There are thousands of great places to go on holiday in the world but the locals there will often lack fluency in your native language.
As commercial tourism has developed, English has become the international language of holidaymakers everywhere. Travelling abroad is a great way to practise your English, make new friends and expand your horizons. Spending a little time to brush up on your English for tourism will help you get the most out of your holiday.
It is possible to predict the majority of situations you will find yourself in while on holiday and learn appropriate vocabulary in advance. In the A-Z word lists below, we will cover the following 4 essential holiday situations: airport, hotel, restaurant, and beach.
| English | Russian | English | Russian |
| Aisle seat | Место у прохода | Landing | Посадка, приземление |
| Baggage reclaim | Выдача багажа | Last call | Последний звонок |
| Blanket | Шерстяное одеяло | Luggage trolley | Багажная тележка |
| Boarding | Посадка | Overhead compartment | Багажная полка |
| Boarding pass | Посадочный талон | Row | Ряд |
| Check-in | Регистрация | Seat belt | Ремень безопасности |
| Departure lounge | Зал ожидания | Security check | Проверка безопасности |
| Emergency exit | Аварийный выходм | Sick(ness) bag | Мешок при воздушной болезни |
| Gate | Выход (на самолет) | Takeoff | Взлёт |
| Hand luggage | Ручная кладь | Window seat | Место у окна |
Possible questions:
May I see your ticket/passport, please?
How many bags are you checking in?
Did you pack your bags yourself?
Do you have any hand luggage with you today?
Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
I’m afraid your baggage is overweight (too heavy).
Your hand luggage is too large.
Your flight is delayed/cancelled.
When should I be at the gate?
Where is the boarding gate?
Is my connecting flight on time?
Where do I collect my baggage?
Where is the check-in desk for ___ airlines?
| English | Russian | English | Russian |
| Accommodation (hotel) | Номер в гостинице | Reservation | Бронирование |
| Check-in/out | Заезд / выезд | Resort | Курорт |
| Currency exchange | Обмен валюты | Room number 6 | Шестой номер |
| Double room | Номер на двоих | Room price/rate | Стоимость номера |
| En-suite bathroom | Смежная ванная | Room service | Обслуживание номеров |
| Extra charge | Дополнительная оплата | Self-catering | Самообслуживание (только еда) |
| Family room | Семейный номер | Single room | одноместный номер |
| Fill in a form | Заполнить бланк | Twin beds | две односпальные кровати |
| Full board | Полный пансион | Vacancy | Cвободный номер |
| Reception | Рецепция | Wake-up call | Звонок-напоминание |
Possible questions:
Which floor is my room on?
What time do we need to check out?
When should we pay the bill?
What time is breakfast served?
Can I make international calls from my room?
Where can I buy a SIM card for my mobile phone?
Can you order me a taxi to ___, please?
Can you recommend any good restaurants near here?
Can we move to a room with a sea view?
The towels/sheets in our room are dirty. Can you change them, please?
Our air-conditioning isn’t working. Can you fix it, please?
| English | Russian | English | Russian |
| Bill | Счёт | Napkin | Салфетка |
| Bread basket | Корзина с хлебом | Plate | Тарелка |
| Chef’s specials | Фирменные блюда от шеф-повара | Service charge | Доплата за обслуживание |
| Cutlery | Столовые приборы | Starter | Первое блюдо |
| Delicious | Очень вкусный | Table cloth | Скатерть |
| Dessert | Десерт | Table for two | Столик на двоих |
| Expensive | Дорогой | Tasty | Вкусный |
| Fully booked | Полностью забронированный | Tip | Чаевые |
| Glass of wine | Бокал вина | To be overcharged (for) | Слишком много заплатить за что-л. |
| Main course | Основное блюдо | Waiter/waitress | Официант (-ка) |
Possible questions:
Can I book a table for three, please? (…tomorrow evening at 7pm under the name of Ivanov.)
Are you ready to order?
Would you like to hear the chef’s specials?
Can we have this dish as a starter (instead of as a main course)?
Can you bring us an extra plate/glass/fork/etc., please?
Can we have a look at your menu, please?
This dish is cold. Can you heat it up for me, please?
This isn’t what I ordered! Can you bring me the ___?
Can we have the bill, please?
Can you check the bill again? I think we’ve been overcharged.
| English | Russian | English | Russian |
| Beach mat | Коврик для пляжа | Snorkel | Трубка (для подводного плавания) |
| Beach towel | Полотенце для пляжа | Sun lounger | Лежак |
| Danger! | Опасно! | Sunburn | Солнечный ожог |
| Flip flops | Сланцы | Sunglasses | Солнцезащитные очки |
| Flippers | Ласты | Suntan lotion | Лосьон для загара |
| Mask | Маска | Swimming costume | Купальный костюм |
| Parasol | Зонтик (от солнца) | Swimming trunks | Плавки |
| Sand castle | Замок из песка | Tide | Прилив и отлив |
| Seagull | Чайка | To sunbathe | Загорать |
| Shade | Тень | Wave | Волна |
Possible questions:
Excuse me. Is anyone sitting here?
Do we have to pay to use these sun loungers?
Where is the best beach near here? How do I get there?
Excuse me. Could you watch my things while I go swimming, please?
Where can I buy an ice cream (cold drink/beer/etc.)?
Is there a shower on this beach?
Where is it safe to swim?
Can you recommend a good place for fishing?
Where can we take a boat ride and how much does it cost?
OTUK offers a special online English for tourism course to prepare students for speaking English on holiday. This intensive course runs over several weeks and is designed to build vocabulary and fluency in key situations for tourists abroad. We also offer more advanced courses for those working in the tourism and hospitality business. Contact us today to request a trial lesson!
Alex Jude is the Founder & CEO of Online Teachers UK. He holds a BA hons degree in Linguistics from The University of Manchester and is a life-long English teacher. Following graduation, he spent 2002-2012 living and teaching in Russia, where he lectured in General Linguistics and Translation Studies. Alex is a fluent Russian speaker and worked with the BBC at the World Cup in 2018. In his spare time, he enjoys camping/bushcraft, playing guitar and watching rugby league.
