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Languages in the EU (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by jennwiththesea@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I'm about to sound like the ignorant American I am, so I apologize in advance! We're looking at a trip to Germany, and possibly Prague, and we've noticed that a lot of the hotel names are French and a couple hotels that aren't named in French have replied to comments with things like "Bonjour! etc etc" What's up with this? Is French just the most commonly spoken common language, even in Germany and Czechia? (I know that Germany and Czechia have their own languages, of course.) Or is it something else?

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[–] Anamana@feddit.de 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

When I walk in to the coffee shop, I'm free to say "Hello" in one of 10+ languages and no one will think anything of it. Why would I do that? Maybe because I'm in the mood. Ciao

X for doubt. Highly depends on where the shop is based. I would defo get weird looks if I would say Ciao at shops for 'Hello'. But most people will still know what it means. And 'Ciao' for goodbye is actually quite popular in the German speaking countries. But yeah it's not as random as you make it out to be imo.

[–] kennismigrant@feddit.nl 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Highly depends on where the shop is based.

True. I have mostly lived in touristy and immigrant-friendly places, and I'm OK with people not seeing me as a local.

[–] Anamana@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

So it's more like you don't care what people think, but people will still be like 'wtf' haha

Probably not in Berlin though, because nothing matters in Berlin.

[–] kennismigrant@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

people will still be like ‘wtf’ haha

People here (North Holland) are used to tourists and immigrants. A local could use "Hi", "Hallo", "Bonjour" or "Shalom" instead of Dutch-specific "Goeiemorgen"/other. If I say "Moin" or "Ciao" or "Hola", people will understand and sometimes reply appropriately, but likely continue in English not Dutch. It's something anyone would do for fun.

"hyvää huomenta" and "terve" on the other hand are not widely known to be a greeting. "tesekkuler" will not work as "merci". I don't do that.

[–] Anamana@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the local input, didn't know that