Assorted 'useful' foreign phrases

These phrases come mainly from phrasebooks and language courses. Some of them are intended to illustrate particular grammatical points, others I just found amusing. Finding occasions to use them might be quite challenging, but you'll probably have fun trying. Maybe you could use them as ice breakers, chat-up lines, as part of a comedy routine, or for some surreal conversations.

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Japanese

猫はピアノを弾きません。 (Neko wa piano o hikimasen.)
A cat does not play the piano.

今日も遠くを眺，涙を流す。 (Kyō mo tōku o nage, namida o nagasu.)
Today as well I will gaze into the distance and cry.

私の犬は帽子を売ります。 (Watashi no inu wa bōshi o urimasu.)
My dog sells hats.

河童はキュウリで僕を攻撃した。 (Kappa wa kyūri de boku o kōgeki shita.)
The water demon attached me with a cucumber.

おばけジャガイモを買いました。 (Obake jagaimo o kaimashita.)
I bought a monstrous potato.

姫が狼に育てられた。 (Hime ga ōkami ni sodate rareta)
The princess was raised by wolves.

勇者は大妖精に剣と盾をもらいました。 (Yūsha wa dai yōsei ni ken to tate o moraimashita)
The hero received a sword and a shield from the Great Fairy.

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People who have contributed to this section

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Silly phrases

My hovercraft is full of eels | Stop the world, I want to get off! | Say cheese! | Colorless green ideas sleep furiously | I am the king of the chickens | Thingamajig

Silly phrases in particular languages

Czech, Danish, Dutch, Esperanto, German, Romanian, Russian, Scottish Gaelic, Spanish, Swedish, Welsh

Other phrases

Index by phrase | Index by language | Index by language family | Phrase finder

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