Benny Lewis's Blog, page 10

August 4, 2023

101 Common Spanish Phrases You Need to Know

Do you want to start speaking Spanish right now? Then you need these 101 Spanish phrases.

I’ve found that the best way to learn Spanish is to speak it from day one. And the best way to start speaking is to learn Spanish phrases that you’ll use in real conversations.

Take it from me: I honestly believe it was never my destiny to speak Spanish, but I did it anyway. I started from scratch, all thanks to a complaint about a toothbrush!

But I’m getting sidetracked. Let’s get back to Spanish phrases so you too can learn to speak Spanish faster.

function runSplitTest(){ var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 4) + 1; console.log(randomNumber); var copy = ""; if (randomNumber == 1){ copy = 'A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Spanish for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>'; } else if (randomNumber == 2) { copy = 'Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online Spanish course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Spanish Through the Power of Story</a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!'; } else if (randomNumber == 3){ copy = 'Expand your horizons and learn a new language with our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. Backed by research, our coaching will get you expert results. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>'; } else { copy = 'Ready to be fluent in just 3 months? Our Research Backed Language Coaching guarantees better results. Sign up now for our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/bootc... this link to find out more.</a>' } console.log(copy); var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contents15 Must-Know Basic Spanish Phrases Important Spanish Phrases to Know: The Basics Spanish Phrases for Greetings and Starting Conversations Saying Goodbye in Spanish Polite Phrases in Spanish Common Spanish Phrases for Everyday Life Phrases About Interests, Jobs, and Hobbies in Spanish Common Questions in Spanish Exclamations, Celebrations, and Well Wishes Filler Words and Phrases Helpful Phrases in Spanish Funny Spanish Phrases and Sayings ¡Felicitaciones! You’re Off to a Good Start!15 Must-Know Basic Spanish Phrases

If you’re only going to take 15 Spanish phrases away from this article, these are the must-knows!

Hola – “Hello”Me llamo… – “My name is…”¿Y tú? – “And you?”Mucho gusto – “Nice to meet you”¿Qué tal? – “How are you?”Nos vemos – “See you”Por favor – “Please”Gracias – “Thank you”De nada – “You’re welcome”Disculpa (informal “you”) / disculpe (formal “you”) – “Excuse me”Me gusta / No me gusta… – “I like / I don’t like…”¿Cuánto cuesta? – “How much is this?”¿Dónde está el baño? – “Where’s the bathroom?”¿Qué hora es? – “What time is it?”Me puede ayudar, por favor – “Can you help me, please?” (formal “you”)

Related learning: Do you know there are different types of “you” in Spanish? Spanish-speaking people mark the difference when the “you” is formal, informal, and plural. You can read more about this in this article.

Important Spanish Phrases to Know: The Basics

If you’re just starting out, you need to know basic Spanish greetings and introductions.

Here are a few to get started if you’re totally new to the language. Most of these are casual, so they’re best for informal situations.

Spanish Phrases for Greetings and Starting ConversationsHola – “Hello”¿Qué tal? – “How are you?”¿Qué pasa? – “What’s up?”¿Cómo te va? – “How’re you doing?”Bien – “Good”Muy bien – “Very good”No tan bien – “Not so good”¿Y tú? – “And you?”Me llamo… – “My name is…”¿Cómo te llamas? – “What’s your name?”Mucho gusto – “Nice to meet you”Un placer – “A pleasure”Encantado/Encantada – “Charmed”, “Likewise”

Saying Goodbye in SpanishAdiós – “Goodbye”Nos vemos – “See you”Nos vemos mañana – “See you tomorrow”Hasta luego – “See you later”Hasta pronto – “See you soon”

Tip: In many Spanish-speaking countries, notably in South America, it’s common to use foreign goodbyes! For example, in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, locals often say chau, from the Italian ciao.

In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, it’s common to say “bye”. This is because the USA has a strong impact on the local language and culture.

Polite Phrases in SpanishPor favor – “Please”Gracias – “Thank you”De nada – “You’re welcome”No hay de qué – “No problem”Disculpa – “Excuse me” (informal “you”)Disculpe – “Excuse me” (formal “you”)Lo siento – “I’m sorry”

If you want to expand more on the basics, check out these really useful Spanish phrases for conversation and travel, and all the essential beginning phrases you should know.

Related learning: At Fluent in 3 Months, we’re fans of the Spanish Uncovered course. We’ve found it helps learners understand how to use the vocabulary they learn in a natural way. Give our review a read and find out if this resource can work for you!

Common Spanish Phrases for Everyday Life

The sooner you can talk about your everyday life in Spanish, the easier you’ll find it to have real Spanish conversations.

Pro tip: Everyday life is different for everyone, so pay attention to the things you do throughout the day. What did you say? What did you do? Then, make your own list of words that are relevant for you so you can learn Spanish faster.

Use these phrases as starters to get you going.

Phrases About Interests, Jobs, and Hobbies in Spanish

Getting to know others and talking about your interests are the bread and butter of learning a language. So you have to know how to express your hobbies!

¿Qué te gusta hacer? – “What do you like to do?”Mi pasatiempo favorito es… – “My favourite pastime is…”¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos? – “What are your hobbies?”¿Qué haces en tu tiempo libre? – “What do you do in your free time?”Me gusta / No me gusta… – “I like / I don’t like…”Me encanta… – “I love…”¿Qué te gusta leer? – “Do you like to read?”¿Qué música te gusta? – “What music do you like?”Mi favorito es… – “My favourite is…”Me gusta ir… – “I like going to…”¿En qué trabajas? – “What’s your job?”¿Te gusta tu trabajo? – “Do you like your job?”Trabajo en… – “I work at…”

With these phrases, you can say things like:

Me encanta el café. ¿Quieres ir a tomar una taza? (“I love coffee. Wanna go grab a cup?”)Trabajo en una escuela. Soy profesor. (“I work at a school. I’m a teacher.”)Common Questions in Spanish

Once you know your basic Spanish question words, like qué and dónde, you can ask a whole number of things.

These are some common questions you’ll hear or need:

¿Cuánto cuesta? – “How much is this?”¿Dónde está el baño? – “Where’s the bathroom?”¿Qué hora es? – “What time is it?”¿Pasa algo? – “Is something wrong?”¿Sabes qué pasa? – “Do you know what’s going on?”¿Es esto correcto? – “Is this right?”¿Me he equivocado? – “Was I wrong?”¿Me puede ayudar con esto? – “Can you help me with this?”¿Puedes traerme … por favor? – “Can you bring me … please?”¿Puedo entrar? – “Can I come in?”¿Quieres tomar una copa? – “Want to grab a drink?¿A dónde deberíamos ir a comer? – “Where should we go to eat?”¿Estás listo/a? – “Are you ready?”

Exclamations, Celebrations, and Well Wishes

It’s always good to know how to wish someone well, tell them “happy birthday”, or what to say when toasting at happy hour. These are simple, single-use phrases you can learn quickly.

¡Cuánto tiempo sin verlo(a)! – “Long time no see!”¡Feliz cumpleaños! – “Happy birthday!”¡Buena suerte! – “Good luck!”¡Alto! – “Stop!”¡Detente (informal “you”) / ¡Deténgase! (formal “you”) – “Stop!”¡Salud! – “Cheers!”Que te mejores (informal “you”) / Que se mejore (formal “you”) – “Get well soon”Buen provecho – “Bon appetit”Cuídate (informal “you”) / Cuídese (formal “you”) – “Take care”Felicitaciones – “Congratulations”¡Bien hecho! – “Well done!”¡Genio! – “Genius!”Estupendo – “Stupendous” or “Amazing”Genial – “Great” or “Awesome”¡Increíble! – “Incredible!” or “Impressive!”

I used quite a few of these during my 2022 trip to Mexico!

Filler Words and Phrases

Smooth out your speech with conversational connectors, sentence stretchers and filler words in Spanish.

These words and phrases give you a moment to prepare what you’re going to say next. They’ll help you sound more natural and fluid, like how you speak in your native language. We use these types of sayings all the time!

A ver… – “Let’s see…”Pues… – “Well…”Bueno… – “Well then…”¿Sabes? – “You know?”Por supuesto – “Of course”Por otra parte… – “On another note…”Pero… – “But…”De verdad? – “Really?”Dios mío – “Oh my god”Entonces… – “So…”Así que… – “So…”

Helpful Phrases in Spanish

These are your essential phrases to fall back on when you need to express your intent, your needs, or you don’t understand.

Necesito ayuda – “I need help”Llámame cuando llegues – “Call me when you arrive”Me voy a casa – “I’m going home”Necesito ir a… – “I need to go to…”¿Como llego hasta ahí? – “How do I get there?”No lo sé – “I don´t know”No tengo idea – “I have no idea”¿Lo entiendes? – “Do you understand?”No entiendo – “I don’t understand.”Quiero… – “I want…”¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? – “Can you speak slowly, please?”Funny Spanish Phrases and Sayings

Add a little colour to your conversation with funny Spanish phrases and idioms! When you can use a well-known phrase like one of these, you sound much more natural in your everyday speech.

Ponte las pilas – “Put in your batteries”. It’s like telling someone to “look alive”, “snap out of it”, or “wake up”. You say it to a person who’s daydreaming.Papando moscas – “Catching flies”. Speaking of daydreaming, that’s called catching flies in Spanish. Which is quite a visual: Your friend sitting there, so completely lost in thought, the flies have started to land on him or her. But he or she doesn’t even notice!Comiendo moscas – “Eating flies”. Flies are popular in Spanish idioms for some reason. You use this phrase when the person talking to you is quite long-winded. It can be said about anyone who goes on tangents, or someone who can’t stay on point.Buena onda – “Good wave”. This means good vibes. You can also use it to describe someone who has a positive outlook and attitude.Me pica el bagre – “The catfish is biting me”. The catfish being your stomach, and the biting being the painful ache of hunger. In other words, “I’m starved!”Hablando del rey de Roma – “Speaking of the king of Rome”. It has the same meaning as “speak of the devil” in English. You say this whenever someone appears right after you were talking about them.Meter la pata – “To put a paw in it.” It means “to screw up”, and it’s used like how we say in English, “to put your foot in your mouth”.Creerse la última coca-cola del desierto – “To think of yourself as the last Coca-Cola in the desert”. This is an interesting one to me. It means you think you’re better than everyone else, or you think you’re hot stuff.Tener la cola sucia – “To have a dirty tail.” It comes from the idea of being sneaky like a fox. Doing something you know is wrong, but doing it anyway and trying to get away with it.Se puso hasta las chanclas – “Puts on his flip-flops”. It’s like the saying “He/She put on his/her beer goggles.” He or she got hammered, too drunk, trashed.Échale ganas – “Insert desire”. It means to try your best. “How bad do you want it?”Mandar a alguien por un tubo – “Send someone through a tube”. You use this to tell someone to “shove it”.Mala leche – “Bad milk”. You can say this about someone who has bad intentions.Tirar la casa por la ventana – “Throw the house out the window”. Or as you would hear Donna from Parks & Rec say, “Treat yo’ self”. It means to splurge, spend a lot of money, or otherwise go all out for a special occasion.

If this is your kind of thing, you can also check out these classic Spanish puns and Spanish jokes that are so bad they’re amazing.

¡Felicitaciones! You’re Off to a Good Start!

Well done! That was a lot to go through, but you made it. I hope you learned some helpful phrases to start speaking with others in Spanish.

If you need some motivation, check out this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast in which guest Ashton tells us about her journey from Spanish B1 to C1 in 48 days!

If she could achieve great results, so can you! Keep practising, and ¡buena suerte!

Share your progress with me on Instagram (@irishpolyglot), TikTok (@irishpolyglot), and Twitter (@irishpolyglot). If you have any questions, ask away, or just let me know what new phrases you discover.

In the meantime, have a look at these other Fi3M articles about learning Spanish:

Best Podcast to Learn Spanish? SpanishPod101 In-depth Review With Pros and Cons The 10 Best Ways to Learn Spanish (Be Fluent Faster!)60+ Really Useful Spanish Phrases for Conversation and Travel Spanish Uncovered Review — An Honest, Detailed Review on Learning Spanish with Story Spanish Adjectives List: 50 Descriptive Spanish Words [With Sentence Examples!]

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Published on August 04, 2023 04:00

July 31, 2023

31 Basic and Creative Phrases to Start a German Conversation

How do you start a German conversation?

If you studied language while at school, chances are that your learning consisted of reading page after page from a textbook. While you may have eventually improved your reading skills, most of what you learned doesn’t really transfer very well to real life.

Do you go around asking people how old they are and telling everyone your trousers are blue in your native tongue? Of course not! You want to ask people how they’re feeling or what their interests are.

In this article, I’ll just dive straight in with sharing the German conversation starters you can use.

Let’s dig in!

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The first thing you might want to start your conversations with is a simple “hello”, but what next?

I’ve compiled a list of possible scenarios to help you break the ice when striking up a German conversation with a stranger.

The most important thing to remember when starting a conversation is to say something. Once the words start flowing, you never know where you’ll end up.

On the StreetEntschuldigung, wie spät ist es? (“Excuse me, what time is it?”)Wo ist eine Bank? (Where’s a bank?”)Wie weit ist es? (“How far is it?”)Können Sie es mir (auf der Karte) zeigen? (“Can you show me (on the map)?”)At a Train StationIst dieser Platz frei? (“Is this seat free?”)Hält dieser Zug in….? (“Does this train stop at…?”)Wie lange dauert die Fahrt? (“How long does the trip take?”)Welcher Bahnhof ist das? (“Which station is this?”)In a RestaurantGibt es noch etwas zu essen? (“Are you still serving food?”)Entschuldigung, kann ich die Karte sehen? (Excuse me, can I please see the menu?”)Was empfehlen Sie? (“What would you recommend?”)Haben Sie vegetarisches Essen? (“Do you have vegetarian food?”)Wie groß sind die Portionen? (“How big are the portions?”)Kriege ich das auch ohne Tomaten? (“Can I get that without tomato?”)Ich bin allergisch gegen Nüsse. (“I’m allergic to nuts.”)Gibt’s auch Nachtisch? (“Do you have dessert too?”)Das hat hervorragend geschmeckt! (“That was delicious!”)Können Sie das einpacken? (“Can you wrap that up to go?”)German Conversation: Asking After Interests

Once you’ve started a conversation, how can you keep it going?

A good way of doing this is to ask your conversation partner about their interests. You could ask:

Hast du eine deutsche Lieblingsband? (“Do you have a favourite German band?”)Spielst du ein Instrument? (“Do you play an instrument?”)Welche Sportarten magst du? (“Which type of sports do you like?”)Was ist dein Lieblingsessen? (“What’s your favourite food?”)German Conversation on a Night Out

When you’re out on the town, here are some German phrases you can use to start a conversation.

Was gibt’s vom Fass? (“What’s on tap?”)Dieses Kleid steht dir sehr gut! (“That dress looks good on you!”)Ich gebe Ihnen/dir einen aus. (“I’ll buy you a drink”)Was möchten Sie/du? (“What would you like?”)Diese Runde geht auf mich. (“It’s my round.”)Kannst du Billard spielen? (“Do you know how to play pool/billiards?”)Ich hätte gern Orangensaft, bitte. (“I’ll have an orange juice, please.)Können Sie Klubs empfehlen? (“Can you recommend clubs?”)Versuchst du mich anzumachen? (“Are you trying to pick me up/hit on me?”)Ready to Start Speaking?

At Fluent in 3 Months, we are big supporters of the concept of speaking from day one. You need to get as much practice under your belt as possible if you want to become conversational in another language.

The most important step towards this is finding someone, preferably a native speaker, to speak with!

Here are some useful apps and websites that you can check out to find your next conversation partners:

Preply: Preply connects language students with private tutors for 1-1 lessons. Language lessons take place online in a virtual classroom. All you need is a computer, WiFi and a sense of adventure.HelloTalk: HelloTalk is a language learning app that connects you directly with native speakers, and provides an interface to text and speak with them, all from your smartphone.Mundo Lingo: Meet polyglots and language learners at events in your city.

Related learning: Check out this Language Hacking Podcast episode by Kerstin Cable, the co-creator of the Fluent in 3 Months favourite German course German Uncovered.

Learn from her experience as a polyglot!

Time to Say Goodbye

Before I became Benny the Irish polyglot, I thought I couldn’t learn foreign languages, but here I am.

Back in April 2023, I found a copy of the Indonesian translation of my Language Hacking German book!

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A post shared by Fluentin3Months| Language Tips (@languagehacking)

I went on a 3-month German-learning journey and successfully completed it! I was able to share my experience and write a book

All you need is to get started without fear, so learn a couple of these conversation starters and practice your way to fluency in German!

Tschüss! (“Goodbye!”)

German Uncovered Review — Honest, In-Depth Review on “StoryLearning” German [With Video]The German Alphabet – a Complete Guide German Greetings: 10 Ways to Say “Hello” in German Is German Hard to Learn? Why German Is Easier Than You Think 30 Ways to Start a German Conversation

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Published on July 31, 2023 04:00

July 28, 2023

How to Say “Hello” in Italian: 19 Italian Greetings

We all know that Italians love chiacchierare (“to chat”) so much that it’s no surprise there are a lot of different Italian greetings. There are plenty of different ways to say “hello” in Italian. The greeting you use will depend on the context and the time of day.

Whether it’s a formal context all’Ufficio Postale (“the Post-Office”), or informal at la pizzeria, you’ll never get bored using the same greeting!

Each Italian region has a sub-compilation of greetings in its own local dialect, however, these are the most popular in standard Italian that you’ll come across and that you’ll be able to use from Monte Bianco in the Alps to Monte Etna in Sicily.

function runSplitTest(){var randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 2) + 1console.log(randomNumber)var copy = "";if (randomNumber == 3){ copy = 'A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away in Italian for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. <a href="https://fluentin3months.com/challenge... this link to find out more.</a>'} else { copy = 'Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online Italian course, here’s the course I recommend: <a href="https://www.fluentin3months.com/olly-... Uncovered - Learn Italian Through the Power of Story</a>, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly. You can try it for free for 7 days!'}console.log(copy)var copyToChange = document.querySelector("p.copyText").innerHTML = copy;}runSplitTest();Table of contents1. “Hello” in Italian – Ciao 2. “Good morning” in Italian – Buongiorno 3. “Have a Good Day” in Italian – Buona Giornata 4. “Good Day” in Italian – Buon Dì 5. “Good Afternoon” in Italian – Buon Pomeriggio 6. “Hi” in Italian – Salve 7. “Hey” in Italian – Ehilà, Ueilà or Ehi 8. “How’s it Going?” in Italian – Come va?9. “Good Evening” in Italian – Buona Sera 10. “Have a Good Evening” in Italian – Buona Serata 11. “Good Night” in Italian – Buonanotte 12. “See You Soon” in Italian – A Presto 13. “Until next time” in Italian – Alla Prossima 14. “See You Around” in Italian – Ci Vediamo 15. “Bye” in Italian – Ti Saluto / Vi Saluto 16. “Take Care” in Italian – Stammi Bene / Statemi Bene 17. “Goodbye” in Italian – Arrivederci 18. “Farewell” in Italian – Addio 19. “Bye Guys” in Italian – Bona Raga What’s Your Favourite Italian Greeting?

1. “Hello” in Italian – Ciao

One of the most popular Italian words, ciao has been adopted as a friendly salutation all around the globe. It’s an informal greeting to say “hello” or “goodbye” and it originates from the Venetian sciavo, which comes from the Latin word schiavo – literally “your humble servant”.

The modern Italian language has lost all its servile connotations. So you can say ciao when meeting someone or when leaving, and when you come across a friend: Ciao, bello!

2. “Good morning” in Italian – Buongiorno

Buongiorno is equivalent to ”good morning” in English, but it’s also commonly used throughout the day to say ”good day” as a formal alternative to ciao.

You can use it when introducing yourself or simply as a polite greeting when entering public places.

Here’s an example:

Buongiorno, vorrei un caffe. – “Hello, I would like a coffee.”

And here’s a popular question about this greeting: how do you reply to buongiorno? You can say buongiorno a te in an informal situation or buongiorno a Lei in a formal situation.

These replies can be translated as “good day to you”, but sound way less formal in Italian.

3. “Have a Good Day” in Italian – Buona Giornata

You can create a subtle change in meaning in buongiorno when you replace giorno with giornata, and it becomes buona giornata. This is used to wish someone a ”good day” formally or informally when you’re saying goodbye.

Ci vediamo stasera, buona giornata! – “I’ll see you this evening, have a good day!”

4. “Good Day” in Italian – Buon Dì

Buon dì is yet another variation of buongiorno, although it’s not as common, it’s used in the same way. If you’re looking to impress someone with a fancier greeting, this one will do the job. Just like buongiorno it can be used formally and informally.

Dì comes from the Latin word dies meaning “day”.

Here’s an example:

Buon dì, come va? – “Good morning, how’s it going?”

5. “Good Afternoon” in Italian – Buon Pomeriggio

When the afternoon comes around, we can switch our salutation to buon pomeriggio if we’re feeling adventurous. Or we can just continue using buongiorno, which I believe is usually preferred because it has fewer syllables and therefore requires less effort!

So if you enter, let’s say, una pasticceria (a “patisserie”) at 2 p.m. you can either say buon pomeriggio or buongiorno.

Here’s an example of how to use it:

Buon pomeriggio, due cannoli, per favore! – “Good afternoon, two cannoli, please!”

6. “Hi” in Italian – Salve

If you’re a little tired of saying ciao or buongiorno throughout the day, here’s a friendly and polite version that also has the advantage of being both formal and informal.

Salve comes from the Latin verb salvere, to be well, in good health (essere in buona salute). In fact, the verb salutare comes from the Italian word salute (“health”), hence the English word salutation.

So if you want to greet a stranger in piazza (“in the square”), you can say Salve, come va? (“Hello, how’s it going?”).

7. “Hey” in Italian – Ehilà, Ueilà or Ehi

Italians usually use these words to greet friends and family expressing a positive surprise.

For example, Ehilà, chi si rivede! (“Hey, look who’s here!”).

But they also can serve as a warning: Ehi, chi è entrato in casa mia? (“Hey, who entered my home?”).

8. “How’s it Going?” in Italian – Come va?

When you run into a friend, you can say come va?, but be prepared. In Italian it often entails a detailed answer and perhaps several long minutes of storytelling with an espresso coffee at the bar.

If you don’t have time to chat, just stick to ciao!

9. “Good Evening” in Italian – Buona Sera

When the evening comes around you say buona sera (”good evening”). You can use this greeting as early as 5 p.m. and as late as 10 p.m. in formal and informal settings, but only when you’re arriving, not when leaving.

10. “Have a Good Evening” in Italian – Buona Serata

When departing in the evening, you’d say buona serata (’'have yourself a good evening”). It works like buona giornata, therefore, it’s not a conversation starter. Here’s an example:

Ci vediamo domani, buona serata! – “See you tomorrow, have a good evening!”

11. “Good Night” in Italian – Buonanotte

If you’re on your way home or to bed, you say buonanotte (”goodnight”).

Unlike buonasera, it’s not a conversation starter, but is used when bidding someone a good night, as in this example:

È tardi vado a casa, buonanotte. – “It’s late, I’m going home, goodnight.”

12. “See You Soon” in Italian – A Presto

This Italian greeting simply means “see you soon” and it’s fairly common when departing from someone. You’ll also find it as an informal greeting at the end of emails. However, just like in English, it could mean that you’re actually about to see someone soon. For example: Arrivo da te tra poco, a presto! (“I’ll be at your place in a bit, see you soon!”).

13. “Until next time” in Italian – Alla Prossima

This salutation works fine whether you have plans to meet again, whether soon or not.

For example, you can say it to your teacher and classmates after an Italian lesson…alla prossima.

14. “See You Around” in Italian – Ci Vediamo

Here’s a more casual version of arrivederci which you’ll find further ahead in this list. It’s translated into English as “we’ll see each other around” or just ”see you around”. You’ll hear it said often among friends when they’re parting ways.

Here’s an example:

Antonio, ora scappo. Ci vediamo. – “Antonio, I must run off now. See you around.”

15. “Bye” in Italian – Ti Saluto / Vi Saluto

This casual departure salutation means ”I salute you” or simply “bye”. If you’re saying it to one person you use the singular form ti saluto. If to more than one person, then you’ll use the plural form vi saluto. Here’s an example with the plural form:

Amici, vi saluto. – “Friends, I salute you.”

16. “Take Care” in Italian – Stammi Bene / Statemi Bene

The Italian version of ”take care” has a singular and a plural version, just like the previous salutation. So you’ll say stammi bene to one person or statemi bene to more than one person.

Nonna, stammi bene. – “Grandma, take care.”

17. “Goodbye” in Italian – Arrivederci

One of the hardest to pronounce in this list, but good practice for the rolling “r”. Arrivederci is translated as ”good-bye”, but it literally means ”till we see each other again”. In fact, if you break it down into its components you’ll get: a – preposition, rivedere – verb, ci – reflexive pronoun.

You can use it as a polite salutation when departing. For example: Arrivederci, professoressa. (“Good-bye, professor.“).

18. “Farewell” in Italian – Addio

This one creates quite a dramatic effect in films, such as the Italian film of the 50s Addio, Napoli! (“Farewell, Naples!”).

It’s the contracted form of a Dio piacendo, a friendly wish that the goodwill of God be made for the person to whom it’s addressed.

Nowadays, it’s used as a final salutation if you don’t plan to see someone ever again. In most cases, a simple arrivederci will do!

19. “Bye Guys” in Italian – Bona Raga

I lived in Florence for many years of my life, so of course, I couldn’t resist ending this list by sharing a Florentine farewell.

Bona raga is fiorentino, Florentine slang for “bye, guys” (ciao, ragazzi). It’s used when departing from your friends.

Here’s an example:

Bona raga, vo’ a casa. – “Bye guys, I’m going home.”

PS: If you want to hear about the experience of an Italian learner living in Italy, check out this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast:

What’s Your Favourite Italian Greeting?

So there you go, now you’ve got lots of Italian greetings, and ways of saying “hello” and “goodbye” in Italian. If you’re feeling creative you can use a combination of them.

You can practice using these greetings with your Preply tutor so they become more natural to you in conversations. It’s all about learning the right way to use them from a native speaker!

Anyway, Stammi bene e alla prossima! (“Take care, until next time!”).

Original article by Mirella Colalillo, updated by the Fluent in 3 Months team.

How to Learn Italian: 5 Top Tips for Italian Learners (Plus 5 Great Reasons to Learn Italian)Italian Uncovered Review — What’s the “Secret Ingredient” of this Italian Course?500 Core Italian Words for Everyday Conversations (Top 500 Most Used Italian Words)Innovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)112 Basic Italian Phrases to Learn and Speak NOW!

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Published on July 28, 2023 04:00

July 24, 2023

German Colors: A Fun and Easy Way to Learn Colors in German

Colors in German are easy to learn.

Since German is a close cousin of English, most German color words are very similar in spelling and pronunciation to their English counterparts. This means you won’t have to do much work to remember them!

Below, I’ll teach you all the most important color words in German. We’ll also cover some colorful idiomatic expressions.

Let’s get started.

Table of contentsHow to Say “Color” in German: Farbe A Note on Grammar How to Say “Red” in German How to Say “Blue” in German How to Say “Green” in German How to Say “Yellow” in German How to Say “Orange” in German How to Say “Pink” in German How to Say “Purple” in German How to Say “Grey” in German How to Say “Black” in German How to Say “White” in German How to Say “Brown” in German Over to You!

In April 2023, I shared with my followers a photo of the Indonesian translation of my Language Hacking German book, so I was very excited to give my German articles a refresh!

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How to Say “Color” in German: Farbe

The word “color” itself (although Irish folk like me would spell it “colour”!) translates as the feminine noun Farbe (plural Farben). If you ever get stuck trying to remember a color word, try asking somebody welche Farbe ist das? (“What color is that?”).

Farbe also shows up in words like farblos (“colorless”), farbenfroh (“colorful”), and farbenblind (“colorblind”), and can be used as a prefix (Farb-) in compound nouns like Farbfernseher (“color television”).

A Note on Grammar

First, remember that German colors, when used as adjectives, follow all the same rules as regular adjectives. A full description of German adjective rules is beyond the scope of the article, but the most important point is that the color words must agree with the noun in gender and case: ein weißes Hemd (a white shirt) but “ein weißer Rock” (a white skirt).

The exception is color words that end in -a, like rosa, or lila. These words don’t take any special endings: it’s ein rosa Hemd or ein lila Rock.

In some situations, German color words can function as nouns. This means that, like all German nouns, they should be written with a capital letter; for example, das Blau des Himmels (“the blue of the sky”). When used as a noun, German colors always take the neuter gender, i.e. they use “das”.

Related learning: Check out this Language Hacking Podcast episode by Kerstin Cable, the co-creator of the Fluent in 3 Months favourite German course German Uncovered.

Now let’s jump over to the actual color words!

How to Say “Red” in German

“Red” in German is rot. Unless you’ve been drinking too much Rotwein (“red wine”), this rotten word isn’t hard to remember.

Rot sehen, “to see red”, has the same meaning as in English: to be very angry. It can also mean “to be shown a red card”, as in football.

German children are also familiar with the story of Rotkäppchen (literally “little red cap”), who is better known to English audiences as Little Red Riding Hood.

How to Say “Blue” in German

“Blue” in German is blau. It rhymes with the English word “now”. Policemen have a Blaulicht (“siren”, or literally “blue light”) on their cars, and when you’re designing something you might use a Blaupause (“blueprint”).

In English, to “feel blue” means that you’re sad. In German, however, if you describe someone as blau, it means that they’re drunk! Another difference from English is that, if someone punches you in the face, they can give you a blaues Auge (“blue eye”), not a “black eye”.

That last one shouldn’t be confused with the adjective blauäugig, “blue-eyed”. Someone who is blauäugig is naïve*.

On the other hand, saying that someone has blaues Blut (“blue blood”) has the same meaning as in English; it means they’re part of the nobility.

How to Say “Green” in German

“Green” in German is grün, pronounced (roughly) “groon”. Die Grüne, “The Greens”, is also the name of a German political party.

Like in English, you can give someone permission or approval by giving them the grünes Licht (“green light”). My own home country, the so-called Emerald Isle, is colloquially known in German as die Grüne Insel (“the green island”).

You can also say that something ist dasselbe in Grün – “it’s the same in green”. This is a, ahem, colorful way of saying that “it’s the same” or “it makes no difference” – sort of like the English expression, “it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other.”

You’ve probably heard the English saying, “to beat somebody black and blue”, meaning to beat someone up really badly. In German they say jemanden grün und blau schlagen (“to beat somebody green and blue”).

How to Say “Yellow” in German

“Yellow” in German is gelb. This is one of the few German color words that looks nothing like its English translation. If it helps, remember that gelb sounds somewhat like gold, and gold is yellow.

(Incidentally, the word “gold” in German is Gold. That was easy! Silver in German is Silber.)

In English, if someone is feeling jealous, we describe them as being “green with envy”. In German, you’d say they are gelb vor Neid – “yellow with envy”!

How to Say “Orange” in German

“Orange” in German is orange. This one should be very easy to remember! It’s just pronounced a bit differently: “oh-RAN-shuh”.

Unsurprisingly, “Orange” in German refers to the fruit as well as the color. Just don’t forget that the name of the fruit, since it’s a noun, must be capitalised.

Here’s a fun fact – did you know that , and not the other way around? This is true in both English and German.

How to Say “Pink” in German

“Pink” in German is rosa. It’s easy to remember: just think of a pink rose.

In recent years, the English loanword pink has also become common in German-speaking countries; however, in German, pink and rosa aren’t quite the same color. Pink can be thought of as a particular shade of Rosa; Wikipedia describes it as “a strong, heavy pink” that “rarely occurs in nature.” Think of the garish, flashy pink used for girls’ toys. If in doubt, it’s probably best to stick with rosa.

A German expression using the word rosa is durch die rosa Brille schauen, “to look through pink glasses.” Someone who looks through rosa Brille has a “rosey-eyed” outlook on things; they’re optimistic and see the good side.

How to Say “Purple” in German

“Purple” in German is lila. Just think of the English word “lilac” (although this flower is known in German as Flieder.)

Less commonly, you might hear violett instead. There are also the words purpurn and purpurrot – obvious cognates of the English “purple”, but considered rather old-fashioned in German these days.

How to Say “Grey” in German

“Grey” in German is grau – another one that should be easy to remember.

Someone with grey hair is said to be grauhaarig in German. The process of becoming grauhaarig is called grau werden (“turning grey”). If you’re in a morally or legally ambiguous situation, you’re in a Grauzone, a “grey area”. To resolve the dilemma, you may have to rely on your graue Substanz (“grey matter”), i.e. your brain.

How to Say “Black” in German

“Black” in German is schwarz. This word makes me think of Arnold _Schwarz_enegger! If something is very dark you might call it pechschwarz (“pitch black”) or even kohlrabenschwarz (“black as a raven”).

Schwarz turns up in many expressions and compound words in German, such as der Schwarzmarkt (“the blackmarket”) or eine schwarze Liste (“a blacklist”). An estranged or troublesome family member can be described as the schwarzes Schaf (“black sheep”) of the family.

A Schwarzfahrer (“black rider”) is someone who sneakily rides the train or bus without a ticket – common in cities like Berlin, where the metro stations have no turnstiles. A Schwarzseher (“black looker”) is someone with a dark and dismal attitude to things –. a pessimist.

If you’re very angry – even angrier than rotsehen – you can sich schwarz ärgern, “turn black with anger”. This expression is particularly used when you’re angry about something you have no control over.

How to Say “White” in German

“White” in German is weiß. Remember that the “ß” character is pronounced like an “s”, so this word sounds just like the English word “vice”.

A rather gory expression using weiß is weißbluten, literally “to white-bleed”. Its meaning is roughly equivalent to the English expression “bleeding someone dry”, or to use up all of someone’s money or to extort them.

If someone is innocent, you can say that they haben eine weiße Weste – they “have a white vest”. This evokes images of fairy tales or classic Western movies where the protagonists always wear white and the bad guys wear black. Someone wearing a white vest must be one of the good guys, right?

How to Say “Brown” in German

“Brown” in German is braun. It’s pronounced almost identically to the English word; you just need to make sure you pronounce the “r” in the German way, from the back of your throat.

The verb bräunen means “to become brown”, or “to tan”.

Braun is also a very common German surname, much like “Brown” is in English. The same is true of Weiß and Schwarz, just like “White” and “Black” in English-speaking countries.

Over to You!

That covers all the most common color words in German!

One final thing – if you want to talk about a lighter or darker shade of a color, use hell (“light”) or dunkel (“dark”). They combine with the adjective to create a compound word. For example, hellbraun means “light brown” and dunkelblau means “dark blue”.

Let me know if this post was useful to you, or if I’m missing your favourite color! You can message me on Instagram (@irishpolyglot), TikTok (@irishpolyglot), and Twitter (@irishpolyglot).

And if you have any questions, ask away!

Is German Hard to Learn? Why German Is Easier Than You Think German Uncovered Review — Honest, In-Depth Review on “StoryLearning” German [With Video]The German Alphabet – a Complete Guide German Greetings: 10 Ways to Say “Hello” in German 30 Ways to Start a German Conversation

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Published on July 24, 2023 01:00

July 21, 2023

Easy Korean Numbers: Counting in Korean from 1 – 100+

Learning how to count in Korean is easy. And after this lesson, you’ll be a master of Korean numbers!

Fun fact: there are actually two ways to count in Korean, the Sino-Korean number system and the Native Korean number system.

Learning Korean numbers and counting will help you level up your Korean skills and speak with ease. After all, we use numbers in most conversations! So while it’s a lot to learn, it’s easy to pick up and remember because you’ll use it often.

By the way, I highly suggest you learn how to read Korean hangul before getting started. It will help immensely with your pronunciation.

Ready to dive in? Let’s go!

Table of contentsNumbers in Korean 1- 10: Counting in Korean Why Are There Two Number Systems in Korea?Korean Numbers: Sino Korean Numbers: Native Numbers in Korean 10 – 20 Numbers in Korean from 1 to 100 Sino-Korean Numbers Native Korean Numbers Large Korean Numbers: 1 – 1 Trillion!Zero in Korean Korean Ordinal Numbers Months and Days in Korean Korean Counters: How to Count Objects in Korean How to Say “Number” in Korean + Helpful Vocab Lucky Numbers in Korean Learning How to Count in Korean is Easy!

Let’s start with the basics, Korean numbers 1 through 10. After all, these are the numbers you’ll use most often. Whether you’re asking for a table for two or asking for “one of those please,” we often use smaller numbers in everyday life.

So if you’re pressed for time, or just trying to apply the 80/20 rule to vocab, these are the Korean number words you’ll use the most.

The only challenging part? There are two Korean writing systems: Sino-Korean numbers and Native Korean numbers.

(If you’ve studied Japanese before, this may not surprise you. Japanese numbers work the same way.)

Why Are There Two Number Systems in Korea?

China influenced the writing systems of both Japanese and Korean. Both languages originally used Chinese characters, but then created their own native writing systems: Korean hangul and Japanese kana.

Despite coming up with their own way of writing, they both kept Chinese characters. You see this with hanja (Chinese characters) in Korean.

So, let’s first look at the China System.

Korean Numbers: Sino

The Sino-Korean Numbers, also known as the China System, are what we looked at already:

1: 일 (il)2: 이 (i)3: 삼 (sam)4: 사 (sa)5: 오 (o)6: 육 (yuk)7: 칠 (chil)8: 팔 (pal)9: 구 (gu)10: 십 (sip)

I like using mnemonics to memorize vocabulary, and it’s easy to do here.

For instance, in Korean, 일 (il) can mean “one” or “work.” I remember it by saying: “I’ll work at one o’clock today.” See? “I’ll” is like il, and I’ve included both vocabulary words. Win!

You can also stack Korean numbers into the same mnemonic sentence: “Oh, yuck. Chill, pal, you’re spitting when you talk. Try counting to calm down… That’s it… 5, 6, 7, 8…” The first four words sound like the Korean words for 5, 6, 7, and 8. I created a distinct image: A guy who’s super angry, he’s spitting while he talks. So, I tell him to count to 10 to cool his jets.

You’ll use the Sino-Korean number system for things like counting money, math, measurements, the names of the months, and phone numbers. It’s also used to talk about time in days, weeks, or years, but not the hour/time on the clock.

Related learning: Check out Benny Lewis’ webinar The Vocab Vault for more tips on learning vocabulary in a new language).

Korean Numbers: Native

Now let’s learn the Korean System of numbers. From 1 – 10, it’s:

1: 하나 (hana, but is usually shortened to 한 or han)2: 둘 (dul)3: 셋 (set)4: 넷 (net)5: 다섯 (daseot)6: 여섯 (yeoseot)7: 일곱 (ilgop)8: 여덟 (yeodeol)9: 아홉 (ahop)10: 열 (yeol)

You can use mnemonics here, too. For example, “I set 3 plates on the table.”

If you know other languages, you can use those to help with mnemonics, too! Hana in Korean means “one”, but “hana” in Japanese means “flower.” I remember it by thinking “hana hana: one flower!”

Find what works for you and take some time here. Memorizing these 10 in both systems will help you with every other number going forward!

The Native Korean numbers are used to talk about the hour in time (but not days, months, or years), age, and counting things and people. In fact, that’s its primary purpose: counting things.

You’ll use this system of numbers most with Korean words called “counters.” They help count different categories of objects or things, like people, books, or cars. We’ll talk about that in a bit.

Numbers in Korean 10 – 20

Counting from 10 to 20 is easy. In Korean, numbers are “stacked” onto each other to create larger numbers. You start with the “tens” number and then add the “ones”. This goes for both counting systems. Here’s an example:

Sino: 십 (sip, “10”) + 일 (il, “one”) = 십일 (sibil, “eleven”)

Native: 열 (yeol, “10”) + 하나 (hana, “one”) = 열하나 (yeolhana)

Based on that, how do you think you make 12?

It’s 십 (sip, “10”) + 이 (i, “2”) = 십이 (sibi, “12”). Or, in Native Korean, 열 (yeol, “10”) + 둘 (dul, “2”) = 열둘 (yeoldul, “12”).

In the Sino system, once you get to the next “ten” — which would be 20 — you stack the “ones” number in front of the “tens”. So it becomes “two tens.”

Sino: 이 (i, “2”) + 십 (sip, “10”) = 이십 (isip, “20”)

But, this changes in the Native Korean system. Instead, “20” becomes 스물 (seumul). You still stack the numbers between the “tens” the same way. But like in English with “twenty, thirty, forty,” each “tens” word changes in Native Korean, too.

Numbers in Korean from 1 to 100Sino-Korean Numbers

In Sino-Korean numbers, we do this same stacking method all the way up to 100. So the only new word you need to learn to count to 100 is, well, 100!

백 (baek) means “100” in Korean. And from this point forward, you would only use Sino-Korean numbers. After 99, Native Korean numbers are no longer in use, so you don’t need to know them.

Anyway, here’s the numbers 1 – 100 in the Sino-Korean system:

Sino-Korean Numbers: 1-100 1 일 (il) 2 이 (i) 3 삼 (sam) 4 사 (sa) 5 오 (o) 6 육 (yuk) 7 칠 (chil) 8 팔 (pal) 9 구 (gu) 10 십 (sip) 11 십일 (sibil) 12 십이 (sibi) 13 십삼 (sipsam) 14 십사 (sipsa) 15 십오 (sipo) 16 십육 (sipyuk) 17 십칠 (sipchil) 18 십팔 (sippal) 19 십구 (sipgu) 20 이십 (isip) 21 이십일 (isipil) 22 이십이 (isipi) 23 이십삼 (isipsam) 24 이십사 (isipsa) 25 이십오 (isipo) 26 이십육 (isipyuk) 27 이십칠 (isipchil) 28 이십팔 (isippal) 29 이십구 (isipgu) 30 삼십 (samsip) 31 삼십일 (samsipil) 32 삼십이 (samsipi) 33 삼십삼 (samsipsam) 34 삼십사 (samsipsa) 35 삼십오 (samsipo) 36 삼십육 (samsipyuk) 37 삼십칠 (samsipchil) 38 삼십팔 (samsippal) 39 삼십구 (samsipgu) 40 사십 (sasip) 41 사십일 (sasipil) 42 사십이 (sasipi) 43 사십삼 (sasipsam) 44 사십사 (sasipsa) 45 사십오 (sasipo) 46 사십육 (sasipyuk) 47 사십칠 (sasipchil) 48 사십팔 (sasippal) 49 사십구 (sasipgu) 50 오십 (osip) 51 오십일 (osipil) 52 오십이 (osipi) 53 오십삼 (osipsam) 54 오십사 (osipsa) 55 오십오 (osipo) 56 오십육 (osipyuk) 57 오십칠 (osipchil) 58 오십팔 (osippal) 59 오십구 (osipgu) 60 육십 (*yuksip*) 61 육십일 (yuksipil) 62 육십이 (yuksipi) 63 육십삼 (yuksipsam) 64 육십사 (yuksipsa) 65 육십오 (yuksipo) 66 육십육 (yuksipyuk) 67 육십칠 (yuksipchil) 68 육십팔 (yuksippal) 69 육십구 (yuksipgu) 70 칠십 (chilsip) 71 칠십일 (chilsipil) 72 칠십이 (chilsipi) 73 칠십삼 (chilsipsam) 74 칠십사 (chilsipsa) 75 칠십오 (chilsipo) 76 칠십육 (chilsipyuk) 77 칠십칠 (chilsipchil) 78 칠십팔 (chilsippal) 79 칠십구 (chilsipgu) 80 팔십 (palsip) 81 팔십일 (palsipil) 82 팔십이 (palsipi) 83 팔십삼 (palsipsam) 84 팔십사 (palsipsa) 85 팔십오 (palsipo) 86 팔십육 (palsipyuk) 87 팔십칠 (palsipchil) 88 팔십팔 (palsippal) 89 팔십구 (palsipgu) 90 구십 (gusip) 91 구십일 (gusipil) 92 구십이 (gusipi) 93 구십삼 (gusipsam) 94 구십사 (gusipsa) 95 구십오 (gusipo) 96 구십육 (gusipyuk) 97 구십칠 (gusipchil) 98 구십팔 (gusippal) 99 구십구 (gusipgu) 100 백 (baek)

Related learning: If you’re looking for a resource to help you learn Korean, try out the 90 Day Korean program! It’s my favorite Korean-learning resource, and it also was Benny Lewis’s, founder of Fluent in 3 Months, during his Korean mission!

Native Korean Numbers

Now let’s wrap up the Native Korean numbers. As we discussed, you can still stack the “ones” to the “tens.” But we still need to know all the “tens” vocab! So here they are, 10 – 90:

10: 열 (yeol)20: 스물 (seumul)30: 서른 (seoreun)40: 마흔 (maheun)50: 쉰 (swin)60: 예순 (yesun)70: 일흔 (ilheun)80: 여든 (yeodeun)90: 아흔 (aheun)

You won’t hear these too often, but the most common use would be to tell someone your age.

Now here’s the chart of 1 – 100 in the Native Korean system:

Native Korean Numbers: 1-100 1 하나 (hana) 2 둘 (dul) 3 셋 (set) 4 넷 (net) 5 다섯 (daseot) 6 여섯 (yeoseot) 7 일곱 (ilgop) 8 여덟 (yeodeol) 9 아홉 (ahop) 10 열 (yeol) 11 열하나 (yeolhana) 12 열둘 (yeoldul) 13 열셋 (yeoset) 14 열넷 (yeolnet) 15 열다섯 (yeoldaseot) 16 열여섯 (yeolyeoseot) 17 열일곱 (yeolilgob) 18 열여덟 (yeolyeodeol) 19 열아홉 (yeolahop) 20 스물 (seumul) 21 스물하나 (seumulhana) 22 스물둘 (seumuldul) 23 스물셋 (seumulset) 24 스물넷 (seumulnet) 25 스물다섯 (seumuldaseot) 26 스물여섯 (seumulyeoseot) 27 스물일곱 (seumulilgop) 28 스물여덟 (seumulyeodeol) 29 스물아홉 (seumulahop) 30 서른 (seoreun) 31 서른하나 (seoreunhana) 32 서른둘 (seoreundul) 33 서른셋 (seoreunset) 34 서른넷 (seoreunnet) 35 서른다섯 (seoreundaseot) 36 서른여섯 (seoreunyeoseot) 37 서른일곱 (seoreunilgop) 38 서른여덟 (seureunyeodeol) 39 서른아홉 (seureunahop) 40 마흔 (maheun) 41 마흔하나 (maheunhana) 42 마흔둘 (maheundul) 43 마흔셋 (maheunset) 44 마흔넷 (maheunnet) 45 마흔다섯 (maheundaseot) 46 마흔여섯 (maheunyeoseot) 47 마흔일곱 (maheunilgop) 48 마흔여덟 (maheunyeodeol) 49 마흔아홉 (maheunahop) 50 쉰 (swin) 51 쉰하나 (swinhana) 52 쉰둘 (swindul) 53 쉰셋 (swinset) 54 쉰넷 (swinnet) 55 쉰다섯 (swindaseot) 56 쉰여섯 (swinyeoseot) 57 쉰일곱 (swinilgop) 58 쉰여덟 (swinyeodeol) 59 쉰아홉 (swinahop) 60 예순 (yesun) 61 예순하나 (yesunhana) 62 예순둘 (yesundul) 63 예순셋 (yesunset) 64 예순넷 (yesunnet) 65 예순다섯 (yesundaseot) 66 예순여섯 (yesunyeoseot) 67 예순일곱 (yesunilgop) 68 예순여덟 (yesunyeodeol) 69 예순아홉 (yesunahop) 70 일흔 (ilheun) 71 일흔하나 (ilheunhana) 72 일흔둘 (ilheundul) 73 일흔셋 (ilheunset) 74 일흔넷 (ilheunnet) 75 일흔다섯 (ilheundaseot) 76 일흔여섯 (ilheunyeoseot) 77 일흔일곱 (ilheunilgop) 78 일흔여덟 (ilheunyeodeol) 79 일흔아홉 (ilheunahop) 80 여든 (yeodeun) 81 여든하나 (yeodeunhana) 82 여든둘 (yeodeundul) 83 여든셋 (yeodeunset) 84 여든넷 (yeodeunnet) 85 여든다섯 (yeodeundaseot) 86 여든여섯 (yeodeunyeoseot) 87 여든일곱 (yeodeunilgop) 88 여든여덟 (yeodeunyeodeol) 89 여든아홉 (yeodeunahop) 90 아흔 (aheun) 91 아흔하나 (aheunhana) 92 아흔둘 (aheundul) 93 아흔셋 (aheunset) 94 아흔넷 (aheunnet) 95 아흔다섯 (aheundaseot) 96 아흔여섯 (aheunyeoseot) 97 아흔일곱 (aheunilgop) 98 아흔여덟 (aheunyeodeol) 99 아흔아홉 (aheunahop) 100 백 (baek, Sino-Korean numbers begin) Large Korean Numbers: 1 – 1 Trillion!

Now, the number stacking method to create numbers 11-99 works past 100, too. It’s how we can create all the numbers up to 999:

156: 백오 십육 (baek-o sibyuk)489: 사백 팔십 구 (sabaek palsibgu)950: 구백 오십 (gubaek osib)

So, we only need to know the next big number to keep going up to a trillion! Here they are:

1,000: 천 (cheon)10,000: 만 (man)100,000: 십만 (simman)1,000,000: 백만 (baekman)10,000,000: 천만 (cheonman)100,000,000: 일억 (ireok)1,000,000,000: 십억 (sibeok)1,000,000,000,000: 일조 (iljo)

As you can see, from 10,000, smaller numbers start getting added in front of man to make larger numbers.

Simman is just 10 + 10,000, or 10 x 10,000, which makes 100,000. The same is true for baekman which combines 100 + 10,000.

Basically, once you hit 10,000, you start counting in 10,000’s instead of 1,000’s like you do in English.

But notice you don’t need 일 (il, “one”) for these words, except once you hit one trillion. That’s because the word itself explains it.

This is because how Koreans break up their large numbers doesn’t quite match how we do it in English. But don’t worry about that too much! You’ll get used to it naturally as you count in Korean.

You may think you won’t have much need for these larger numbers, but actually, Korean won (원 in hangul) is very small compared to the dollar or euro. For instance, $1 US dollar equals roughly ₩1,180 Korean won. So, you’ll actually see these numbers quite often.

Zero in Korean

There are two ways to say “zero” in Korean. One is 영 (yeong) and the other is 공 (gong). Why two ways? Well, it’s like in English. We often say “oh” or “zero.”

In Korean, they use them very similarly. Where you might say “oh” in English – like in Korean phone numbers – you would use 공 (gong).

But 영 (yeong) is used when you would need to say “zero,” like in math problems.

Korean Ordinal Numbers

We use Native Korean numbers when using ordinal numbers like “first,” “second,” and “third.”

The ordinal number counter word is 번째 (beonjjae). It gets added to the end of each number. But the first four ordinal numbers are a bit different.

“First” changes from 헌 (han, “one”) to 첫 (cheos) and adds the counter 번째 (beonjjae). So “first” in Korean is 첫번째 (cheosbeonjjae).

“Second”, “third”, and “fourth” in Korea use the Native Korean words for “two”, “three”, and “four” but drop the bottom hangul character:

둘 (dul, “two”) → 두번째 (dubeonjjae, “second”) 셋 (set) → 세번째 (sebeonjjae, “third”) 넷 (net) → 네번째 (nebeonjjae, “fourth”)

But, after that, you say the number as normal and add -번째 (beonjjae) to the end. So “fifth” would be 다섯번째 (daseosbeonjjae).

Months and Days in Korean

Now that you know how to count in Korean, learning the days of the month in Korean will be a cinch.

That’s because the months are just the Sino number + the word for month, which is 월 (wol). Take a look:

January: 일월 (irwol)February: 이월 (iwol)March: 섬월 (samwol)April: 서월 (sawol)May: 오월 (owol)June: 유월 (yuwol)July: 칠월 (chirwol)August: 팔월 (parwol)September: 구시월 (guwol)October: 시월 (siwol)November: 십일월 (sibirwol)December: 십이월 (sibiwol)

A quick note here: You’ll usually use the Arabic numeral for the month, such as 1월 instead of 일월. They’re both said irwol. But to show how the months use the number words, I included the hangul instead.

There are two notable changes though: June and October. These two months drop their last consonant to make it easier to pronounce the word.

To say the day, you’ll need to know a couple more words: 년 (nyeon, “year”) and 일 (il, “day”). So if you want to say the date is August 26th, 2020, you’d say 이천이십년 팔월 이십육일 (icheon isibnyeon parwol isib yuk-il). Using Arabic numbers, it’s written: 2020년 8월 26일.

Notice that in Korean, the year comes first, then the month and day: 2023/06/27.

Korean Counters: How to Count Objects in Korean

In Korean, they have specific words used to count different object categories. These words are called counters.

These counters are used with the Native Korean numbers.

Counters can seem pretty strange to a native English speaker because they’re so many more in Korean than English. But we do use them in English, too. Words like a bundle of hay or a stack of books are similar counters.

In Korean, 개 (gae) is the most common and general counter. You can use it for most non-living things, especially if you don’t know what counter you should be using.

Here are a few other common counters:

For people: 명 (myeong)For animals: 마리 (mari)For books: 권 (gwon)For cars, vehicles, and machinery: 대 (dae)For age: 살 (sal)For paper: 장 (jang)For slices: 조각 (jogak)For time/hours: 시 (si)

So how do you use these counters?

When saying how many of something there are, you say the noun + the Native Korean number + the counter. It looks like this:

One slice of bread: 빵 한 조각 (ppang han jogak)

Seven strawberries: 딸기일곱개 (ttalgi ilgobgae)

Four people: 넷명 (net myeong)

How to Say “Number” in Korean + Helpful Vocab

“Number” in Korean is 숫자 (sutja). It refers to numbers as figures or numerals. So you can’t use it for “numbers” as in a phone number. That would be 번호 (beonho).

Sometimes you may find yourself trying to do simple math in Korean, like when counting money or making change. Here are some words to know:

Math: 수학 (suhak)Plus: 더하기 (deohagi)Minus: 빼기 (ppaegi)Multiply: 곱하기 (gophagi)Divide: 나누기 (nanugi)Point: 소수점 (sosujeom)Half: 반 (ban)Equals: 와 같다 (wa gatda)Total: 총액 (chong-aek)Lucky Numbers in Korean

Korean superstitions are pretty unique (and this is a great list of many of them!). And like in other countries, they have Korean lucky numbers… and unlucky numbers.

Lucky numbers in Korea are 3, 7, 8, and 9.

3 is a lucky number because of its practicality. It’s related to hard work and is generally thought to provide balance.

8 is considered to be a lucky number for wealth, luck, and happiness. Some people may plan important business meetings on the 8th, or even pick the 8th of the month as their wedding day for good luck.

9 is also a lucky number in Korea (whereas it’s an unlucky number in Japan). That’s because it sounds like the word for “long-lasting” in Chinese. So like with 8, this is a popular number to pick for wedding dates, business meetings, or anything important that you want to last.

Like in Chinese and Japanese, the number “4” is a bad number because it’s like the word for “death” in Chinese. It’s avoided whenever possible. Sometimes you’ll see buildings without a 4th floor, for example. And like “Friday the 13th”, some view the 4th of the month to be unlucky, too.

Learning How to Count in Korean is Easy!

See, mastering Korean numbers isn’t so bad. Even considering there are two systems, they’re easy to memorize. I hope you used mnemonics to help the words stick!

Now try putting them to use. One of my favorite tricks for learning numbers is to count down with the microwave when I cook food. Since I have to count backward, it helps me avoid rote memorization and it’s simple to include in my day.

How can you start practicing your numbers? Can you count to 10 in Korean when you’re mad? Or practice telling time in Korean?

The more you use it, the easier it gets!

If you need some inspiration, check out this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast featuring Evelyn and her Korean learning mission!

And why not try learning how to say hello in Korean or watching some addicting Korean TV shows?

Study hard! 화이팅! (hwaiting, “fighting!” or “do your best!”)

90 Day Korean Inner Circle: An In-Depth Review How to Learn Korean Fast: The Faster Way to Speak Korean 111 Must-Know Korean Verbs Innovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)Korean Greetings: 10+ Ways to Say “Hello” in Korean

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Published on July 21, 2023 01:00

July 17, 2023

30 Spanish Quotes and Sayings (+ Their English Translation)

Looking for wise or funny Spanish quotes about life?

You’ve come to the right place! Whether they are quotes by famous Hispanic personalities or traditional proverbs, Spanish sayings cover all areas of life.

If you’re learning Spanish and looking for a new motto, choose it from this post. I’ve gathered some of the best Spanish quotes to help you.

Table of contents5 Spanish Quotes About Life 1. Al Mal Tiempo, Buena Cara – “When the Going Gets Rough, the Tough Get Going”2. Mas Vale Pájaro en Mano Que Cien Volando – “A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush”3. A los Tontos No les Dura el Dinero – “A Fool and his Money Are Soon Parted”4. La Verdad Adelgaza, pero No Quiebra – “The Truth May Be Stretched Thin, but It Never Breaks”5. Errar Es Humano, pero Más Lo Es Culpar de Ello a Otros – “To Err Is Human, but It Is Even More So to Blame Others for It”3 Motivational Quotes in Spanish 1. Haciendo y Deshaciendo Se Va Aprendiendo – “It’s By Doing and Undoing That We Learn”2. El Que No Arriesga, No Gana – “He Who Doesn’t Risk Doesn’t Gain Anything”3. La Acción Es la Clave Fundamental para Todo Éxito – “Action Is the Foundational Key to All Success”3 Inspirational Quotes in Spanish 1. El Hombre Que Se Levanta Es Aún Más Grande Que El Que No Ha Caído – “The Man Who Stands Up Is Greater Than the One Who Hasn’t Fallen”2. El Arte de Vencer se Aprende en las Derrotas – “The Art of Winning is Learnt Through Losses”3. Tal Vez Sea Verdad: Que un Corazón Es lo Que Mueve el Mundo – “Perhaps It Is True: It Is a Heart Which Moves the World”3 Spanish Love Quotes and Proverbs 2. La Belleza Que Atrae Rara Vez Coincide Con la Belleza Que Enamora – “The Beauty That Attracts Rarely Matches The Beauty That Makes You Fall In Love”3. El Amor No Respeta la Ley, Ni Obedece a Rey – “Love Laughs at Locksmiths”3 Family Quotes in Spanish 1. Cuando Seas Padre, Comerás Huevos – “You’ll Understand When You’re Older”2. De Tal Palo, Tal Astilla – “Like Father/Mother, Like Son/Daughter”3. Lo Importante En una Familia No Es Estar Juntos Sino Estar Unidos – “What’s Important In a Family Is Not to Be Together, It’s to Be United”3 Friendship Quotes in Spanish 1. Dime Con Quién Andas y Te Diré Quién Eres – “You Are the Company You Keep”2. La Soledad Es Muy Hermosa… Cuando Se Tiene Alguien a Quien Decírselo – “Solitude Is Very Beautiful… When You Have Someone With Whom to Tell It To”3. Hoy Por Ti, Mañana Por Mí – “You Scratch My Back, I’ll Scratch Yours”3 Short Spanish Quotes 1. Más Vale Prevenir Que Curar – “Better Safe Than Sorry”2. El Tiempo Todo Lo Cura – “Time Heals Everything”3. A Lo Hecho, Pecho – “What Is Done Is Done”3 Funny Spanish Quotes 1. El Amor Es Como Don Quijote: Cuando Recobra el Juicio Es que Está Para Morir – “Love Is Like Don Quixote: When It Regains Its Judgement, It’s About to Die”2. Si Hay Trato, Pueden Ser Amigos Perro y Gato – “If There Is a Deal, Even a Dog and a Cat Can Be Friends”3. Dame Pan y Dime Tonto – “Give Me Bread and Call Me a Fool”3 Frida Kahlo Quotes in Spanish 1. Donde No Puedas Amar, No Te Demores – “Where You Can’t Love, Don’t Stay Too Long”2. Enamórate de Ti, de la Vida y Luego de Quien Tú Quieras – “Fall in Love With Yourself, With Life and Then With Whoever You Want”3. Si Actúas Como Si Supieras Lo Que Estás Haciendo, Puedes Hacer Lo Que Quieras – “If You Act as if You Knew What You Were Doing, You Can Do Whatever You Want”La Historia Nunca Dice “Adiós”. Lo Que Dice Siempre Es un “Hasta Luego” – “History Never Says ‘Farewell’. What It Always Says is ‘Goodbye’”

I went to Mexico in the second half of 2022 to practice my Spanish, so I’ve refreshed this post a little.

PS: Checkout this video if you’re looking for more resources to learn Spanish:

5 Spanish Quotes About Life

Good Spanish quotes about life are easy to find. Here are some of my favourites that Spanish-speakers use when talking about their everyday life.

1. Al Mal Tiempo, Buena Cara – “When the Going Gets Rough, the Tough Get Going”

This saying’s literal translation in English is “to bad weather, good face”.

Whenever you find yourself in a bad situation, remember this Spanish proverb. Face the difficulty with good spirit.

2. Mas Vale Pájaro en Mano Que Cien Volando – “A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush”

As this Spanish saying says, you better hold on to what you already have. Don’t get too greedy, or you might end up holding… nothing.

3. A los Tontos No les Dura el Dinero – “A Fool and his Money Are Soon Parted”

Literally “Money does not last for fools”, this Spanish saying is a reminder that you should spend your money wisely.

No one wants to be a fool, right? I certainly don’t want to be a poor one!

4. La Verdad Adelgaza, pero No Quiebra – “The Truth May Be Stretched Thin, but It Never Breaks”

This quote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the author of Don Quixote, encourages always saying the truth.

It puts forward the fact that some people may try to distort it to their advantage. But in the end, what is true is true and can’t be changed.

5. Errar Es Humano, pero Más Lo Es Culpar de Ello a Otros – “To Err Is Human, but It Is Even More So to Blame Others for It”

Baltazar Gracian, who said this quote, was a Spanish writer who had human nature all figured out, apparently.

What he meant with this quote is that humans are more likely to try to blame others for their problems, than to own up to their mistakes.

3 Motivational Quotes in Spanish

Need a good push to get through your day? Choose one of these quotes to use as your mantra.

1. Haciendo y Deshaciendo Se Va Aprendiendo – “It’s By Doing and Undoing That We Learn”

This Spanish saying is about trial and error as a way to learn, and that it’s useful to make mistakes and try again. I agree.

In my school days, I learnt more from the questions I got wrong in exams than those I got right.

It may have stung to get them wrong, but I wanted to make sure it’d never happen again.

2. El Que No Arriesga, No Gana – “He Who Doesn’t Risk Doesn’t Gain Anything”

This is a great saying to remember when you have to face a fear.

Are you too frightened to do it? But you won’t get any result if you hold back.

Go for it. Risk it. Get it.

I should write my own motivational quotes book… 😉

3. La Acción Es la Clave Fundamental para Todo Éxito – “Action Is the Foundational Key to All Success”

This is a quote by famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Did he take the above saying and put it in his own words? Perhaps.

But hey, it’s a Picasso.

3 Inspirational Quotes in Spanish Some Spanish quotes inspire you to live your life fully

Inspirational quotes are similar to motivational quotes. Except instead of giving you a push, they’re about building a positive mindset.

Here are some great positive quotes in Spanish.

1. El Hombre Que Se Levanta Es Aún Más Grande Que El Que No Ha Caído – “The Man Who Stands Up Is Greater Than the One Who Hasn’t Fallen”

Concepción Arenal, a Spanish writer and sociologist of the 19th century, left us this important quote.

The words más grande in it could be translated both as “taller” and “greater”. In any case, the point of the quote is to praise those who are strong enough to pick themselves up after a bad moment in their life.

2. El Arte de Vencer se Aprende en las Derrotas – “The Art of Winning is Learnt Through Losses”

Simon Bolivar, the man who played a capital role in South America gaining independence, knew a great deal about winning. This quote was born out of his experience.

3. Tal Vez Sea Verdad: Que un Corazón Es lo Que Mueve el Mundo – “Perhaps It Is True: It Is a Heart Which Moves the World”

This is a beautiful quote by Dámaso Alonso, a Spanish poet.

It’s one of my favourites. Every time I hear it, it inspires me to try and do something for the greater good.

3 Spanish Love Quotes and Proverbs

Spanish is rich in quotes and proverbs about love. After all, it’s a romance language. (See what I did there?)

Check out these cute Spanish quotes about love.

###1. El Amor Todo lo Puede – “Love Conquers All”

This saying literally translates to “love can anything”. It makes more sense if we define it as “with love, everything is possible”.

2. La Belleza Que Atrae Rara Vez Coincide Con la Belleza Que Enamora – “The Beauty That Attracts Rarely Matches The Beauty That Makes You Fall In Love”

We owe this quote to Jose Ortega y Gasset, a Spanish author. He talked about the truth in love: very often, what attracts you first isn’t what will make you fall in love.

Think of it this way: you may decide to flirt with someone who looks good. But it’s their personality and values that determine if you’ll click or not.

3. El Amor No Respeta la Ley, Ni Obedece a Rey – “Love Laughs at Locksmiths”

Love is stubborn. It “doesn’t respect the law nor does it obey the king”, as Hispanics say.

The heart wants what it wants.

3 Family Quotes in Spanish 3 cool Spanish quotes about family

Hispanic families tend to be big. Maybe that’s why there are a lot of Spanish quotes and proverbs about family.

1. Cuando Seas Padre, Comerás Huevos – “You’ll Understand When You’re Older”

This is an interesting saying that comes from the times when people in the working class didn’t have much food. If there were any substantial dishes in the house, most of all proteins like meat or eggs, they would go to the father. The logic behind it was that he was the one maintaining the family and making physical effort outside the house.

Mothers would hence explain to their children why they couldn’t eat the eggs by telling them they would when they grew up. At least, the boys.

The meaning of the sayings has slightly evolved. Nowadays, it is used with children to talk about things that only parents can do.

2. De Tal Palo, Tal Astilla – “Like Father/Mother, Like Son/Daughter”

This saying literally translates to something close to “from the stick comes the splinter”. Another English equivalent for it is “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”. Just to keep it in the nature department.

3. Lo Importante En una Familia No Es Estar Juntos Sino Estar Unidos – “What’s Important In a Family Is Not to Be Together, It’s to Be United”

There is a difference between being together and being united. What matters in a family is that no matter what distance separates us from our loved ones, we still support each other.

As I have travelled a lot, I know the importance of maintaining a solid relationship with the people you love who live far from you.

3 Friendship Quotes in Spanish

Friendliness is a core characteristic of Hispanic culture. Here are some Spanish quotes and sayings to illustrate this.

1. Dime Con Quién Andas y Te Diré Quién Eres – “You Are the Company You Keep”

This saying’s literal translation is “Tell me who you hang out with and I will tell you who you are.”

The people you surround yourself with have a huge influence on your life. This Spanish saying reminds you of that.

2. La Soledad Es Muy Hermosa… Cuando Se Tiene Alguien a Quien Decírselo – “Solitude Is Very Beautiful… When You Have Someone With Whom to Tell It To”

19th-century Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Becquer was onto something when he created this quote.

Humans are a social species. We need to interact with each other to be in a good mental place.

Yes, it’s nice to be alone sometimes. But we still need to interact with someone else, from time to time.

3. Hoy Por Ti, Mañana Por Mí – “You Scratch My Back, I’ll Scratch Yours”

What’s true of real friends is that they’re always there to support you. No matter the situation, a good friend will have your back. Or scratch it, in this case.

The literal translation of this saying is “today for you, tomorrow for me”. In a way, it means “I know you’ll be there for me, so I’m here for you”.

There’s no counting of favours, though! Real friendships aren’t about numbers.

3 Short Spanish Quotes

If you’re just starting your Spanish journey, you can do two things.

First, check this list of best Spanish resources on the internet. It includes Spanish Uncovered, an awesome course for beginners that our Fi3M team member Elizabeth reviewed right here.

Second, learn these super short Spanish quotes.

1. Más Vale Prevenir Que Curar – “Better Safe Than Sorry”

The literal translation of this saying is “it’s better to prevent than to cure”.

Why wait until something bad has happened to take care of it? It’s better to be prepared in advance and avoid any bad situation altogether.

2. El Tiempo Todo Lo Cura – “Time Heals Everything”

Like in English, Spanish people say that time heals everything. Is it true? It depends if you want to believe it.

3. A Lo Hecho, Pecho – “What Is Done Is Done”

Hispanics advise you to puff your chest at what has already been done. In fact, the chest is associated with shielding.

The saying means that you shouldn’t worry about the past anymore, because it has already happened.

3 Funny Spanish Quotes

Who said Hispanics aren’t funny? Let me prove them wrong with these quotes and sayings.

1. El Amor Es Como Don Quijote: Cuando Recobra el Juicio Es que Está Para Morir – “Love Is Like Don Quixote: When It Regains Its Judgement, It’s About to Die”

This quote is by Jacinto Benavente, a Spanish author of the 19th-20th century. He apparently didn’t think love is very rational. He compared it to the fictional character Don Quixote, known for his craziness.

It makes for a funny metaphor!

2. Si Hay Trato, Pueden Ser Amigos Perro y Gato – “If There Is a Deal, Even a Dog and a Cat Can Be Friends”

This Spanish saying talks about friendship for convenience. It uses the example of cats and dogs because they don’t usually get along unless they have a common interest. (“How about chasing away the neighbour’s cat?”)

3. Dame Pan y Dime Tonto – “Give Me Bread and Call Me a Fool”

Does this saying make much sense to you? I didn’t understand it at first, but now I love it.

Its meaning is something along the lines of: as long as I get what I want out of you, I don’t care what you think about me.

3 Frida Kahlo Quotes in Spanish Frida Kahlo created some of the best Spanish quotes.

Famous Mexican painter and popular icon Frida Kahlo is known throughout the Hispanic world also thanks to her wise sayings.

1. Donde No Puedas Amar, No Te Demores – “Where You Can’t Love, Don’t Stay Too Long”

Kahlo didn’t have a smooth romantic life. It’s from her own experiences that she draws this sensible quote.

2. Enamórate de Ti, de la Vida y Luego de Quien Tú Quieras – “Fall in Love With Yourself, With Life and Then With Whoever You Want”

Another one of Kahlo’s quotes related to love that encourages you to be the boss of your own happiness.

3. Si Actúas Como Si Supieras Lo Que Estás Haciendo, Puedes Hacer Lo Que Quieras – “If You Act as if You Knew What You Were Doing, You Can Do Whatever You Want”

I guess what Kahlo was trying to say here is “Fake it until you make it.”

La Historia Nunca Dice “Adiós”. Lo Que Dice Siempre Es un “Hasta Luego” – “History Never Says ‘Farewell’. What It Always Says is ‘Goodbye’”

This quote by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano is our goodbye for today.

But hey! Before you go, here’s an idea. Now that you’ve chosen one or several favourite Spanish sayings, learn how to say goodbye in Spanish.

Or maybe now you feel like learning some Italian sayings. You can never have too many foreign mottos!

Let me know on Instagram (@irishpolyglot), TikTok (@irishpolyglot), or Twitter (@irishpolyglot) what you decide to do!

And to leave on a good note, I’ll leave this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast here for you as motivation!

15 Romantic Words for “Beautiful” in Spanish Spanish Uncovered Review — An Honest, Detailed Review on Learning Spanish with Story Spanish Adjectives List: 50 Descriptive Spanish Words [With Sentence Examples!]Best Podcast to Learn Spanish? SpanishPod101 In-depth Review With Pros and Cons An Introductory Guide to Spanish-Speaking Countries (Fun Facts and Expressions Included!)

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Published on July 17, 2023 02:00

July 14, 2023

101 Core Japanese Words — The Most Commonly Used Words in Japanese

Ready to understand about half of Japanese everyday conversations?

Yes, you read that right. With only about 100 words under your belt, you can understand about 50% of all Japanese you hear or read – if you choose the right words!

Starting off by learning the core Japanese words can be an incredible tool to reach fluency faster. Based on the analysis of either newspapers, novels, or even Wikipedia pages, the core 100 words in a language can make up between 50% and 60% of what you hear or read.

This isn’t your general beginner’s word list. It’s a list of the most common words to start with if you’re studying by the word-frequency method.

But you can also pair what you learn here with essential Japanese words and phrases for beginners, like greetings. Combining the two will help make sure you know all the words and phrases you’ll hear most often, and all the words you want to say to make basic sentences.

You’ll be way ahead of the game!

These 101 core Japanese words are the words you should learn now, whether you’re a beginner or intermediate Japanese learner. They include pronouns, nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and conjugations.

One more tip: If you haven’t yet, learn how to read and understand Hiragana and Katakana. It will help you learn how to pronounce Japanese words properly and will make reading easier.

頑張ってね！(Ganbatte ne, “Good luck!”)

If you’re only going to learn 10 words from this article, walk away with these:

はい (hai) – “yes”いいえ (iie) – “no”こんにちは (konnichiwa) – “hello”じゃね (ja ne) – “goodbye”すみません (sumimasen) – “excuse me”おねがいします(o-negai shimasu) – “please”ありがとう (arigatou) – “thank you”どういたしまして (dōitashimashite) – “you’re welcome”わかりません (wakarimasen) – “I don’t understand”家 (ie or uchi) – “home”

Keep on reading for more vocabulary!

The 8 Core Japanese Pronouns

Japanese pronouns are important to know, although even though they are core words, you will often only hear and use the top three on this list. In Japanese, pronouns are usually understood from context and not said unless they’re necessary for clarification.

You’ll also notice I didn’t include “you” (あなた, “anata”) in this list. That’s because it’s almost never used unless in a context where the person has no name (like in a song or a textbook example).

Any time you would say “you” in English, you’ll use the person’s name followed by “-san” (-さん), such as “Tanaka-san” (田中さん).

これ / この (Kore / Kono) – “This” or “This ___ (thing/person)”それ / その (Sore / Sono) – “That / It” or “That ___ (thing/person)”あれ / あの (Are / Ano) – “That over there” or “That ___ (thing/person) over there”私 / 僕 (Watashi / Boku) – “I” (私 is gender neutral, while 僕 is masculine.)彼 (Kare) – “He”彼女 (Kanojo) – “She”私たち (Watashitachi) – “We”彼ら (Karera) – “They”The 42 Core Japanese Nouns

Which nouns are most helpful to learn?

Everyone has different words they say the most based on daily life. You should definitely take time to create your own script and list of words you often say, so you can memorize them.

Based on frequency lists, these are the words you’ll most likely hear or use. Of course, nouns for time, transportation, and general words for location and people top the list for usefulness in getting by.

Pro tip: Most single kanji have multiple readings, especially when combined with other kanji. Their English word meaning stays the same, though. I’ve included the most common way or ways to read them in Romaji (English characters to spell Japanese words).

Don’t worry about that for now, but just know there may be – and usually are – more ways, once you get farther in your studies.

年 (Toshi or Nen) – “Year”月 (Getsu or Tsuki) – “Month” and “Moon”日 (Nichi or Hi) – “Day” and “Sun”週 (Shuu) – “Week”今日 (Kyou) – “Today”明日 (Ashita) – “Tomorrow”昨日 (Kinou) – “Yesterday”時間 (Jikan) – “Time” (As in, a time frame.)分 (Fun or Bun) – “Minute”時 (Ji or Toki) – “Hour” or “Time”こと (Koto) – “About (this thing)”日本 (Nihon) – “Japan”ため (Tame) – “For” or “In regards to”人 (Hito or Nin) – “Person”物 (Mono) – “Thing”国 (Kuni or Koku) – “Country”大学 (Daigaku) – “College”今 (Ima) – “Now”前 (Mae) – “Before”後 (Ato) – “After”駅 (Eki) – “(Train) Station”線 (Sen) – “Line”電車 (Densha) – “Train”車 (Kuruma) – “Car”部屋 (Heya) – “Room”名前 (Namae) – “Name”所 / 場所 (Tokoro / Basho) – “Place”地下鉄 (Chikatetsu) – “Subway”中 (Naka or Chuu) – “Middle,” “Inside,” or “During”外 (Soto or Gai) – “Outside”学校 (Gakkou) – “School”語 (Go) – “Language” (Combine it with other words like: 言語 (gengo, “language”), 単語 (tango, “words”), 日本語 (Nihongo, “Japanese”), 英語 (Eigo, “English”), スペイン語 (Supeingo, “Spanish”).)水 (Mizu) – “Water”映画 (Eiga) – “Movie”テレビ (Terebi) – “TV”家族 (Kazoku) – “Family”町 (Machi) – “Town”他の (Hoka no) – “Other”出身 (Shusshin) – “Hometown”トイレ / お手洗い (Toire / Otearai) – “Bathroom”家 (Uchi or Ie) – “Home” or “House”店 (Mise or Ya) – “Shop”The 23 Core Japanese Verbs

You can get by saying a lot with a few verbs, especially the first one on this list: する (suru). This verb means “to do” on its own. But, it also combines with nouns to mean “to do ____.”

For example, you can combine する with nouns like 勉強 (benkyou, “study”) to create 勉強する (benkyou suru, “to study”). It’s a super helpful and versatile verb, even if it’s one of the two irregular verbs for conjugation.

But isn’t that nice? Japanese only has 2 irregular verbs – する and 来る (kuru, “to come”).

する (Suru) – “To do”です (Desu) – “To be” or “it is”なる (Naru) – “To become”ある (Aru) – “There is” for inanimate objects and plants.いる (Iru) – “There is” for living things, like humans and animals.言う (Iu) – “To say”行く (Iku) – “To go”出来る (Dekiru) – “To be able to do” or “can do”見る (Miru) – “To see”送る (Okuru) – “To send”持つ (Motsu) – “To have” or “to hold”待つ (Matsu) – “To wait”会う (Au) – “To meet”呼ぶ (Yobu) – “To call”置く (Oku) – “To put”受ける (Ukeru) – “To receive”作る (Tsukuru) – “To make”着く (Tsuku) – “To arrive”使う (Tsukau) – “To use”学ぶ (Manabu) – “To learn”食べる (Taberu) – “To eat”飲む (Nomu) – “To drink”帰る (Kaeru) – “To return home”The 20 Core Japanese Adjectives and Adverbs

Add more description and color to your Japanese! Here are the most common Japanese adjectives and adverbs.

Take note of すごい (sugoi) – “amazing.” It’s so commonly used, it means many things. “Cool,” “wow,” “that’s crazy,” etc. It’s a catch-all exclamation and is often used in reply to stories or when shown something (like yummy food, beautiful scenery, or a cool picture).

多い (Ooi) – “Many”たくさん (Takusan) – “Lots of”少し (Sukoshi) – “Few”遠い (Tooi) – “Far”近い (Chikai) – “Near”小さい (Chiisai) – “Small”大きい (Ookii) – “Big”良い (Yoi) – “Good”悪い (Warui) – “Bad”きれいな (Kirei na) – “Clean” and “Pretty”醜い (Minikui) – “Ugly”難しい (Muzukashii) – “Difficult”簡単な (Kantan na) – “Easy”うまい (Umai) – “Nice”美味しい (Oishii) – “Delicious”まずい (Mazui) – “Disgusting”大丈夫 (Daijoubu) – “All right”すごい (Sugoi) – “Amazing”楽しい (Tanoshii) – “Enjoyable” or “Pleasant”とても (Totemo) – “Very”

It’s easier to learn to use these when you get exposed to Japanese. You can listen about how I used Netflix to pick up most of my colloquial vocabulary in this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast:

The 8 Core Japanese Conjunctions and Connectors

It’s always helpful to know how to connect your sentences with conjunctions.

As in English, there are tons of conjunctions and connectors to start a sentence, but these are most common.

Here’s one to note: その時 (Sono toki). It means “at that time” in Japanese, but doesn’t really translate properly into English. It’s closer to saying “when that happened,” “while that was going on,” “and then,” or “meanwhile” in English while explaining what happens next in a story.

しかし (Shikashi) – “However”また (Mata) – “Also”その後 (Sono ato) – “After that”その時 (Sono toki) – “At that time”場合は (Baai wa) – “If you” or “If this happens”例えば (Tatoeba) – “For example”それから (Sorekara) – “Then”だから (Dakara) – “So”Strengthen Your Japanese Core with the Most Common Japanese Words

Now that you know the 111 core Japanese words to help you get started, put them to use and master them!

You can start applying them with Japanese language exchange partners.

Or, you could try taking the Add1Challenge (now the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge) to level up your Japanese in 90 days.

You could even add more color to your speech by learning about Japanese onomatopoeia, and learn your Japanese numbers!

The directions you can take for learning Japanese are endless. But now that you’ve got your core words, you can figure out what’s best for you and start applying it.

From here, start learning words that are most relevant to your own personal daily speech. If you’re looking for other resources to check out, head over to our Japanese resources page, or give these articles a read:

Is Japanese Hard to Learn? Why Japanese Is Easier Than You Think 14 Ways to Say Goodbye in Japanese Days of the Week in Japanese: A Simple Guide 47 Japanese Proverbs about Life, Love, and Wisdom to Inspire You (with English translations)Japanese Uncovered Review: Is the Force Strong with This One?

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Published on July 14, 2023 03:00

July 10, 2023

12 Iconic Arabic Songs to Boost Your Arabic Skills in 2023

What are the best Arabic songs to practice the language?

Using music to learn a language has proven useful time and time again. Not only does it improve your pronunciation, it’s also helpful to expand your vocabulary and deepen your connection to the language’s culture.

The best part? You get to learn and have fun at the same time.

As a native Arabic speaker, I have put together a list of 12 of the best songs you can use to practice your Arabic skills.

Table of contents12 Iconic Arabic Songs to Boost Your Arabic Skills 1. The Sea Creatures Song by Arabian Sinbad 2. أطلقي سرك – Arabic Version of Let It Go 3. يا طيبة by Toyor Al Jannah 4. The Snake by Lana Lubany 5. Ghareeb Alay by Elyanna and Balti 6. المحكمة by Kadim Al Saher and Asma Lmnawar 7. شاطر by Nancy Ajram 8. نسم علينا الهوا by Fairuz 9. انت عمري by Umm Kulthum 10. في يوم و ليلة by Warda 11. 3 Daqat by Abu 12. اكثر by Assala 50+ More Arabic Songs for Learning Arabic Benefits of Learning Arabic Through Music Arabic Music Is Captivating Get A Glimpse of the Arabic Culture Help Improve Your Pronunciation Learn Words and Expressions More Efficiently Final Tip to Use Arabic Songs to Make Learning Much Easier

PS: If you’re doubting how useful music can be to learn a language, give this article by Benny Lewis, founder of Fluent in 3 Months, a read!

I’ll also discuss the pros of using music as a way to learn Arabic later in the post, so stick around 😉

12 Iconic Arabic Songs to Boost Your Arabic Skills

Now that you know how much music can help you better learn Arabic, you must be impatient to start incorporating Arabic songs into your language learning system.

I’ve gathered 12 Arabic songs that I think are ideal for Arabic learners. These songs vary in dialect from MSA to Levantine Arabic. There’s something for everyone!

Please note that they aren’t in any specific order, as tastes differ from one person to the next.

1. The Sea Creatures Song by Arabian Sinbad

If you’re just at the beginning of your Arabic learning journey, the Sea Creatures Song is the ideal song for you to pick up basic vocabulary.
It is simple and easy to follow.

This video also included English captions, so you’ll find it easier to associate the Arabic words with their equivalents in English.

2. أطلقي سرك – Arabic Version of Let It Go

Before starting in on more adult*-ish* Arabic songs, it makes sense to listen to a tune that is familiar to you (especially in the beginning). Try songs you already know by heart in your native language and read the Arabic lyrics to clearly see how each word translates.

For example, if you’re a fan of the famous Disney movie Frozen, the Arabic version — *أطلقي سـرك * (read “Atliqi sirraki”) — of Let It Go would be a brilliant choice to start with.

You already know the song by heart, so try listening to its Arabic version and learn what each word is in Arabic.

3. يا طيبة by Toyor Al Jannah

If you ask an Arab about some of the popular Arabic songs, chances are يا طيبة (“Ya Taiba”) will come up. This is a well-liked Arabic song that makes me, and so many other Arabs, quite nostalgic.

Amina Karam, a Moroccan singer, sang this version for Toyor Al Jannah, an Arabic channel dedicated to producing Arabic songs mainly for children. Though, as an adult, I still find their songs a treat to the ears!

Check out the original “Ya Taiba” here.

4. The Snake by Lana Lubany

If you’ve been looking for an Arabic artist that integrates English words in their songs, look no further!

The Snake (which translates to الافعى or “Afaa” in Arabic) by Lana Lubany is such a great song! I’ve been listening to it on repeat and it gets better each time.

The slow singing, the angelic voice, and the great melody, that sure sounds like a treat!

Be sure to check out Lana’s other songs. She’s truly talented.

5. Ghareeb Alay by Elyanna and Balti

Again, a song that mixes Arabic with English (just a couple of English words this time though).

Sung by the talented Elyanna and Balti, Ghareeb Alay (in Arabic: غريب علي, means “stranger to me”) sure is a great song to listen to. It uses both Levantine Arabic and Tunisian.

The difference might not be apparent when you first listen to it but pay attention to their accents, like how each one of them pronounces القضية (“ElQadiya”).

6. المحكمة by Kadim Al Saher and Asma Lmnawar

If you’re learning Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), you’ve probably read or heard about Nizar Qabbani. He is a famous Arabic romance poet.

Kadim Al Saher has used many of Qabbani’s poems as inspiration for his songs—they are truly masterpieces. In fact, he’s been called Caesar of the Arabic song for how good his songs are.

المحكمة “Al Mahkkamah” (means “the court”) is one of his greatest creations. It’s a collaboration with Asma Lmnawar, and it is one of the best Arabic songs you’ll listen to.

Other great songs by Al Saher are عيد العشاق (Eid Al Ashaq, or “Valentine’s Day”) and كوني امراة (Koni Imraatan, or “Be a Woman”).

Don’t forget to also check out Asma Lmnawar’s songs, especially if you’re choosing Moroccan Arabic as your target dialect.

7. شاطر by Nancy Ajram

Dubbed by Spotify as the “Queen of Arab Pop”, Nancy Ajram is surely an Arab artist you’ve stumbled on previously if you listen to Arabic music.

If you haven’t heard her song شاطر “Shater”, you’ve probably heard صح صح “sah sah”, made in collaboration with Marshmello.

8. نسم علينا الهوا by Fairuz

Fairuz is one of the most famous Arab singers. Her songs are melancholic and full of feelings.

نسم علينا الهوا (Nassam Alayna El Hawa) is a song where she’s talking about her longing for her homeland. The song’s title means “The Breeze (or Love) Is Upon Us” in English.

9. انت عمري by Umm Kulthum

Would this be a post about Arabic songs without mentioning Umm Kulthum? Hmm, probably not.

Umm Kulthum’s a legend in the history of the Arabic world. She is well known for her euphonious voice, she had a large range of. انت عمري (Enta Omri, literally “You Are My Life”) is a song about romance and freedom.

10. في يوم و ليلة by Warda

Visit any Levantine restaurant and chances are a few of Warda’s songs will be on the playlist.

We can’t talk about Arabic songs without also talking about the legend, Warda. She has a talent for conveying feelings into her lyrics and في يوم و ليلة (Fee Youm We Leila, “In A Day and A Night” in English) is concrete proof of that.

11. 3 Daqat by Abu

I don’t know about you, but ثلاث دقات (Talat Daat, literally “Three Beats”) is a song that I find myself singing at the most random times.

It is the kind of tune that gets stuck in your head, always on repeat. Something that’s really helpful, especially if Egyptian dialect is your target language.

12. اكثر by Assala

Assala is another Arabic artist you should keep on your radar. Her song اكثر “Aktar” (means “More”) is one of her most popular songs. It’s captivating, harmonious, and upbeat along with such great lyrics. This will lift up your mood if you’ve been feeling particularly gloomy or disheartened.

50+ More Arabic Songs for Learning Arabic

Of course, these songs are just a few of many amazing Arabic songs, and you can find many more that fit your musical taste!

Here are some resources to help you find more lovely Arabic tunes:

Best Arabic Music 2023: This Spotify playlist has 60 Arabic songs. You will surely have a great time listening to it!Most Viewed Arabic Songs: This YouTube playlist includes more than 300 Arabic songs that have been popular for the last decade. Perfect for all levels of Arabic learners.Benefits of Learning Arabic Through MusicArabic Music Is Captivating

Let’s close our grammar textbooks for a moment and tune in to some catchy Arabic tunes!!
Learning Arabic with the traditional method can become quite boring, especially if you’re getting stuck.

No matter what your favorite musical genre is, I’m sure Arabic songs won’t disappoint.

Here’s the deal: it’s either you learn Arabic or you learn Arabic while also having fun.

So, what are you waiting for? Make your Arabic study sessions more lively by playing some Arabic songs you enjoy!

Get A Glimpse of the Arabic Culture

Music is an essential element of culture. Listening to music from a culture different from yours gives you an insight into different ways of living. It helps build a bridge between people from all over the world and brings them together. You’ll learn a lot from Arabic songs, not just vocabulary and grammar, but also context.

This is even more crucial when it comes to Arabic culture as the Western media doesn’t always show faithful representation of the Arab world.

Help Improve Your Pronunciation

Unless you’re familiar with them, you will find Arabic sounds hard to learn.
Yet, even if most words seem foreign at first glance, mimicking the words in a song will help you practice those tricky sounds in no time.

Listen to a song enough times and you will soon find yourself singing along. I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things is that feeling when I’m singing along to a foreign song. It feels like overcoming a huge hurdle and coming out the other side unscathed.

Learn Words and Expressions More Efficiently

Music will help you memorize Arabic words and expressions within a real life context. It helps you better recall words and grammar rules in a fun, practical way.

With its repetitive patterns and beautiful rhythm, music is a great tool that you must use to make your Arabic learning journey easier.

So, what are you waiting for? Find a song you like and start learning!

Final Tip to Use Arabic Songs to Make Learning Much Easier

Remember to take a break from the usual learning methods and blast some fine tunes to liven up the mood.

Having said that, please be active about your learning! Make an effort to read and write down the lyrics, mimic the singers (don’t worry if you sound way off-kilter), and have fun!

Learn Arabic Online for Free: 33 Resources and Online Arabic Classes How to Learn Arabic Right the First Time 10+ Ways to say ”Hello” in Arabic and Other Arabic Greetings Innovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)Arabic Alphabet: The Guide to Learning the Arabic Letters and Script

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Published on July 10, 2023 04:00

July 7, 2023

CEFR Levels: What They Are and How to Test Yourself

CEFR levels: what are they? And do they matter?

Skill levels in the CEFR system are used by language learners to measure their ability in a language.

We often hear other learners in the language-learning community throw around certain terms when they’re talking about their level in a language.

“I speak German at a B1 level” or “I’m an A2 in Russian.”

But what do B1 and A2 mean, exactly?

Let’s have a look together.

Table of contentsWhat Are the Different CEFR Levels?The “A” Levels: Basic User A1 | Beginner A2 | Elementary The “B” Levels: Independent User B1 | Intermediate B2 | Upper Intermediate The “C” Levels: Proficient User C1 | Advanced C2 | Proficiency When do the Different CEFR Levels Matter?When Do CEFR Levels Not Matter?How Do You Work Out Your CEFR Level?CEFR Assessments and Tests Available How to Improve Your CEFR Level A Final Tip With the CEFR WebsiteWhat Are the Different CEFR Levels?

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, often referred to as CEFR or CEFRL, is an international standard for working out your ability within a language. It was established by the Council of Europe and aims to validate language ability.

The six levels within the CEFR are A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. With these levels, you can easily work out your ability in around 40 different languages.

The levels are often used casually by language learners to explain their ability at speaking, reading, writing and understanding a language. But there are also exams and certificates available to those who want to make their level official.

Let’s first take a look at what the different levels are and what’s possible for you at each level.

The “A” Levels: Basic UserA1 | Beginner

At the A1 CEFR level, a language learner can:

Understand and use very basic expressions to satisfy concrete needs.Introduce themselves and ask others questions about personal details.Interact simply as long as the other person speaks slowly and clearly.A2 | Elementary

At the A2 CEFR level, a language learner can:

Understand frequently used expressions in most intermediate areas such as shopping, family, employment, etc.Complete tasks that are routine and involve a direct exchange of information.Describe matters of immediate need in simple terms.The “B” Levels: Independent UserB1 | Intermediate

At the B1 CEFR level, a language learner can:

Understand points regarding family, work, school or leisure-related topics.Deal with most travel situations in areas where the language is spoken.Create simple texts on topics of personal interest.Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions, as well as opinions or plans in brief.B2 | Upper Intermediate

At the B2 CEFR level, a language learner can:

Understand the main ideas of a complex text such as a technical piece related to their field.Spontaneously interact without too much strain for either the learner or the native speaker.Produce a detailed text on a wide range of subjects.The “C” Levels: Proficient UserC1 | Advanced

At the C1 CEFR level, a language learner can:

Understand a wide range of longer and more demanding texts or conversations.Express ideas without too much searching.Effectively use the language for social, academic or professional situations.Create well-structured and detailed texts on complex topics.C2 | Proficiency

At the C2 CEFR level, a language learner can:

Understand almost everything read or heard with ease.Summarize information from a variety of sources into a coherent presentation.Express themselves using precise meaning in complex scenarios.

Here’s a video of Benny Lewis, founder of Fluent in 3 Months, explaining the CEFR levels:

When do the Different CEFR Levels Matter?

The CEFR is often used by employers and in academic settings.

You may need a CEFR certificate for:

School admissionsUniversity course requirementsEmployment

A CEFR certificate is very handy for your CV or résumé, and they often don’t expire.

That said, many language learners use CEFR levels for self-assessment so that they can more clearly define what they need to work on, and work out what they would like to achieve in their target language.

Aiming for higher CEFR levels are also a great way to make the transition from an intermediate learner to an advanced learner, and Fluent in 3 Months founder Benny Lewis has used exams in the past to force himself to improve and refine his language skills.

If you’re looking for an extra push or for a way to break through a plateau, a language exam could be an effective way to do it. Motivation in language learning always matters.

When Do CEFR Levels Not Matter?

Outside of the professional or academic realm, CEFR levels are not as important. They’re really only necessary if you want to define where you’re at with your target language. In a more casual language learning environment, or when you’re just learning languages because you enjoy them, then CEFR levels are just another tool to help with your language learning.

Sitting an exam requires a lot of study. If your goal is speaking a language, that time you spend reading, listening and writing to meet the exam requirements will be time you could have used to improve your speaking skills.

In the past, I’ve done exams for German, French and Italian as well as the HSK exam for Mandarin Chinese. In preparation for all these exams, I had to study materials that were completely unrelated to my end goals for the languages.

So, if your language learning goals do not align with the CEFR scale, and you don’t need a professional qualification, then you can safely ignore it.

How Do You Work Out Your CEFR Level?

There are a few ways you can work out your CEFR level. Many learners opt for self-assessment, using the descriptions I shared above to gauge where they’re at.

A CEFR self-assessment.

For those looking for something a little more formal, you have the option of taking an official examination or a free online examination.

It’s worth noting that CEFR levels cover a variety of skills. A full CEFR exam typically measures skills in listening, reading abilities, speaking, writing, translating and interpreting. That’s why some learners segment their abilities, for example stating that their listening in a language is at a B2 level but their speaking is only at a B1 level. Others just average out their abilities and say that they’re at a B1 level overall.

CEFR Assessments and Tests Available

Some of your options for official examinations (or for courses with certification) include:

Alliance Française for French.Goethe Institut for German.Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge for Irish.Instituto de Cervantes for Spanish.CELI for Italian.European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages for Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, and Spanish.TELC for English, German, Turkish, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, and Arabic.Πιστοποίηση Ελληνομάθειας for Modern Greek.Language Testing International for multiple languages.Lingoda for Spanish, French, German, and English.ALTE for many other languages.

Online exams include:

Exam English for English.Deutsche Welle for German.Cambridge English Language Assessment for English.Cambridge Institute for English, Spanish, German, and French.Language Level for English, Spanish, French, and German.Macmillan Practice Online (paid) for English.European Center for Modern Languages for self-assessment in a variety of languages.

Regardless of the exam you sit, language exams demand intensive study and are a great way to push your ability in a language to that next level.

How to Improve Your CEFR Level

At Fluent in 3 Months, we encourage language learners to speak from day one. It’s part of our Bootcamp, and it’s what has worked for our founder Benny to learn over eight languages.

Practicing with native language speakers is helpful to develop three of the most important basic skills: speaking and listening. It helps you become used to the rhythm and melody of the language, pick up accents, understand the way colloquial speech works…

Finding native speakers in your target language is easy with platforms like Preply, where you can book tutorials with teachers and tutors from all over the world.

A Final Tip With the CEFR Website

Azren from the Language Nerd, a polyglot Benny Lewis recently interviewed on the Language Hacking podcast, told me about a very interesting language learning tip involving the CEFR website. Hear about it in this episode:

And for more tips on language learning, check out these articles:

How to Learn a Language in 2023 – Ultimate Guide with 40+ Language Hacks How to Relearn a Language from High School You Think You Forgot The Best Way to Learn a Language [Scientifically Proven, Polyglot Tested]The 4 Essential Language Skills – and How to Improve Them What Language Should I Learn? The Bulletproof Guide

The post CEFR Levels: What They Are and How to Test Yourself appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

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Published on July 07, 2023 04:00

July 3, 2023

5 Easy Ways to Roll Your ‘R’

The rolled r comes up in so many languages. I’ve heard it in various forms in Czech, Thai, Hungarian, Tagalog and of course in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. And yet learning how to roll your r’s can seem near impossible to native English speakers.

Some people give up and use the excuse of ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. Others will rely on the English ‘r’ as being good enough, which in my opinion is the worst thing you can do.

I have become fluent in over 8 languages in my adult life, and I have worked hard on my Spanish accents. But what strikes me immediately when I start any language (even in my first attempt to utter a phrase) is how natives are so amazed at how I’ve got almost ‘no English accent’!

While there are many factors at play here, I know that the biggest one by far is that I have worked to master the rolling ‘r’ to improve my Spanish accent unlike some of my anglophone friends.

The English R is really different, so it gives you away immediately when you use it.

I want to put a stop to this nonsense of English speakers not trying or even saying they can’t. The good news is that it is way easier than you think!

Table of contentsWhat is a Rolled ‘R’? Is It Possible to Learn This Skill?The Spanish ‘R’, the French ‘R’, the Russian ‘R’… What’s the Difference?How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #1: Use Some ‘Butter’How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #2: Make Your ‘L’ Sharper How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #3: Relax Into It!How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #4: Youtube / Google That ‘R’How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #5: Observe Others Doing It Roll With Your Rolled ‘R’!

Let’s get into it.

What is a Rolled ‘R’? Is It Possible to Learn This Skill?

A rolled ‘r’ is actually called an ‘Alveolar tap’ or ‘Alveolar trill’, and it’s actually used in almost half of all spoken languages in some form.

A rolled ‘r’ is made by causing the tongue to vibrate on the roof of the mouth as air is forced between the tiny gap between the roof and your tongue.

It is not tapping the roof of your mouth as fast as you can!

There’s no real equivalent in English to the rolled ‘r’. That’s what makes it so notoriously hard for native English speakers who are used to the very hard R sound.

Despite this, it is possible to learn this skill. Being able to roll your ‘r’s isn’t a genetic trait like, say, being able to roll your tongue.

No, it just takes practice.

It may help to change how you think about it. The name ‘rolled “r”’ is a bit misleading. You aren’t rolling or tapping your tongue at all – it’s more like the tongue is vibrating and relaxed like a leaf flapping in the wind.

The Spanish ‘R’, the French ‘R’, the Russian ‘R’… What’s the Difference?

In this article, we’re going to be talking about how to do an alveolar trill, as in Spanish words with ‘rr’ like ca rr o and the ‘tapped’ ‘r’ as in caro, not the Russian ‘r’ or the French guttural r. They are different!

Spanish actually has two ways to say ‘r’: a tap and a trill.

The alveolar tap is the easier one to learn. And if you learn the tap, you can learn the trill.

But in other languages, like the Russian ‘r’, it’s almost a post-alveolar trill. (Meaning your tongue taps behind the ridge behind your teeth rather than on the ridge).

Meanwhile, the French and German ‘r’ are both pronounced in the throat, making them a completely different sound.

You’ll notice this across languages that use some form of an ‘r’, so it’s something to be aware of.

Now, onto the strategies to learn how to roll your ‘r’!

How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #1: Use Some ‘Butter’

You may be surprised to hear that you can already produce a rolled ‘r’ sound!

When you say the word ‘butter’ quickly, the ‘tt’ sound is made by flapping your tongue against the roof of your mouth, rather than a normal ‘t’ sound (like tree). USE THIS.

It may not be the exact same as a rolled ‘r’ (depending on the language and dialect you are aiming for), as it’s more of the ‘tap’ I mentioned in Spanish.

But it’s more convincing than the English ‘r’ at the end of the same word is.

Try changing one letter at a time from ‘butter’ until you have your target word (e.g. caro). Use this sound and your work is pretty much done!

How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #2: Make Your ‘L’ Sharper

If you want to sound less like an English speaker, the closest sound that you might have to the rolled ‘r’ is actually the letter ‘L’.

I’d recommend you start with this sound and morph it into a rolled ‘r’. In fact, the ‘L’ sound involves placing the top part of your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth. The rolled ‘r’ sound involves flapping the tip of your tongue there.

The sound difference is obvious, but the transition is easier if you start from one and move to the other, making your ‘L’ sharper.

Until then, actually using ‘L’ might be a good way of practising deprogramming yourself from the English ‘r’. Es muy ca_l_o is better than the English s muy caRo.

It’s obviously not a good permanent solution, but a useful stepping stone.

How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #3: Relax Into It!

Think of what is physically happening for the rolled ‘r’ as I’ve tried to explain above. This can be explained in a physiological way, if you look into the positions of the tongue in your mouth. Visualise where it has to be and what you have to be doing with it.

When it comes to the trilled ‘r’ as in carro, you’ll want your tongue to be positioned right on the edge of the ridge of the roof of your mouth, behind your teeth. Try practicing by saying ‘duh’ – that’s right where your tongue should be.

Next, your tongue needs to be relaxed to do a trill. The tip of your tongue needs to have a tiny gap between the ridge and your tongue, so air can pass through.

Push the air like you’re shushing someone: ‘shhhhhhhhh.’

Once you’ve done that, you should feel a bit of the vibration in your tongue which creates the rolled ‘r’ sound. It takes some playing around with: the airflow, relaxing your tongue, making sure your placement is right.

But a good exercise to prepare is actually lip trills. Such as when you blow air out and your lips make a motor sound, or what they call ‘blowing raspberries’.

Once you do your lip trills, you should also feel some of the vibration in your tongue. That’s what you’re looking for with your trill as well as the air passes over the tip of your tongue.

Remember that your tongue should be like a leaf blowing in the wind and relaxed, not super rigid and trying to tap quickly.

How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #4: Youtube / Google That ‘R’

There are many useful resources online that help explain this sound to you in simple terms.

This wikihow article tries to explain step by step what to physically do with your mouth and recommends transitioning from a ‘d’ rather than an ‘L’ as I’ve suggested.

The same article also outlines several completely different methods to learn to roll (and trill) your R. Try each of these methods and you are bound to find one that works for you!

You may also find doing a Youtube search for ‘rolling R’ or variants to yield some useful results. Having it explained visually as well as audibly can help a lot.

How to Roll Your R’s Strategy #5: Observe Others Doing It

Even if you haven’t mastered your rolled ‘r’ yet, don’t worry too much. Please make mistakes NOW and try to say something – you have plenty of time to tidy it up towards something better, and these mistakes will not be burnt into you forever if you are truly willing to learn.

However, by watching videos and listening to natives produce those sounds you will get a better appreciation for that ‘r’ sound.

Pay attention to how it sounds and then try to emulate it.

The truth is, the more you listen to the sound being made, the easier it will become to try and mimic it.

Another option would be to simply get help from another human being.

The best thing you can do by far is to meet up with a native (or at least over Skype) and ask them for help with this.

Finding native speakers in your target language is easy with platforms like Preply, where you can book tutorials with teachers and tutors from all over the world

Live feedback from language exchanges or a tutor that is relevant to you and particular problems you are having can do so much more than generic explanations ever can. And it leaves no room for you guessing that maybe you’ve got it.

Related learning: Listen to an Italian learner’s experience on the Language Hacking podcast.

Roll With Your Rolled ‘R’!

Even before I got serious about speaking Spanish, one of the first things I did when I moved to Spain was to have a patient Spanish speaking friend sit down with me and explain to me how to roll my ‘r’s.

It was frustrating at first, but then I went away to practise, and came back for more adjustments. But that was it! It really helped me on my road to fluency in Spanish.

Thanks to this friend, I eliminated the strong English accent from my Spanish immediately.

There are of course other aspects of your English accent. But working on them one at a time and especially getting help, will always yield the best results.

How to Learn a Language in 2023 – Ultimate Guide with 40+ Language Hacks Innovative Language Review – Complete Pod101 Language Course Review (with Screenshots and Video Results)Preply Review – a Detailed and Honest Review of the Preply Language Tutor Platform The 4 Essential Language Skills – and How to Improve Them What Language Should I Learn? The Bulletproof Guide

The post 5 Easy Ways to Roll Your ‘R’ appeared first on Fluent in 3 Months.

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Published on July 03, 2023 04:00

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