HearsayGuide
How to overcome language barriers when traveling
You don't need to be fluent to travel well. Learn a handful of phrases, keep the important things written down in the local language, and have a way to translate a full conversation when you need one. A little preparation before you go makes the counter, the restaurant and the taxi stand much easier.
Learn a handful of key phrases
Hello, please, thank you, excuse me and "Do you speak English?"
How to do it: Practice them out loud on the flight or the train. Basic phrases to know when traveling
Carry your addresses in the local language
Your hotel, the airport and anywhere you're heading, written the way locals write it.
How to do it: Show it to a taxi driver instead of trying to pronounce it.
Write down allergies and medical needs
A short card in the local language, such as "I am allergic to penicillin."
How to do it: Have it translated before you go and keep it in your wallet.
Plan for no signal
Many translator apps need a connection, and mobile data abroad can be patchy.
How to do it: Save key phrases and addresses as screenshots or on paper, and check your data plan before you go.
Use numbers and pictures
Prices, times, platforms and menus are easier to point at than to say.
How to do it: Use your phone's calculator or a notepad to show prices and times.
Keep sentences short
Translator apps and people both do better with one idea at a time.
How to do it: Ask one question, wait for the answer, then ask the next.
Use a two-way translator for longer talks
Front desks, pharmacies and dinners with new friends need more than a phrase.
How to do it: Hearsay puts both of you on one screen at the table, each in your own language, with phrase cards for restaurants, transport, offices and doctor visits. Get your table plan
Ask for help with official things
For police reports, medical decisions or legal papers, ask for a qualified interpreter.
How to do it: Your embassy or consulate can help you find local services.
Talk across languages, both ways. Answer six quick questions and get a table plan for your language and the moments you need it for.
Get my table planAvailability: Hearsay is an iPhone app on pre-order. Plans start on launch day, with a full refund any time before launch.
Questions
How do you communicate in a country where you don't speak the language?
Learn a few key phrases, carry addresses and allergy notes written in the local language, point at numbers and pictures, and use a translator app for longer conversations.
What phrases should I learn before traveling?
Hello, please, thank you, excuse me, sorry, "Do you speak English?", "How much is it?", "Where is...?" and "The bill, please."
Do translator apps work without internet?
Some do and some don't, so check before you go. Hearsay needs a connection: speech is recognized on the phone, and the text is sent for translation.
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Updated October 12, 2026