Zapotec phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

Zapotec is the language of the Zapotec indigenous culture, spoken in areas of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. It is spoken by about a half million people. Zapotec people in major cities often speak Spanish as either a first or second language, but many people in rural villages speak only Zapotec. Zapotec is often referred to as a language family with several dozen "languages" which might be more accurately termed dialects, though some of them are indeed unable to be understood by some of the other flavors of Zapotec.

Modern concepts, technical innovations, and certain terms that were not commonly used in pre-Colombian society seldom have a good corresponding Zapotec word or phrase. In these cases, it is common to use the Spanish word or sometimes a hybrid version that starts off as a borrowed Spanish word but is modified to reflect Zapotec pronunciation. Zapotec has numerous regional variations and a word (or borrowed word) used in the Oaxaca Valley may be completely different from a term or phrase used in the Zapotec communities on the eastern Pacific coast near Salina Cruz. The words and phrases used here are generally the most common from the Valley Zapotec speakers in communities near Oaxaca.

Hello.

Padiuxi.

How are you?

Xi modo nuulu?

Fine, thank you.

Galán, xquíxepeʼ lii.

What is your name? Tu lá lu?

My name is ______ .

Naa láʼ _____ .

Nice to meet you.

Rieche' ladxiduá' gunebiaaya' lii.

Please.

Lá.

Thank you.

Xquíxepe' lii.

You're welcome.

Maca nannu.

Yes.

Ya.

No.

Có'.

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Atención.

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Permisu.

I'm sorry.

Bitiidi'la'dxi' naa stonda.

Goodbye

Adiós.

Goodbye (informal)

Ti guidu'yanu.

I can't speak Zapotec.

Qué zanda diʼ guiniéʼ zapoteco.

Do you speak English?

Pa guiniʼluʼ inglés la?

Do you speak Spanish?

Pa guiniʼluʼ diidxaʼ español la?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Pa nuu tuuxa ni riníʼ inglés la?

Help!

¡Racané!

Look out!

¡Laguuyaʼ chaahuiʼ!

Good morning.

Padiuxi.

Good evening.

Padiuxi.

Good night. (to sleep)

Gusiáʼndaluʼ galán.

I don't understand.

Qué riene.

Where is the toilet?

Pa nuu bañu ca la?

Leave me alone.

. (Bisaana naa stube'.)

Don't touch me!

! (Cadi guinaazelu naa!)

I'll call the police.

. (Zucaaʼ ridxi puliciá.)

Police!

! (Puliciá!)

Stop! Thief!

! ! (Rizuhuaa! Guba'na!)

I need your help.

. (Caquiiñeʼ gacaneluʼ naa.)

It's an emergency.

. (Ti emergencia ni.)

I'm lost.

. (maʼ biniteʼ)

I lost my bag.

. (Bindaaʼ bolsa stinneʼ.)

I lost my wallet.

. (Bindaa cartera stinneʼ.)

I'm sick.

. (huara'ya'.)

I've been injured.

. (maʼ gucaʼ herida.)

I need a doctor.

. (Caquiiñeʼ ti doctor.)

Can I use your phone?

? (Pa iquiiñeluʼ teléfono stiluʼ la?)

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1,000

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2,000

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1,000,000

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1,000,000,000

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1,000,000,000,000

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number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

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half

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less

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more

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now

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later

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before

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morning

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afternoon

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evening

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night

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one o'clock AM

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two o'clock AM

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noon

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one o'clock PM

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two o'clock PM

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midnight

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_____ minute(s)

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_____ hour(s)

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_____ day(s)

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_____ week(s)

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_____ month(s)

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_____ year(s)

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today

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yesterday

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tomorrow

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this week

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last week

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next week

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Sunday

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Monday

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Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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Friday

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Saturday

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January

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February

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March

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April

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May

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June

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July

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August

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September

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October

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November

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December

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black

nayaase

white

naquichi

grey/gray

nayuu

red

naxiñá'

blue

nasiá

yellow

naguchi

green

nagá'

orange

naranja stiʼ

purple

nagugüí

brown

nayú

How much is a ticket to _____?

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One ticket to _____, please.

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Where does this train/bus go?

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Where is the train/bus to _____?

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Does this train/bus stop in _____?

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When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

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When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

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How do I get to _____ ?

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...the train station?

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...the bus station?

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...the airport?

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...downtown?

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...the youth hostel?

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...the _____ hotel?

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...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

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Where are there a lot of...

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...hotels?

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...restaurants?

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...bars?

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...sites to see?

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Can you show me on the map?

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street

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Turn left.

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Turn right.

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left

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right

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straight ahead

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towards the _____

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past the _____

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before the _____

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Watch for the _____.

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intersection

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north

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south

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east

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west

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uphill

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downhill

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Taxi!

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Take me to _____, please.

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How much does it cost to get to _____?

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Take me there, please.

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Do you have any rooms available?

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How much is a room for one person/two people?

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Does the room come with...

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...bedsheets?

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...a bathroom?

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...a telephone?

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...a TV?

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May I see the room first?

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Do you have anything quieter?

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...bigger?

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...cleaner?

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...cheaper?

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OK, I'll take it.

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I will stay for _____ night(s).

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Can you suggest another hotel?

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Do you have a safe?

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...lockers?

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Is breakfast/supper included?

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What time is breakfast/supper?

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Please clean my room.

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Can you wake me at _____?

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I want to check out.

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Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

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Do you accept British pounds?

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Do you accept euros?

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Do you accept credit cards?

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Can you change money for me?

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Where can I get money changed?

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Can you change a traveler's check for me?

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Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

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What is the exchange rate?

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Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

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A table for one person/two people, please.

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Can I look at the menu, please?

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Can I look in the kitchen?

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Is there a house specialty?

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Is there a local specialty?

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I'm a vegetarian.

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I don't eat pork.

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I don't eat beef.

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I only eat kosher food.

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Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

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fixed-price meal

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a la carte

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breakfast

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lunch

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tea (meal)

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supper

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I want _____.

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I want a dish containing _____.

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chicken

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beef

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fish

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ham

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sausage

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cheese

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eggs

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salad

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(fresh) vegetables

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(fresh) fruit

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bread

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toast

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noodles

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rice

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beans

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May I have a glass of _____?

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May I have a cup of _____?

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May I have a bottle of _____?

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coffee

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tea (drink)

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juice

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(bubbly) water

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(still) water

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beer

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red/white wine

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May I have some _____?

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salt

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black pepper

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butter

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Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

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I'm finished.

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It was delicious.

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Please clear the plates.

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The check, please.

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Do you serve alcohol?

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Is there table service?

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A beer/two beers, please.

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A glass of red/white wine, please.

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A pint, please.

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A bottle, please.

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_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

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whiskey

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vodka

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rum

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water

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club soda

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tonic water

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orange juice

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Coke (soda)

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Do you have any bar snacks?

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One more, please.

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Another round, please.

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When is closing time?

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Cheers!

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Do you have this in my size?

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How much is this?

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That's too expensive.

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Would you take _____?

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expensive

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cheap

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I can't afford it.

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I don't want it.

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You're cheating me.

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I'm not interested.

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OK, I'll take it.

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Can I have a bag?

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Do you ship (overseas)?

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I need...

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...toothpaste.

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...a toothbrush.

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...tampons.

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...soap.

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...shampoo.

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...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

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...cold medicine.

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...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

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...an umbrella.

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...sunblock lotion.

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...a postcard.

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...postage stamps.

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...batteries.

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...writing paper.

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...a pen.

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...English-language books.

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...English-language magazines.

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...an English-language newspaper.

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...an English-English dictionary.

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I want to rent a car.

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Can I get insurance?

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stop (on a street sign)

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one way

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yield

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no parking

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speed limit

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gas (petrol) station

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petrol

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diesel

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I haven't done anything wrong.

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It was a misunderstanding.

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Where are you taking me?

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Am I under arrest?

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I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

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I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

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I want to talk to a lawyer.

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Can I just pay a fine now?

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