Useful phrases in English, French, Spanish and Italian

When you travel around the world, it is very important to be able to communicate with other persons, at least for the basic things. In this page, I have listed some of the most useful phrases for the traveler in three of the most widespread languages of the world: English, French and Spanish. I have added Italian, too, just because it is my native language ;-) If you learn these basic phrases in the three main languages, you will be able to go almost everywhere!  
 
If I am going to visit a country where none of these languages is spoken, I try to prepare a translation in the local language, too (the Lonely Planet guides usually have a list of useful phrases; otherwise you can try with Google Translate, even though it is not very accurate). Once I have the list, I make a print that I carry with me during the trip.  
 
This is my personal list, but of course you may add or remove phrases depending by your exigencies.
 
 

Hostels and Co

I am looking for an hotel / hostel / camping  
 
French: Je cherche un hotel / auberge de jeunesse / camping  
 
Spanish: Estoy buscando un hotel / albergue / camping  
 
Italian: Sto cercando un hotel / ostello / campeggio  
 
 
 
Do you have rooms? 
 
French: Est-ce que vous avez des chambres libres? 
 
Spanish: ¿Tenéis habitaciones libres? 
 
Italian: Avete una stanza libera?
 
 

Money & Restaurant

How much does it cost? 
 
French: combien ça coûte? 
 
Spanish: ¿cuánto cuesta? 
 
Italian: quanto costa? 
 
 
 
Can I have the bill? 
 
French: l'addition, s'il vous plaît. 
 
Spanish: la cuenta, por favor. 
 
Italian: posso avere il conto? 
 
 
 
Bread / Drink / Water? 
 
French: du pain / du boisson / de l'eau 
 
Spanish: pan / bebida / agua 
 
Italian: pane / bibita / acqua 
 
 
 
Lunch / dinner 
 
French: le déjeuner / le diner 
 
Spanish: la comida / la cena 
 
Italian: pranzo / cena
 
 

Language

Do you speak English? 
 
French: Parlez-vous anglais? 
 
Spanish: Habla usted inglés? 
 
Italian: Parli inglese? 
 
 
 
What does it mean? 
 
French: Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire? 
 
Spanish: ¿Qué significa? 
 
Italian: Cosa significa? 
 
 
 
I don't understand. 
 
French: Je ne comprends pas. 
 
Spanish: No entiendo 
 
Italian: Non capisco.
 
 

Traveling

Can you show me ... on the map? 
 
French: Pouvez-vous m'indiquer ... sur la carte? 
 
Spanish: ¿Me puede decir ... en el mapa? 
 
Italian: Mi puoi indicare ... sulla mappa? 
 
 
 
Is this the road to ...? 
 
French: C'est la route pour ...? 
 
Spanish: Es este el camino para ...? 
 
Italian: Questa è la strada per ...? 
 
 
 
Where is the tourist office? 
 
French: Où est l'office de tourisme? 
 
Spanish: ¿Dónde está el oficina de turismo? 
 
Italian: Dov'è l'ufficio turistico? 
 
 
 
The island / the lake / the sea / the mountain 
 
French: l'ile / le lac / la mer / la montagne 
 
Spanish: la isla / el lago / el mar / la montaña 
 
Italian: l'isola / il lago / il mare / la montagna 
 
 
 
A bank / an hospital / a toilet 
 
French: une banque / un hopital / les toilettes 
 
Spanish: un banco / un hospital / un bano 
 
Italian: una banca / un ospedale / la toilette 
 
 
 
I want to go to ... 
 
French: Je voudrais aller à ... 
 
Spanish: Me gustaría ir a ... 
 
Italian: Vorrei andare a... 
 
 
 
I want a ticket for ... 
 
French: Je voudrais un billet ... 
 
Spanish: Quisiera un billete para ... 
 
Italian: Vorrei un biglietto per... 
 
 
 
One way / back and forth 
 
French: Un aller / Un aller (et) retour 
 
Spanish: solo ida / ida y regreso 
 
Italian: sola andata / andata e ritorno 
 
 
 
What time is the first / the last ... ? 
 
French: A quelle heure part le premier / le dernier ... ? 
 
Spanish: ¿A qué hora es el primero / el último ... ? 
 
Italian: A che ora parte il primo / l'ultimo ... ? 
 
 
 
Plane / bus / ferry boat 
 
French: l'avion / le bus / le bateau 
 
Spanish: avión / bus / ferry 
 
Italian: aereo / autobus / traghetto 
 
 
 
Can I camp here? 
 
French: Puis-je camper ici? 
 
Spanish: ¿Puedo acampar aquí? 
 
Italian: Posso campeggiare qui?
 
 

Car

I'd like to rent a car / a 4x4 
 
French: Je voudrais louer une voiture / un quatre-quatre 
 
Spanish: Me gustaría alquilar un vehículo / un 4x4 
 
Italian: Vorrei noleggiare un'auto / un quattro per quattro 
 
 
 
Where is a gas station? 
 
French: Où est-ce qu'il y a une station-service? 
 
Spanish: ¿Dónde está una estación de gasolina? 
 
Italian: Dove posso trovare un benzinaio? 
 
 
 
Unleaded gas / diesel 
 
French: essence sans plomb / diesel 
 
Spanish: gasolina sin plomo / diesel 
 
Italian: benzina senza piombo / diesel 
 
 
 
The car has broken 
 
French: la voiture est tombèe en panne 
 
Spanish: el coche se ha roto 
 
Italian: l'auto si è rotta 
 
 
 
I have a flat tire 
 
French: mon pneu est à plat 
 
Spanish: tengo una llanta ponchada 
 
Italian: ho bucato una gomma 
 
 
 
I have run out of fuel 
 
French: je suis en panne d'essence 
 
Spanish: se me acabó la gasolina 
 
Italian: ho finito la benzina 
 
 
 
I have had an accident 
 
French: J'ai eu un accident 
 
Spanish: He tenido un accidente 
 
Italian: Ho fatto un incidente 
 
 
 
Motor oil / headlight / clutch / brakes 
 
French: Huile à moteur / phares / embrayage / freins 
 
Spanish: El aceite de motor / faro / embrague / frenos 
 
Italian: olio / faro / frizione / freni
 
 

Emergencies and health

Help! 
 
French: au secours! 
 
Spanish: socorro! 
 
Italian: aiuto! 
 
 
 
I have got lost 
 
French: Je me suis égaré 
 
Spanish: Me he perdido 
 
Italian: Mi sono perso 
 
 
 
Call the police / a doctor! 
 
French: Appelez la police / un médecin! 
 
Spanish: Llame a la policía / un médico! 
 
Italian: Chiamate la polizia / un medico! 
 
 
 
I am ill 
 
French: Je suis malade 
 
Spanish: Estoy enfermo 
 
Italian: Sono ammalato 
 
 
 
I have pain here 
 
French: Je ai une douleur ici 
 
Spanish: Tengo un dolor aquí 
 
Italian: Mi fa male qui 
 
 
 
Antiseptic / aspirin / suncream / medicine 
 
French: l'antiseptique / l'aspirine / la créme solaire / le médicament 
 
Spanish: antiséptico / aspirina / crema solar / medicina 
 
Italian: antisettico / aspirina / crema solare / medicinale 
 
 
 
Sickness / vomit / diarrea 
 
French: nausée / vomir / diarrhéè 
 
Spanish: nausea / vómito / diarrea 
 
Italian: nausea / vomito / diarrea 
 
 
 
Do you have ... ? 
 
French: Avez-vous ... ? 
 
Spanish: ¿Tiene usted ... ? 
 
Italian: Avresti ... ? 
 
 
 
Is it dangerous? 
 
French: Est-il dangereux? 
 
Spanish: ¿Es peligroso? 
 
Italian: E' pericoloso?
 
 

Numbers and days

Zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten 
 
French: zero, un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix 
 
Spanish: cero, uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco,seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez 
 
Italian: zero, uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci 
 
 
 
Twenty, fifty, one hundred, one thousand 
 
French: vingt, cinquante, cent, mille 
 
Spanish: veinte, cincuenta, cien, mil 
 
Italian: venti, cinquanta, cento, mille 
 
 
 
Today / tomorrow / yesterday 
 
French: aujourd'hui / demain / hier 
 
Spanish: hoy / mañana / ayer 
 
Italian: oggi / domani / ieri 
 
 
 
More / less / bigger / smaller / a little 
 
French: plus / moins / plus grand / plus petit / un peu 
 
Spanish: más / menos / más grande / más pequeño / un poco 
 
Italian: più / meno / più grande / più piccolo / un pò
 
 

Conversation

Hello / goodbye / yes / no 
 
French: bonjour / au revoir / oui / non 
 
Spanish: buenos dìas / hasta la vista / si / no 
 
Italian: ciao / arrivederci / si / no 
 
 
 
Please / thanks / sorry 
 
French: S'il vous plait / merci / pardon 
 
Spanish: por favor / gracias / disculpa 
 
Italian: Per favore / grazie / scusa 
 
 
 
What's your name? / I am 
 
French: Comment tu t'appelles? / Je suis 
 
Spanish: Cómo te llamas? / Yo soy 
 
Italian: Come ti chiami? / Io sono 
 
 
 
Where are your from? / I'm from ... 
 
French: De quel pays es-tu? / Je viens de ... 
 
Spanish: ¿De dónde eres? / Yo soy de ... 
 
Italian: Di dove sei? / Io sono ... 
 
 
 
Nice to meet you! 
 
French: heureux de vous connaître! 
 
Spanish: encantado de conocerte! 
 
Italian: piacere di conoscerti! 
 
 
 
I like / I don't like 
 
French: J'aime / Je n'aime pas 
 
Spanish: Me gusta / No me gusta 
 
Italian: Mi piace / Non mi piace 
 
 
 
Who / What / When 
 
French: qui / quoi / quand 
 
Spanish: ¿quién / ¿qué / cúando 
 
Italian: chi / che cosa / quando 
 
 
 
What is this? / where? / why? 
 
French: qu'est-ce que c'est? / où? / pourquoi? 
 
Spanish: ¿qué es esto? / ¿dónde? / ¿por qué? 
 
Italian: che cos'è? / dove? / perchè? 
 
Fine / not well / so and so 
 
French: bien / mal / ainsi ansi 
 
Spanish: bien / mal / asì asì 
 
Italian: bene/ male / così così
 
 

Photographers corner

Can I take a photo of you? 
 
French: Puis-je prendre votre photo, s'il vous plait? 
 
Spanish: ¿Puedo tomarte una foto? 
 
Italian: Ti posso fare una foto? 
 
 
 
Is it allowed / forbidden? 
 
French: C'est autorisé / interdit? 
 
Spanish: ¿Está permitido / prohibido? 
 
Italian: E' permesso / proibito? 
 
 
 
I am a (professional) nature photographer 
 
French: Je suis un photographe (professionnel) de la nature 
 
Spanish: soy un fotógrafo (profesional) de la naturaleza 
 
Italian: sono un fotografo naturalista (professionista) 
 
 
 
Tomorrow, I want to go there at sunrise / sunset 
 
French: demain, je veux y aller au lever du soleil / coucher du soleil 
 
Spanish: mañana, quiero ir allá para el amanecer / puesta de sol 
 
Italian: domani, voglio andare lì all'alba / al tramonto 
 
 
 
I want to take photos of birds / flowers / landscapes 
 
French: je veux prendre des photos d'oiseaux / fleurs / paysages 
 
Spanish: quiero tomar fotos de aves / flores / paisajes 
 
Italian: vorrei fotografare uccelli / fiori / paesaggi 
 
 
 
Is this a good place for photos? 
 
French: est-ce un bon endroit pour les photos? 
 
Spanish: es un buen lugar para tomar fotos? 
 
Italian: questo è un buon posto per le foto?