15 Most Useful Languages for Travelers

Surprisingly easy to learn, Dutch-derived Afrikaans is influenced by Portuguese, Bantu, Malay, and Khoisan. If you’ve always wanted to see southern Africa, you’ll wow Namibia and South Africa natives when you hear “Hoe gaan dit met jou?” and can reply “Goed, dankie! En jou?”

Unlike other East Asian languages, Malay/Indonesian uses a familiar and phonetic Latin alphabet. After learning a few phrases or the whole language, book your ticket to gorgeous Malaysia, Singapore, or Indonesia. Enjoy a boost of confidence by knowing the language of the locals!

If an African safari is on your bucket list, add some Swahili to your vocabulary. Swahili is a Bantu language thought to have roots in Arabic, and it’s the official language of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

Greek is spoken in Albania, Cyprus, and Greece. You’ll likely run across some English speakers in those places, but being able to cross the language barrier might save you from committing a hand-gesture faux pas. For example, making an “OK” symbol with the index finger and thumb is considered offensive in Greece.

If you long to travel to the beautiful land of windmills and tulips, you’ll feel most comfortable learning the language before you go. With so many cognates, Dutch shares similarities with English and German. Plus, it’s notoriously easy to learn!

Italian is spoken in Italy, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, and among many expatriate communities around the world, like Australia and the Americas. If you love food, art, or music, you’ll find many words in this Latin-rooted language familiar and a cinch to learn.

The largest country in the world, Russia’s borders stretch from Europe to the Middle East to Asia. Its widespread inhabitants all speak Russian, a unifying factor among their vast differences. While traveling in Russia proper, Belarus, or the Ukraine, it helps to be familiar with the numbers and Cyrillic alphabet that make up this language.

Second to Mandarin, Cantonese is the most common of China’s 12 languages. Mandarin is spoken predominantly in mainland China, and Cantonese is heard in southern China, including Hong Kong and Macau. It is also the variety of Chinese spoken in Chinatowns all over the world.

Portuguese is spoken throughout Brazil and in some places on almost every continent. If you have a fair understanding of Spanish, Italian, or French, learning this related romance language will be fácil como torta!

Built on a three-letter system, the language of the Quran is one of the most-spoken in the world. Traveling to Morocco, Egypt, or another Muslim country? Learn how to read and speak Arabic to make your trip easy and enjoyable.

Japan is home to many powerful companies, so you’ll want to know the language if you’re ever in Tokyo. Have a few phrases in your back pocket and you just might make a new Japanese friend.

English is the most common second language in the world. If you have a fair command of it, you’ll be able to get by well in many places. England, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Africa and the Caribbean are just a few places you can show off your skills.

German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. Brush up on it If you’re planning a trip to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, or Luxembourg. It will help you feel more comfortable in your travels when you’ll be able to ask: “Wo ist das Badezimmer?”

What do NATO, the Olympics, and the Red Cross have in common? French is their official language. Knowledge of the language of love will come in handy in France, Canada, Switzerland, Haiti, and much of Africa.

Next to English, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world. This phonetic language is easy to learn and can be used while traveling in Spain, Central and South America, and much of the United States.