12 of the most important phrases to know in every language

Part of our series on how to be a better traveler

World flags
(Image credit: iStock)

Very few of us are hyper-polyglots, the kind of people who can master dozens of languages in a lifetime. Still, it's always polite to at least make an attempt at speaking the native language when traveling in a foreign country. So in the limited time you have before you jet off, what are the most important phrases to try to have under your belt (or on the tip of your tongue) when you land? Try these on for size:

1. Hello! Good day.

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