I don’t know who invented the phrasebook, but they were probably a traveler wandering in a foreign country trying to find a restroom or order a bite to eat. If you’re looking for the best phrasebook for travel, we have some options for you.
But They Speak English in Tourist Areas, Right?
Many large cities with regular tourism will have their share of English speakers. But part of the fun of travel is to engage with locals. Having a phrasebook is the first step to opening your eyes to the broader world. It also allows you to extend some courtesy to your new acquaintances by trying to speak a bit in their language.
Even if you don’t plan to engage in a masters-level study of a foreign language, having a phrasebook helps you to navigate the ins and outs of a country without necessarily being fluent. They are divided into categories of words and phrases – think restaurants and dining, hotels, taking a taxi, or health care. They show you the spelling in the language (helpful if you’re looking at a sign, for instance). And they give you the phonetic pronunciation in English of the word you’re trying to say.
On the other hand, if you want to dive in, we wrote the best ways couples learn a foreign language.
Jen and I have tried all different kinds of books. The ones we’ve gravitated toward are the Dorling Kindersley, “DK Eyewitness Guide” series. They’re compact enough to put in the back pocket of your jeans. Most are under twenty bucks and are easy to navigate. Click your favorite one below to purchase and let us know what you think.
These are some of the more popular languages for travel. We’ll be adding more to the list as time goes on.
