Popular languages of the world
10. French
Number of speakers: 129 million
To say "hello" in French, say "Bonjour" (bone-JOOR).
9. Malay-Indonesian
Number of speakers: 159 million
To say "hello" in Indonesian, say "Selamat pagi" (se-LA-maht PA-gee).
8. Portuguese
Number of speakers: 191 million
To say "hello" in Portuguese, say "Bom dia" (bohn DEE-ah).
7. Bengali
Number of speakers: 211 million
To say "hello" in Bengali, say "Ei Je" (EYE-jay).
6. Arabic
Number of speakers: 246 million
To say "hello" in Arabic, say "Al salaam a'alaykum" (Ahl sah-LAHM ah ah-LAY-koom).
5. Russian
Number of speakers: 277 million
To say "hello" in Russian, say "Zdravstvuite" (ZDRAST-vet-yah).
4. Spanish
Number of speakers: 392 million
To say "hello" in Spanish, say "Hola" (OH-la).
3. Hindustani
Number of speakers: 497 million
To say "hello" in Hindustani, say "Namaste" (Nah-MAH-stay).
2. English
Number of speakers: 508 million
To say "hello" in English, say "What's up, freak?" (watz-UP-freek).
1. Mandarin
Number of speakers: 1 billion+
To say "hello" in Mandarin, say "Ni hao" (Nee HaOW). ("Hao" is pronounced as one syllable, but the tone requires that you let your voice drop midway, and then raise it again at the end.)
Number of speakers: 129 million
To say "hello" in French, say "Bonjour" (bone-JOOR).
9. Malay-Indonesian
Number of speakers: 159 million
To say "hello" in Indonesian, say "Selamat pagi" (se-LA-maht PA-gee).
8. Portuguese
Number of speakers: 191 million
To say "hello" in Portuguese, say "Bom dia" (bohn DEE-ah).
7. Bengali
Number of speakers: 211 million
To say "hello" in Bengali, say "Ei Je" (EYE-jay).
6. Arabic
Number of speakers: 246 million
To say "hello" in Arabic, say "Al salaam a'alaykum" (Ahl sah-LAHM ah ah-LAY-koom).
5. Russian
Number of speakers: 277 million
To say "hello" in Russian, say "Zdravstvuite" (ZDRAST-vet-yah).
4. Spanish
Number of speakers: 392 million
To say "hello" in Spanish, say "Hola" (OH-la).
3. Hindustani
Number of speakers: 497 million
To say "hello" in Hindustani, say "Namaste" (Nah-MAH-stay).
2. English
Number of speakers: 508 million
To say "hello" in English, say "What's up, freak?" (watz-UP-freek).
1. Mandarin
Number of speakers: 1 billion+
To say "hello" in Mandarin, say "Ni hao" (Nee HaOW). ("Hao" is pronounced as one syllable, but the tone requires that you let your voice drop midway, and then raise it again at the end.)
posted by Incognito at 2:13 PM
4 Comments:
traveler : merci :)
Reminds me of this game I used to play: 'Where in the world is Carmen Sandiago?' Every time you thought Carmen was in a place, you took a plane to thaqt place, and the people there spoke in that language; the planes had announcements in that language. I'll never forget 'bonjour voyeger!'
:D
CAmphor : First time I'm hearing of such a game. Sounds fun :)
Oh, it was fun. Learnt all about one thing about a few countries from that the way a geography/history textbook can never hope to - it was a CD-game. :D I heard there was a pre-CD version, but I've never seen it...
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