Romansh phrasebook

Romansh (sometimes written as Romantsch or Romansch) is a language of the Romance family, spoken by between 36,000 and 70,000 people in the Swiss canton of Grisons. Though it is the least used of Switzerland's four official languages, it is still very much respected as a minority language and can be heard in schools and on television and radio.

Most speakers speak one of a few different dialects, though in 1982 a standardized form was created.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a: as in father, sometimes as in about
e: as in bed, sometimes as the "ay" in stay
i: as the "ee" in keep
o: as in oh
u: sometimes as in put, often as in boom
ä: as in bed
ö: as in bird
ü: as in French tu. Note: This sound doesn't exist in English but can be made by trying to make a short "ee" sound with rounded lips.

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: Ciao or Tgau. (Ki-ow or Cha-ooh)
Hello. (informal): . ( )
How are you?: Co vai? (Koh vie?)
Fine, thank you.: Fitg bain, grazia. (Fitch byne, grah-tsia.)
What is your name?: Co haveis vus num? (Koh hav-eh-ees voos noom?)
My name is ______ .: Jeu hai num ____ (Ye-uh hi noom ____)
Nice to meet you.: . ( )
Please.: . ( )
Thank you.: . ( )
You're welcome.: . ( )
Yes.: Gea. (Gee-ah or Djee-ah)
No.: Na. (Na)
Excuse me. (getting attention): . ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): . ( )
I'm sorry.: . ( )
Goodbye: A revair. (A re-vie-eer)
Goodbye (informal): Adia. (A-dee-a)
I can't speak Romansh [well].: [ ]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?: ? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: ? ( ?)
Help!: ! ( !)
Look out!: ! ( !)
Good morning.: Bien di. (Byen dee.)
Good evening.: Buna sera. (Boona se-rah.)
Good night.: Buna notg. (Boona nawtch.)
Good night (to sleep): . ( )
I don't understand.: . ( )
Where is the toilet?: ? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.: . ( .)
Don't touch me!: ! ( !)
I'll call the police.: . ( .)
Police!: ! ( !)
Stop! Thief!: ! ! ( ! !)
I need your help.: . ( .)
It's an emergency.: . ( .)
I'm lost.: . ( .)
I lost my bag.: . ( .)
I lost my wallet.: . ( .)
I'm sick.: . ( .)
I've been injured.: . ( .)
I need a doctor.: . ( .)
Can I use your phone?: ? ( ?)

Numbers

1: ( )
2: ( )
3: ( )
4: ( )
5: ( )
6: ( )
7: ( )
8: ( )
9: ( )
10: ( )
11: ( )
12: ( )
13: ( )
14: ( )
15: ( )
16: ( )
17: ( )
18: ( )
19: ( )
20: ( )
21: ( )
22: ( )
23: ( )
30: ( )
40: ( )
50: ( )
60: ( )
70: ( )
80: ( )
90: ( )
100: ( )
200: ( )
300: ( )
1,000: ( )
2,000: ( )
1,000,000: ( )
1,000,000,000: ( )
1,000,000,000,000: ( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): ( )
half: ( )
less: ( )
more: ( )

Time

now: ( )
later: ( )
before: ( )
morning: ( )
afternoon: ( )
evening: ( )
night: ( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM: ( )
two o'clock AM: ( )
noon: ( )
one o'clock PM: ( )
two o'clock PM: ( )
midnight: ( )

Duration

_____ minute(s): ( )
_____ hour(s): ( )
_____ day(s): ( )
_____ week(s): ( )
_____ month(s): ( )
_____ year(s): ( )

Days

today: ( )
yesterday: ( )
tomorrow: ( )
this week: ( )
last week: ( )
next week: ( )

Sunday: ( )
Monday: ( )
Tuesday: ( )
Wednesday: ( )
Thursday: ( )
Friday: ( )
Saturday: ( )

Months

January: ( )
February: ( )
March: ( )
April: ( )
May: ( )
June: ( )
July: ( )
August: ( )
September: ( )
October: ( )
November: ( )
December: ( )

Colors

black: ( )
white: ( )
gray: ( )
red: ( )
blue: ( )
yellow: ( )
green: ( )
orange: ( )
purple: ( )
brown: ( )

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: ( )
One ticket to _____, please.: ( )
Where does this train/bus go?: ( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?: ( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: ( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: ( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: ( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: ( )
...the train station?: ( )
...the bus station?: ( )
...the airport?: ( )
...downtown?: ( )
...the youth hostel?: ( )
...the _____ hotel?: ( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ( )
Where are there a lot of...: ( )
...hotels?: ( )
...restaurants?: ( )
...bars?: ( )
...sites to see?: ( )
Can you show me on the map?: ( )
street: ( )
Turn left.: ( )
Turn right.: ( )
left: ( )
right: ( )
straight ahead: ( )
towards the _____: ( )
past the _____: ( )
before the _____: ( )
Watch for the _____.: ( )
intersection: ( )
north: ( )
south: ( )
east: ( )
west: ( )
uphill: ( )
downhill: ( )

Taxi

Taxi!: ( )
Take me to _____, please.: ( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?: ( )
Take me there, please.: ( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: ( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?: ( )
Does the room come with...: ( )
...bedsheets?: ( )
...a bathroom?: ( )
...a telephone?: ( )
...a TV?: ( )
May I see the room first?: ( )
Do you have anything quieter?: ( )
...bigger?: ( )
...cleaner?: ( )
...cheaper?: ( )
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).: ( )
Can you suggest another hotel?: ( )
Do you have a safe?: ( )
...lockers?: ( )
Is breakfast/supper included?: ( )
What time is breakfast/supper?: ( )
Please clean my room.: ( )
Can you wake me at _____?: ( )
I want to check out.: ( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: ( )
Do you accept British pounds?: ( )
Do you accept euros?: ( )
Do you accept credit cards?: ( )
Can you change money for me?: ( )
Where can I get money changed?: ( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: ( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: ( )
What is the exchange rate?: ( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: ( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: ( )
Can I look at the menu, please?: ( )
Can I look in the kitchen?: ( )
Is there a house specialty?: ( )
Is there a local specialty?: ( )
I'm a vegetarian.: ( )
I don't eat pork.: ( )
I don't eat beef.: ( )
I only eat kosher food.: ( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): ( )
fixed-price meal: ( )
a la carte: ( )
breakfast: ( )
lunch: ( )
tea (meal): ( )
supper: ( )
I want _____.: ( )
I want a dish containing _____.: ( )
chicken: ( )
beef: ( )
fish: ( )
ham: ( )
sausage: ( )
cheese: ( )
eggs: ( )
salad: ( )
(fresh) vegetables: ( )
(fresh) fruit: ( )
bread: ( )
toast: ( )
noodles: ( )
rice: ( )
beans: ( )
May I have a glass of _____?: ( )
May I have a cup of _____?: ( )
May I have a bottle of _____?: ( )
coffee: ( )
tea (drink): ( )
juice: ( )
(bubbly) water: ( )
(still) water: ( )
beer: ( )
red/white wine: ( )
May I have some _____?: ( )
salt: ( )
black pepper: ( )
butter: ( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
I'm finished.: ( )
It was delicious.: ( )
Please clear the plates.: ( )
The check, please.: ( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: ( )
Is there table service?: ( )
A beer/two beers, please.: ( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.: ( )
A pint, please.: ( )
A bottle, please.: ( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: ( )
whiskey: ( )
vodka: ( )
rum: ( )
water: ( )
club soda: ( )
tonic water: ( )
orange juice: ( )
Coke (soda): ( )
Do you have any bar snacks?: ( )
One more, please.: ( )
Another round, please.: ( )
When is closing time?: ( )
Cheers!: ( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: ( )
How much is this?: ( )
That's too expensive.: ( )
Would you take _____?: ( )
expensive: ( )
cheap: ( )
I can't afford it.: ( )
I don't want it.: ( )
You're cheating me.: ( )
I'm not interested.: (..)
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
Can I have a bag?: ( )
Do you ship (overseas)?: ( )
I need...: ( )
...toothpaste.: ( )
...a toothbrush.: ( )
...tampons.: . ( )
...soap.: ( )
...shampoo.: ( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ( )
...cold medicine.: ( )
...stomach medicine.: ... ( )
...a razor.: ( )
...an umbrella.: ( )
...sunblock lotion.: ( )
...a postcard.: ( )
...postage stamps.: ( )
...batteries.: ( )
...writing paper.: ( )
...a pen.: ( )
...English-language books.: ( )
...English-language magazines.: ( )
...an English-language newspaper.: ( )
...an English-English dictionary.: ( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.: ( )
Can I get insurance?: ( )
stop (on a street sign): ( )
one way: ( )
yield: ( )
no parking: ( )
speed limit: ( )
gas (petrol) station: ( )
petrol: ( )
diesel: ( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: ( )
It was a misunderstanding.: ( )
Where are you taking me?: ( )
Am I under arrest?: ( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: ( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: ( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.: ( )
Can I just pay a fine now?: ( )

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