Most of us don’t think much about the words we say on autopilot. At home they’re just part of the background noise. Abroad, the same sentences can land very differently.
Travel etiquette writers have been collecting these slip-ups for a while now, and the same few phrases keep turning up. Some are confusing, some sound condescending, and a few have histories most speakers have never looked into. Here are eight worth retiring before you board the plane.
How Are You?
Americans greet strangers with this question and then walk away without expecting a real answer. It’s a social ritual rather than an actual question.[1] At home, nobody blinks. The expected reply is a breezy “Good, thanks,” and everyone moves on.[1]
Elsewhere, the question can sound like a real invitation to talk, so you may get an honest answer you weren’t ready for. Or the person may find it odd that you asked and then kept walking. A plain hello, or a greeting in the local language, usually works better.
What’s That in Dollars?
It’s an easy question to ask when you’re tired and staring at a price tag in an unfamiliar currency. Still, converting everything to U.S. currency can sound dismissive of local money.[2] It gets worse when the dollar becomes “real money,” a habit that dismisses the legitimacy of other currencies entirely.[3]
Do the math quietly on your phone instead. A currency converter app costs nothing, and it keeps the shopkeeper out of the conversion business. Constant currency chat also gets old for hosts and staff.[2]
Everything Is So Cheap Here
This one usually comes from genuine delight, which is what makes it tricky. Price talk can sting, because it treats the destination like a bargain bin rather than a community.[2] Your favorable exchange rate is someone else’s daily cost of living.
Even a happy comment can sound like you’re measuring the place against a U.S. salary.[2] If you’re enjoying a great meal at a low price, say how good the food was. Praise the cooking and keep the price out of it.
Your English Is So Good
It’s meant as a compliment, and many speakers hear it that way in the moment. It can also land as patronizing, since it implies fluency is surprising, even in countries where English is widely taught.[2] In many places, speaking English well is simply normal.
Travelers and language experts often list it among the compliments that backfire. It centers the speaker over the local context.[2] A simple thank you for the help, or a comment on the conversation itself, does the same job without the awkward subtext.
Back Home We Do It Like This
Comparisons feel natural when you’re trying to make sense of a new place. The trouble is how they sound to the people living there. Saying “back home we…” or “this would never happen in America” comes off as condescending.[3]
A related habit is carrying American customer service rules overseas. The idea that the customer is always right is a very American approach, and many cultures don’t operate under it at all.[3] Curiosity goes over better than comparison. Ask how something works instead of explaining how it works at home.
Let’s Have a Quick Powwow
Plenty of American offices use this phrase for a fast huddle. Powwows are social gatherings held for ceremonial and celebratory purposes, so using the word for a quick business meeting diminishes its cultural significance.[4] Many Americans have simply never been told that.
The concern isn’t limited to the United States. In countries with stronger awareness of Indigenous culture and history, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, using the word flippantly is considered disrespectful.[4] “Quick meeting” or “quick chat” costs you nothing and travels everywhere.
I Was Gypped
Plenty of people say this to mean they got cheated or ended up with a bad deal. It’s common, and most people have no idea what it actually implies.[5] The word is still rooted in cultural insensitivity and is considered an ethnic slur.[5]
The same goes for its cousin. Stateside, “gypsy” is frequently used as a synonym for “free spirit.”[1] Abroad, especially in parts of Europe, those words can hurt the people they refer to. Say you were overcharged or ripped off, and nobody will wonder what you meant.
That’s So Sick
This slang is a good example of how fast American English moves. Among younger generations in particular, calling something “sick” means it’s amazing, impressive, or cool.[4] Plenty of teenagers say it without a second thought.
Outside the U.S., the translation gets clumsy. In most other English speaking countries, the word’s primary meaning is still illness.[6] It can occasionally offend, particularly among older listeners who associate the word with suffering.[6] Words like “great,” “fantastic,” or “delicious” are safer and just as warm.
