If you’re planning your first backpacking trip, language may present a major barrier to the countries you visit or how you travel. There are a lot of mixed opinions online about how much of a language you need to learn for travel (if any), and it can differ greatly depending on what kind of traveller you are and, more importantly, where you are travelling to. It’s incredibly difficult to give one blanket answer; however, in this opinion piece, I’ll cover some of my experiences and recommendations as someone who has travelled extensively to different regions with only fluency in English.
Factors to consider before learning a language
Every country, region or city you travel to is different, so whether you choose to learn a language and to what level you need to learn it for your travel purposes will also differ. Here are a few things to consider before signing up for a language class or spending countless hours on Duolingo:
- How widely spoken is English in the country you are heading to? A quick Google search should answer this for you. For example, if you’re heading to Malaysia, a quick search will tell you that 62% of locals speak English, so fluency in Malay may not be necessary. Whereas in Brazil, only 5% of locals speak English, so brushing up on your Portuguese might be wise.
- How long are you spending there? If you only plan on spending a few days in a country, I probably wouldn’t be learning much more of the language than a few phrases. If you plan on spending weeks to months in a country, spending some time on Duolingo learning the language wouldn’t be a bad idea.
- Are you mainly staying on the tourist track or want to visit more remote places? Generally, you can get away with speaking very little of the local language if you only visit touristy places. Hostel workers, people at tourist sights, restaurant staff and some taxi drivers will usually speak a level of English if it’s a place that many tourists pass through. If you want to travel off the beaten track (which is a great way to truly experience a place), you should try to learn more of the language for day-to-day.
- How difficult is the local language to learn? Non-Latin-based languages and alphabets (like Arabic or Mandarin) will always be trickier to learn. Similarly, tonal languages (like Vietnamese) can also prove tricky, as pronouncing things in the wrong tone changes the meaning entirely. I tried to learn Vietnamese for weeks and still can’t say more than a few phrases correctly. On the flip side, languages like Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian and Italian are considered some of the easy languages to learn for English speakers.
- Are you travelling to multiple countries that use some or similar languages? For example, in South and Central America, Spanish is spoken in many countries, so you will get more use out of the language. Knowing Spanish also makes it easier to learn Portuguese (for Brazil). Similarly, Indonesian and Malay are extremely similar languages, so they are useful for travelling in Southeast Asia.
The Case for Learning the Local Language
Showing Respect
One of the biggest reasons for learning some of the local languages while travelling is as a show of respect. Nobody is expecting you to become fluent in Thai for a two-week holiday, but being able to say “thank you” in the local language shows you care at least a little about the people and culture of the place you are visiting and aren’t just there for cheap drinks and beaches.
When you try to speak someone’s language, you show respect for their culture. It’s a gesture that says you’re not just a tourist passing through but someone genuinely interested in understanding their way of life. Often, this effort is reciprocated with warmth and hospitality, transforming your travel experience. At a minimum, learning how to say “thank you” is a great first step to showing respect for the country you are in and is a small and relatively easy thing for travellers.
Enhanced Cultural Experience
Making basic conversation in the local language greatly affects how you experience a country. Locals are much more willing to converse with travellers who attempt to chat in their native tongue (even if that conversation is more Spanglish than Spanish and heavily relies on Google Translate). Having a basic conversation in the local language can open doors to experiencing parts of local culture that few tourists get to see.
Navigating beyond tourist areas
English will serve you well in tourist hotspots, but what about when you wander off the beaten path? In rural villages or less touristy cities, English speakers can become rare, and here, your few phrases of the local language can make a huge difference.
Imagine you’re hiking in rural Colombia. Conversing with locals can enhance your safety, help you find better routes, or even lead to an invitation to a home-cooked meal.
Daily Conveniences
Sure, you can survive with hand gestures and facial expressions, but knowing how to ask for “less spicy,” “coffee with milk,” or “where is the toilet” can go a long way in everyday interactions. From bargaining at a local market to asking for directions to your hostel, speaking the local language can smoothen these daily tasks immensely.
Why Learning the Local Language May Not Be Essential
English as a Global Language
In today’s globalized world, English is often the lingua franca in many tourist destinations. This means that you’re likely to find English speakers in major cities, popular tourist spots, and even in remote areas known for tourism. Hostels, international airports, and tourist information centres usually have staff who speak English and signs and menus in English. This widespread availability can reduce the necessity of learning the local language for basic navigation and communication.
Short-Term Stays
For many backpackers, travel involves hopping from one country to another, sometimes within a matter of days. In such cases, achieving even a basic proficiency in multiple languages becomes impractical. Instead, learning a few universal phrases and relying on non-verbal communication can often suffice to handle everyday travel situations like asking for directions, ordering food, or buying tickets.
Translation Tools
The digital age has brought us numerous advanced tools that make communication across language barriers easier than ever. Translation apps can convert text, voice, and even photos into your native language in real-time. Google Translate, for example, allows travellers to speak directly into their phones and receive audio translations in the local language. Such tools continuously improve and are incredibly handy for complex or urgent communications where a traveller’s limited language knowledge might not suffice. Looking for recommendations for travel apps? Check out my full guide to the best travel apps here.
Getting around with Gestures and Expressions
Non-verbal communication can be surprisingly effective. Gestures, facial expressions, and body language can convey a wide range of messages without needing spoken words. In many cases, pointing to a map, using hand signals for numbers, or displaying polite gestures (like a smile or nod) can achieve the desired outcome without conversing in another language. Many hand gestures are universal, like writing in the air when you would like the bill brought over or bowing your head to thank someone.
My personal tips for language and travelling
Regardless of the length of travel or trip type, here are a few things I generally do when travelling to a non-English speaking country:
- Before I travel, I research how widely spoken English is to prepare and learn more of the local language if necessary.
- Memorise how to say “thank you” in the local language. This is the bare minimum for me as a sign of respect, even if many English speakers are in the country.
- I download the language on Google Translate before leaving home so that I can use it offline when I arrive in the country.
- Download and set up any ridesharing apps before I leave home so I have a reliable way to get to my hostel from the airport (super important when there are language barriers).
- I make a list in my Notes App of common phrases and how to pronounce them phonetically in the local language. I always try to learn the following at a minimum: thank you, where is the bathroom, help, excuse me, yes, and no.
- I also make a list in my Notes App of any food-related phrases I need and how to pronounce them phonetically in the local language. For example, “I am vegetarian, so no meat, chicken, beef or fish, please”, “I am allergic to egg”, “coffee with milk, please, no sugar”, or “Not too spicy, please.” These are just examples, as these phrases depend entirely on the person and their dietary preferences/ needs.
So, do you need to learn the local language for travel? It’s not essential, but it’s definitely beneficial. You don’t need fluency—just a willingness to learn and use what you can. Start with basic greetings, common questions, and phrases that help in everyday situations. Combine this knowledge with the power of technology, and you’ll be as prepared as possible.
Did you find this blog post helpful? Want to see more travel tips and recommendations? Join me on Tik Tok and Instagram for daily travel content!
This blog is a free and independent source of information for all things travel and backpacking. If you benefitted from the information on this blog, please consider using the affiliate links to book hostels/activities etc. This will be at no extra cost to you but helps subsidise the cost of running a free travel blog.
