BECAUSE SOMETIMES MERCI IS NOT ENOUGH

Every American Or British Tourist Should Know These 10 Foreign Phrases

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Even if the English language functions as an Esperanto of sorts, allowing us to communicate with people from all over the world, it is advisable to learn at least a few words from any country we are visiting. Not only does it ingratiate us with the locals, but it also teaches us about the language and, thus, the culture of the place we are exploring. The following ten phrases and words are useful expressions that will surely arise in conversation multiple times during your trip. Read on and see if you already know any of these!

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Let us start at the beginning here and talk about the first word that should come out of our mouths when speaking to someone for the first time. While the word "hallo" is an accepted greeting in German-speaking countries, there is a more colloquial word: grüezi.

And if you are feeling even more informal, or familiar, you can go with hoi, which is similar to saying "hi."

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The second thing one should say when making a new acquaintance in a German-speaking country is simply, "How are you?" The correct term is Wie geht’s? It expresses a polite interest in the other person and it sets a friendly tone for the ensuing conversation.

If the person you are talking to asks back, you can reply, "Mir geht’s gut," meaning "I am fine."

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Moving southward into more Mediterranean lands, we can find ourselves in Italy, with its musical language and colorful expressions that have common roots with Spanish and French, but not so much with English.

That is why it is advisable to know how to say, "Do you speak English?" in Italian, just in case. The correct way of saying this is Parla Inglese? When your limited Italian is getting you nowhere and both of you know it, this is your bailout phrase.

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Another highly advisable thing to learn when going abroad is how to ask for directions when nature calls. If you are in Italy, the correct way of asking "Where is the bathroom?" is Dov'è il bagno?

It doesn’t get more important than needing to use the bathroom. This is how you ask for a restroom without using gestures.

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Moving on to Spanish-speaking countries, we have to offer a simple yet highly useful phrase that we can use when asking for directions, and not just the bathroom. The correct way of asking "Where is…?" anything is ¿Dónde está…?

You can complete that expression with whichever place you are looking for. For example, ¿Dónde está el restaurante? (Where is the restaurant?), ¿Dónde está el parque? (Where is the park?), etc.

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Being honest about one’s limitations is always good advice, especially when you are having difficulties speaking with someone in a foreign language. Chances are, the person you are speaking to will understand the situation and help you communicate.

Saying No hablo español muy bien means in Spanish, "I don’t speak Spanish very well."

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Another useful expression, this time meant for asking for something, be it a glass of water, a meal at a restaurant, or anything else, is this French version of "I would like," which is Je voudrais.

That’s how you start your order, followed by the food or drink off the menu. These two words can also be used in other situations, such as at a metro station to purchase train tickets from a vendor or anything else "you would like."

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Once you have finished your French meal, you will probably have to pay for the pleasant moment with a few Euros (or Dollars, or Bitcoins, or what have you). At this point, you will have to ask for the check.

The correct way to ask for the bill in French is l’addition, s’il vous plaît, which simply means "check, please."

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We will move on to Portuguese-speaking countries for these last two entries, starting with another universally useful expression: the ever-present "excuse me."

If you’re passing through a crowd and need to politely ask someone to step out of your way, you can say Com licença. A word with a very similar meaning is desculpa, which can be used to attract someone’s attention.

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What better word to finish this article than with a goodbye? Portuguese people have a few ways of doing this, but the most common is the gentle-sounding adeus.

Another popular way of saying goodbye, more informally, is simply, tchau.

NAMING THE WILD

Understanding The Scientific Names Behind These 10 American Animals

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From the frozen arctic tundra to tropical rainforests, our nation is home to a spectacular variety of landscapes, each replete with life. Among the thousands of creatures that inhabit the diverse corners of the United States, some truly stand out, emerging as symbols not just for their states, but for the entire country.

Knowing their scientific names allows a deeper understanding of these creatures, not only to identify them accurately but also to discover their origins and evolution.

Ready to take a walk on the wild side? Join us as we decode the scientific names behind these 10 American animals!

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Native to the southeastern United States, this tough reptile is not exactly what you might call "small." This formidable species can measure 11.2 to 15.1 feet in length and weigh up to an impressive 1,000 lbs!

Better known as the American Alligator, the Alligator mississippiensis has its identity well stated in its name. While mississippiensis might sound like a tongue-twister, its meaning is surprisingly clear. Yes, you got it: this Latin term indicates the creature's origin from the Mississippi River and surrounding areas!

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Ever had one of those days when all you wanted to do was sleep for hours? Well, that's what this animal does, but during the whole winter season!

The ursus arctos horribilis (don't feel bad, we laughed too) is commonly known as the grizzly bear. This species stands out for its large size, being one of the largest bear species in the world.

And its scientific name is no less peculiar: ursus comes from Latin, meaning "bear," while arctos originates from Greek, translating to "north." As for horribilis, it's exactly what you might imagine; a Latin term meaning "horrible" (or, for gentler interpretations, "terrifying").

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Don't let the cute face of this reptile fool you. The famous Gila Monster is a native species found in the southwestern regions of our country, and not only does it have a large size compared to other lizards, but it is also venomous!

In the world of science, the Gila Monster is known as Heloderma suspectum. Heloderma comes from Greek and can be translated into English as "studded skin" or "nail skin," alluding to the texture of the reptile's scales. On the other hand, the word suspectum originates from Latin, with a meaning close to "suspicious" or "distrustful." It is not clear why this second word is part of the lizard's name; perhaps it is a subtle warning for the next time you encounter one!

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An emblematic creature, the Bald Eagle rules as one of our national animals, symbolizing cherished values of freedom, independence, and strength.

As you know, the bald eagle is not bald at all. Its common name may derive from a mistranslation of its scientific classification: Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Originating from Latin, the word Haliaeetus alludes to its association with coastal areas, translating to "sea eagle." Meanwhile, leucocephalus is an explicit picture of its intimidating and unique appearance, meaning "white head."

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We're all familiar with these clever creatures, the renowned raccoons, with their unmistakable mask-like faces and inclination for nocturnal adventures. Interestingly, both their common and scientific names allude to their peculiar behaviors.

The word "raccoon" originates from Native American languages and it can be translated as "the one that scratches with its hands," highlighting the animal's expert use of its little front legs.

In addition, its scientific name is a combination of two Latin words: Procyon, suggesting a resemblance to dogs, and lotor, translating to "washer," due to the raccoon's curious behavior of wetting or "washing" its food before eating it.

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Believe it or not, there's no mistake in the title. The American bison's scientific name is actually Bison bison. It's a bit like having your first name and last name match, which would undoubtedly lead to confusion.

Now, let's see why the word appears twice. The first **Bison**refers to the genus to which the American Bison belongs. The second bison indicates the specific species within the Bison genus. Thus, the Bison genuscontains two species: the European bison (Bison bonasus) and the American bison (our dear Bison bison). Sorry, how many times have we already said "bison"?

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With a wingspan that can stretch up to an impressive 9 feet, our California Condor is one of the continent's largest birds. But besides its formidable size and striking appearance, it also has an interesting scientific name.

**Gymnogyps californianus**is the name of this condor in the scientific world. Curious about its meaning? The term Gymnogyps derives from Greek and can be translated into English as "naked vulture," referring to the bird's characteristic bare head. Meanwhile, **californianus**indicates the bird's deep ties with the state of California, which it has long inhabited, along with other regions.

Credit: Liam Wolff at English Wikipedia, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons

But California isn't the only state that borrowed something from ancient languages to name its wildlife! Virginia joins this list, too.

The well-known Virginia opossum, sometimes called the northernmost marsupial in the world, is known to biologists as Didelphis virginiana; let's analyze its meaning.

Didelphis is a Greek term, with di meaning "two" and delphus translating to "womb," alluding to the unique reproductive system of marsupials. What about virginiana? Well, this term gives the Virginia ID to the cute animal, even though it is distributed throughout North America.

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Maybe this animal is not what you could define as a cute little dog, but at least it belongs to the same family. The coyote, scientifically known as Canis latrans, is a mammal native to North America. This mostly solitary creature is not only capable of impressive speeds of 40 miles per hour, but can also jump over 13 feet!

The Latin word Canis celebrates the family to which the coyote belongs, the same family that encompasses domestic dogs and wolves, with which the coyote shares many common features, of course. On the other hand, latrans, also from Latin, translates as "yelping," referring to the coyote's characteristic vocalization.

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The pronghorn is a herbivorous mammal, a species of artiodactyl native to our continent. Its scientific name is Antilocapra americana.

As you may already know, americana serves as the species' name, signifying the animal's native habitat in America. Now, the term Antilocapra originates from Greek and is often translated as "opposite to goat," indicating the distinction from goats, relatives of the antelopes.

Want to know the pronghorn's closest living relatives? Those are the giraffe and okapi. If the latter doesn't sound familiar, we recommend you search for a photo of this animal if you are in for a surprise!