Dealing with Language problems when traveling

8 min readJul 19, 2021

Picture this…It’s all started amazing, your adventure is going to plan, you’re living the dream traveling in an exotic foreign country. Full of confidence you’ve decided to venture away from the tourist area and into the local area. But, that’s where it hits you. You were not warned about it — You’re face to face with it for the first time. Panic strikes, you look around for help but there isn’t any…What the fuck do you do when you’re faced with traveling language problems for the first time and don’t know how to get past communication barrier?

In this post we dive into the easy ways to get around language problems when traveling so it doesn’t become an issue during your future travels.

Language problems can dissapear at our fingertips

Let’s not kid ourselves, traveling isn’t like it was years ago. So many countries around the world are geared for travelers now. There are travel routes all over the world; so it’s not like we go off and dissapear into the complete unknown for a period of time. The world has got smaller because of that lovely thing we all depend on everyday of our lives. We can’t live or cope without it anymore, we carry it around in our pockets.

— Yup that’s right I’m talking about the Internet.

The internet provides so many tools that have helped bridge the gap between languages barriers like never before. No, it doesn’t solve all the language problems when traveling. There will be times when you don’t have signal, or your battery runs out, and there will be small remote villages that are not privy to the digital world yet. However, it will be one of your biggest resources when dealing with language problems.

There is one tool on the internet that we’ve come to depend on more than others….Yes, that’s right Skynet…Sorry I mean Google! ( If you know the Terminator films, you’ll understand the reference)

Google aids with traveling language problems!

Google translate will be one of your biggest aids with language problems. It can help you out translating words into English to help you communicate with locals. You will see in certain countries, locals will have google translate ready to translate words into English for you in places like local markets, bus stations or eateries.

There are a number of functions you can use to help and aid you:

Standard typing to translate (Type in the word(s) you need translating
Voice translate (Use the mic function, speak to each other in your own language and google will voice translate — It doesn’t always pick up full sentences though, I had a date go horribly wrong in Mexico because of it)
Translate through your camera (place your camera over the word you need translating and watch the words magically turn into your own language — Helpful for road signs, notice boards and menus)

However do be warned, while this is great help, it doesn’t reconstruct sentences. So if a language uses a different sentence structure to English it can sometimes be embarrassing or worse cause issues.

If Google isn’t your thing, then there are other language-specific translators to help you overcome language barriers.

Google has helped me get out of a few sticky situations over the years, including an over zealous police officer in Colombia.

Learn a few basic words and numbers in the local language

Imagine that scenario at the top of the post again, there’s no google translate to help you. Think how awkward it would be just standing there not knowing how to communicate with that person. You might try and do the whole talk louder thing but you’re just making a fool out of yourself. That local will be looking at you thinking what an ignorant tourist and be less willing to help you out. Chances are they might have even understood you, but because of the way behaved they’re not.

If you have a few words in the bag, doesn’t have to be perfect, nor complete sentences. They will see that you’re trying to make an effort and will be much more receptive and willing to help. It also eases tension, can be an ice breaker and even some laughter between you and the language barrier breaks.

Learn basic words and phrases like:

Hello
Goodbye
Thank you
Please
Your welcome
Can you help me?
Can you tell me how to get to xxx?
How much is this?
I don’t speak the language
I’m awful at speaking the language sorry
Do you speak English?
A few food and drink items
A few numbers at least to 10

You might not think it now, but just those simple words can go a long way in overcoming language problems. Remember nobody is expecting you to conversate fluently, they don’t either but it helps.

There are some great apps out there where you can learn some basic words to overcome language problems when traveling, like Duallingo, Babbel, memrise, mindsnacks. I used Duallingo to learn basic Spanish, it’s fun to use, quick to learn and gives you simple and useful phrases too.

Make a note of the words you learn

The words you’ve learnt, or learn along the way; write them down. It helps with muscle memory, your brain becomes familiar with them and you learn to use them in different ways. The more you get to grips with them, the more it puts you in good stead moving forward.

If you don’t know any words, before you head out ask at you accommodation if there are any particular phrases or words you’re likely to need during the day.

It could be things like:

How much is…
How do I catch this bus/train?
Where do I catch the bus/train from?
Is this bus going to…
How do I get to…
What time is the return ride?
Is this local or tourist price?
Where is the bathroom?
Can I have a beer?
How much is a ticket for…

Learning and writing down these words just makes life easier for you as a traveler. The more you travel the more you appreciate knowing the little things.

By just knowing a few words, phrases helps you blend in and makes you look less like an oblivious tourist. This in turn helps keep scammers and petty thieves away, it also helps with local taxi drivers. It’s unfortunate to say this, but there are some taxi drivers who prey on naive tourists and rip them off. By knowing a few words you can rebuttal them, make it known you’re not a tourist and they do back down.

Phrasebooks to help with traveling language problems

There are many travelers who like to carry phrasebooks around with them. Personally I’m not a big fan of them but that shouldn’t stop you in picking one up if you feel it will help.

Phrasebooks can be useful for language problems but also have some cons too.

Pros:

Learn longer phrases
Are helpful in constructing sentences better than google translate
Give you help with local dialect
Learn masculine and feminine versions of words and sentences
Gives you a broader scope to learn than some language apps

Cons:

Are bulky and heavy to carry around
Takes time to look for the right word/phrase/sentence in real time while talking to a local
Makes you stick out and look like a tourist
While you might find local dialect, you don’t get the right slang
Everything you learn is textbook
Petty thieves look out for things like phrasebooks/guidebooks to spot tourists

In saying that, if you’re sitting next to your lonely planet phrase book in your accommodation there is no harm picking it up and learning some words, phrases or sentences.

Body language, miming, hand gestures are fun ways to overcome language problems

While it may seem embarrassing to some, one of the most fun ways to break the ice, to try and communicate and one of the easiest ways is through body language and gestures. It’s almost certain to bring out laughter, yes you may make a fool out of yourself initially but sometimes that’s all it takes for barriers to be broken.

And that the thing, just the laughter, the intent and desperation of trying to communicate eradicates any tension between you and a local. Body language, hand gestures, miming is a fun way to bypass language problems.

There are some universal motions that are known the world over. Hand gestures are easily recognizable like gesturing for a bill in a restaurant, if you have an upset stomach, wanting a drink, etc. However, you should make sure which gestures are acceptable. This post 10 gestures misunderstood Is very useful.

Watch, listen, learn…

Ever find yourself just people watching? If you’re like me and you do, this is a great way to pick up words too. You just have to sit back and watch, open your ears a little and pay attention to the interactions. The best part is, you can do it anywhere and from afar so you’re not being intrusive. It could be in a cafe, the market stalls, on transport, a beach, just walking around the local area. Also pay attention in the differences in how they interact with other locals and with tourists.

Sit back and:

Watch and listen to what they say
What’s their body language like
Look out for mannerisms
Check their facial expressions
What’s the energy like in the interactions
Tone of voice they use with each other
Are they friendly, sarcastic, angry, handsy, is there personal space

Once you see the same actions, hear the same words you’ll start to get a grasp of what is being said and you can in turn start using the words and actions yourself.

If you’re in a restaurant subtly watch and listen to what others order and then see what dish comes out. It’s like a recognition game for your brain.

Read the rest of this Language Problems whilst traveling post