You don’t need to speak the language.
You just need the one word that says everything.
The universal key.
The local cheat code.
The verbal shrug, smile, or lifeline that gets you through.
Welcome to your Global Survival Kit:
| Country | Survival Word | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | だいじょうぶ？ / だいじょうぶ！ | “Are you okay?” / “It’s fine.” Works for everything from spilled coffee to spiritual despair. |
| France | Ça va? / Ça va. | A question and an answer. Elegant. Efficient. French. |
| Malaysia | Makan? | “Have you eaten?” = “I care about you.” Grants access to 90% of local conversation. |
| Korea | 좋아해요? (Choa-haeyo?) | “Do you like it?” Can mean “Is this okay?” to “Let’s be friends.” |
| Canada | Excuse me | Use it to enter rooms, apologize for existing, or defuse any encounter with a moose. |
| Philippines | Po | Adds respect to anything. Yes-po. No-po. Hello-po. You’re basically royalty. |
| UK | Cheers | Not just for toasts. Means thanks, goodbye, yes, no, maybe, and “I’m off to Tesco.” |
| Thailand | Sabai | Comfort, peace, wellness, and the smile behind every answer. |
| Germany | Genau | “Exactly.” Great for nodding at bureaucracy with confidence. |
| Hawaii | Aloha | Use it coming, going, blessing, or apologizing. Just don’t use it fake. |
| Spain | Vale | “Okay.” Covers 99% of your interactions if you say it with rhythm. |
| Singapore | Can / No can lah | “Can” = yes. “Can or not?” = universal query. “Can lah!” = definitive closure. “No can lah.” = boundaries, reality check, and end of discussion. |
| Italy | Boh. | The most Italian way to say “I have no idea.” Use liberally. |
Conclusion:
These are not full sentences.
They are passport stamps for the soul.
If you learn only one word per country…
make it the one that people actually use.
Because in the end, your tone, your smile, and your survival word will say more than perfect grammar ever could.