother. What’s more, teaching your children some basic phrases to use if lost or navigating the hotel on their own, gives you all a little peace of mind.
Experts at leading language learning app Babbel share some of the most commonly-needed phrases for three popular holiday destinations. Why not print them out and keep your key phrases to hand on your travels?
French
When travelling / En voyage…
1. Where is the toilet?
Où sont les toilettes, s’il vous plaît?
2. How long does it take to go to the airport?/ Train station/ Bus station
Combien de temps faut-il pour aller à l’aéroport ? (à la gare ?/à l’arrêt de bus ?)
3. Is there a children’s play area?
Est-ce qu’il y a une aire de jeu pour les enfants ?
4. Do you have any paper and crayons?
Avez-vous une feuille et des crayons, s’il vous plaît ?
When eating out / Manger au restaurant …
1. Can you recommend a child-friendly restaurant?
Pourriez-vous me recommander un restaurant adapté aux enfants, s’il vous plaît?
2. Do you have a children’s menu?
Est-ce qu’il y a un menu enfant?
3. Do you have a baby seat we can use?
Est-ce qu’il y a une chaise pour enfant ici?
4. Do you have nappy changing facilities?
Est-ce qu’il y a un endroit pour changer les bébés?
When sightseeing / Pendant une visite…
1. What are the best sights to see nearby?
Quels sont les principaux sites à visiter dans les environs ?
2. Do you have any discounts for children under 10?/ Family deals?
Existe-t-il des réductions pour les enfants de moins de 10 ans ? /Existe-t-il un tarif famille?
3. Where is the bus stop?
Où est l’arrêt de bus, s’il vous plaît?
4. Can I pay by credit/debit card?
Est-ce que je peux payer par carte, s’il vous plaît?
5. How much is an ice-cream?
Combien coûte une glace, s’il vous plaît?
General essential phrases / Quelques phrases essentielles…
1. I need a doctor / dentist / police officer
J’ai besoin de voir un docteur /un dentiste / d’un agent de police, pourriez - vous m’aider s’il vous plaît?
2. What is the weather forecast?
Quelles sont les prévisions météo?
3. Could you please speak a little slower?
Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît?
4. Could you repeat that?
Je n’ai pas compris. Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît?
5. Do you know where the nearest exchange office / bank / embassy / pharmacy is?
Pourriez-vous m’indiquer - le bureau de change le plus proche ? - la banque la plus proche ? - l’ambassade la plus proche / - la pharmacie la plus proche, s’il vous plaît ?
6. I am lost!
Je suis perdu/je suis perdue!
7. Help, I have lost my son/daughter!
Aidez-moi, s’il vous plaît ! J’ai perdu mon fils/ma fille.
Italian
When travelling / In viaggio
1. Where is the toilet?
Dov’è il bagno?
2. How long does it take to go to the airport?/ Train station/ Bus station
Quanto ci vuole per andare all’aeroporto? / alla stazione dei treni / alla stazione degli autobus?
3. Is there a children’s play area?
C’è un parco giochi per bambini?
4. Do you have any paper and crayons?
Avete per caso della carta e dei pennarelli?
When eating out / Al ristorante
1. Can you recommend a child-friendly restaurant?
Mi potrebbe consigliare un ristorante adatto a bambini?
2. Do you have a children’s menu?
Avete un menù per bambini?
3. Do you have a baby seat we can use?
Avete un seggiolone?
4. Do you have nappy changing facilities?
Dove posso cambiare il pannolino?
When sightseeing / Durante la visita in città
1. What are the best sights to see nearby?
Quali sono i posti che vale la pena vedere nelle vicinanze?
2. Do you have any discounts for children under 10?/ Family deals?
Avete degli sconti per i bambini sotto i 10 anni? Avete sconti famiglia?
3. Where is the bus stop?
Dov’è la fermata dell’autobus?
4. Can I pay by credit/debit card?
Posso pagare con la carta di credito/debito?
5. How much is an ice-cream?
Quanto costa il gelato?
General essential phrases / Frasi generali
1. I need a doctor / dentist / police officer
Avrei bisogno di un dottore / di un dentista / di un poliziotto
2. What is the weather forecast?
Come sono le previsioni del tempo ?
3. Could you please speak a little slower?
Potrebbe parlare un po’ più lentamente per favore?
4. Could you repeat that?
Potrebbe ripetere per favore?
5. Do you know where the nearest exchange office / bank / embassy / pharmacy is?
Sa dov’è l’ufficio di cambio più vicino / la banca più vicina / l’ambasciata più vicina / la farmacia più vicina?
6. I am lost!
Mi sono perso/a!
7. Help, I have lost my son/daughter!
Aiuto, ho perso mio figlio/mia figlia!
Spanish
When travelling / Durante el viaje
1. Where is the toilet?
¿Dónde está el baño?
2. How long does it take to go to the airport?/ Train station/ Bus station
¿Cuánto tiempo lleva llegar al aeropuerto / a la estación de tren / a la estación de autobuses?
3. Is there a children’s play area?
¿Hay algún parque infantil?
4. Do you have any paper and crayons?
¿Tiene unos folios y unos lápices?
When eating out / En el bar o en el restaurant
1. Can you recommend a child-friendly restaurant?
¿Podría recomendarme un restaurante adaptado para niños?
2. Do you have a children’s menu?
¿Tienen un menú para niños?
3. Do you have a baby seat we can use?
¿Tienen sillas para niños?
4. Do you have nappy changing facilities?
¿Dónde puedo cambiar al niño/a la niña?
When sightseeing / Visitando la ciudad
1. What are the best sights to see nearby?
¿Cuáles son los lugares que merece la pena visitar por aquí?
2. Do you have any discounts for children under 10?/ Family deals?
¿Tienen algún descuento para niños menores de 10 años? ¿Tienen alguna tarifa familiar?
3. Where is the bus stop?
¿Dónde está la parada del autobús?
4. Can I pay by credit/debit card?
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito/débito?
5. How much is an ice-cream?
¿Cuánto cuesta un helado?
General essential phrases / Expresiones esenciales
1. I need a doctor / dentist / police officer
Necesito hablar con un médico/un dentista/un agente de policía.
2. What is the weather forecast?
¿Cuál es la previsión del tiempo?
3. Could you please speak a little slower?
¿Podría hablar un poco más despacio, por favor?
4. Could you repeat that?
No he entendido lo que ha dicho, ¿podría repetirlo, por favor?
5. Do you know where the nearest exchange office / bank / embassy / pharmacy is?
¿Me podría decir dónde está la oficina de cambio / el banco / la embajada / la farmacia más cercano/a?
6. I am lost!
¡Me he perdido!
7. Help, I have lost my son/daughter!
¡Ayuda, he perdido a mi hijo/hija!
