Did you know there are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today? 23 languages account for more than half the world’s population and more than 2,000 languages have less than 1,000 speakers.
This World Hello Day the team at The Travel Corporation are sharing with new ways to say hello to the locals you’ll meet in some truly incredible destinations across the globe.
Kon’nichiwa – Japan
Say Kon’nichiwa to a bona-fide Cherry Blossom Doctor in Hirosaki Castle and learn about the meticulous care the tree’s undergo year round so they’re healthy and thriving during Cherry Blossom season.
Meet a Samurai where the magnificent Aoba Castle once stood following an ancient Samurai performance, and a survivor of the 1945 atomic bomb in Hiroshima on Luxury Gold’s Majestic Japan.
Dzień dobry – Poland
Pronounced ‘jayn DOH-bry’, this term literally translates to ‘Good Day’ and it is the more formal and socially acceptable way to first say hello to a stranger.
With Trafalgar’s Best of Poland trip, explore Eastern Europe – Visit the Old Town of Warsaw, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Toruń and the Living Museum of Gingerbread will have guests soon using the much less formal but not at all easier to say ‘Cześć’ to say hello to one another – pronounced “cheh-sh-ch”.
Zdravo – Croatia
Zdravo Split, Zdravo Hvar, Zdravo Dubrovnik, Zdravo Trstenik and Zdravo Makarska!
Have you ever drunk freshly made cocktails at a waterside rock bar in Croatia at sunset? No? Well say Zdravo to Contiki’s Croatia Island Escape. On this trip it’s nothing but clear sailing for guests as they cruise the Aegean sea on the search for hidden Rakia bars, peachy sunsets and the cobbled streets of seaside towns Croatia is renowned for.
Ssalamū ‘lekum – Morocco
Morrocco is a colourful mix of Islamic, Arabic, Spanish and French influences that can leave guests not knowing whether to say Ssalamū ‘lekum (Islamic), Marhabaan (Arabic), Óla (Spanish) or Bonjour (French) in greeting.
Thank goodness they have their trusty Insight Vacations Travel Director on the Best of Morocco travel itinerary to help them best explore this beautiful collection of Mosques, Royal palaces, desert oasis’s, coastal towns and some of the oldest universities in the world.
G’Day – Australia
Now, this is a tricky one. Takes years of practice to get it right. A contraction of the term Good Day – G’Day is slang for hello and often immediately followed by the word ‘mate’ meaning ‘friend’ in Australian vernacular.
An AAT Kings Driver Guide on the Untamed Kimberly, will be there to help you from stumbling over this confusing dialect whilst also escorting you through some of the most beautifully rugged terrain on earth between Darwin and Broome through Katherine, the Bungle Bungles, Geikie Gorge and Fitzroy crossing.
Bonjour – France
Meaning good day in French, bonjour is how guests will welcome the latest Super Ship to the Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.
The S.S. Bon Voyage sails through the Bordeaux wine region, Fort Médoc, Cadillac, Blaye and Libourne amid breathtaking backdrops, archaeological marvels and historic landmarks on the Brilliant Bordeaux itinerary.
Hola / Olá – South America
Adventure World Travel’s 16 day Essential South America travel itinerary takes guests across the width and breadth of South America.
From a rhythmic tango instructor in Buenos Aires to a llama in the ancient Incan Empire of Machu Picchu guests will be saying Óla to a myriad of amazing individuals on this trip between Peru, Argentina, Brazil through Lima, Cuzco, Buenos Aires, Iguazi falls and Rio De Janeiro.
Xin chào – Vietnam
Wild nightlife, green rice paddies, towering temples and bustling streets are just some of the places travellers will experience on Busabout’s Ultimate Vietnam Adventure.
Called Ultimate for a reason this trip through Vietnam will blow any travellers mind as they explore the wide valleys, deep caves and everything in between of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue & Mai Châu.
Travellers will also enjoy a home stay with a local Vietnamese family that can teach them how to say Xin Cháo properly.
Hallo – The Netherlands
This is another tough one. Substituting an ‘a’ for the English ‘e’ in hello it may take a moment to wrap your head around this tricky greeting. In opposition, U by Uniworld’s Rolling on the Rhine river cruise itinerary is only too easy.
Travellers unpack day one and spend the next seven days exploring Amsterdam, Haarlem, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Rüdesheim and Frankfurt with the help of their dedicated U Hosts.
A river cruise for the young and young at heart the ship – The A comes fully equipped with a DJ, dancefloor, silent disco and sun deck.
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