We have just returned from a family holiday in Futerventura and I have actively encouraged my eldest daughter to use the Spanish she learns in language class at school while we have been away. Aside from this being good for her studies, I was a little horrified to learn that when the average Brit heads off abroad on their summer holidays, able to speak just eight words of the local language, according to a new research.

The study, commissioned by Holiday Autos found that French is the language Brits are most familiar with, with the average UK adult being able to rattle off up to 15 words. I learnt both French and Spanish at school but chose French at GCSE. In hindsight, I wish I had thought about this more as Spanish is more widely spoken across the world, especially as despite millions of Brits travelling to Spain this summer, the average holidaymaker knows just eight Spanish words.

 'Hello’, ‘yes’ and ‘goodbye’ are the most common words Brits know how to say in a foreign language, followed by ‘thanks’, ‘no’ and ‘good morning’. Three in ten of Brits can ask where the bathroom is and over a third can competently ask for a beer .... or prosecco in my case. 

The research showed that of the 1,500 respondents surveyed 23 percent said they holiday in popular resorts so there was no need to make an effort and speak the local language, which in my opinion is more than a little ignorant of us, even if it is true.

Hilariously though, being so limited with the local language has landed one in ten adults in hot water with problems occurring when ordering food and drinks, following directions and settling a bill.  In fact, the average holidaymaker has experienced three ‘lost in translation’ moments when on holiday. 

According to the poll .....

• One man asked for directions and kept being told the price of a chicken. 

• A holidaymaker thought he was asking a waiter where the toilet was, but was actually repeatedly asking where the man’s wife was. 

• Another asked for egg on his pancake and got a raw egg. 

• One respondent asked for a lemonade and ended up buying a newspaper. 

• Another respondent regularly got the French words for rabbit and bread around the wrong way. 

• A gentleman got a surprise in France when he asked for jam to go with his croissant and got a condom. 

• One respondent ended up with a slap around the face. To this day he doesn’t know what he said! 

Have you ever said anything that you were unsure of?

So I shall finish off by saying Au Revoir, Adios and Tchau. (thankfully I know what they all mean!!)