Dialect continuum of southeastern Mali
Dogon is the main language family of Dogon Country, Mali. While there are a dozen different languages under this classification, this phrasebook focuses on Toro So (native to the village of Sanga), as it is both the best studied and mutually intelligible with the other escarpment varieties—those which travelers are most likely to encounter.
Pronunciation guide edit
Dogon languages are tonal, with two tones.
Vowels edit
- u
- like pool
- ò
- short oo sound similar to put
- è
- like bed
Consonants edit
- c
- like ty
- g
- strong 'g'
- j
- like dy
- s
- strong 's'
Common diphthongs edit
Phrase list edit
Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.
Basics edit
- Hello.
- Seuw. (say-oo)
- Hello. (informal)
- . ( )
- How are you?
- U seewo? ( ?)
- Fine, thank you.
- Se seewo. ( )
- What is your name?
- Boy wo? ( ?)
- My name is ______ .
- Boy ma ____. ( _____ .)
- Nice to meet you.
- . ( )
- Please.
- . ( )
- Thank you.
- Bira po. ( )
- You're welcome.
- . ( )
- Yes.
- Ha/òò. ( )
- No.
- Ay. ( )
- Excuse me. (getting attention)
- . ( )
- Excuse me. (begging pardon)
- . ( )
- I'm sorry.
- . ( )
- Goodbye
- Konè. ( )
- Goodbye (informal)
- . ( )
- I can't speak Dogon [well].
- []. ( [ ])
- Do you speak English?
- ? ( ?)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- Òni inè English so jè? ( ?)
- Help!
- ! ( !)
- Look out!
- ! ( !)
- Good morning.
- Aga po. ( )
- Good evening.
- Diganai po. ( )
- Good night.
- Yogo sègè mo. ( )
- Good night (to sleep)
- . ( )
- I don't understand.
- Mun è gèrè. ( )
- Where is the toilet?
- Di diun? ( ?)
Problems edit
- Leave me alone.
- . ( .)
- Don't touch me!
- ! ( !)
- I'll call the police.
- . ( .)
- Police!
- ! ( !)
- Stop! Thief!
- ! ! ( ! !)
- I need your help.
- . ( .)
- It's an emergency.
- . ( .)
- I'm lost.
- . ( .)
- I lost my bag.
- . ( .)
- I lost my wallet.
- . ( .)
- I'm sick.
- . ( .)
- I've been injured.
- . ( .)
- I need a doctor.
- . ( .)
- Can I use your phone?
- ? ( ?)
Numbers edit
- 1
- ( )
- 2
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- 3
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- 4
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- 5
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- 6
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- 7
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- 8
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- 9
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- 10
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- 11
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- 12
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- 13
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- 14
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- 15
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- 16
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- 17
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- 18
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- 19
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- 20
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- 21
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- 22
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- 23
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- 30
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- 40
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- 50
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- 60
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- 70
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- 80
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- 90
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- 100
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- 200
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- 300
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- 1,000
- ( )
- 2,000
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- 1,000,000
- ( )
- 1,000,000,000
- ( )
- 1,000,000,000,000
- ( )
- number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
- ( )
- half
- ( )
- less
- ( )
- more
- ( )
Time edit
- now
- ( )
- later
- ( )
- before
- ( )
- morning
- ( )
- afternoon
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- evening
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- night
- ( )
Clock time edit
- one o'clock AM
- ( )
- two o'clock AM
- ( )
- noon
- ( )
- one o'clock PM
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- two o'clock PM
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- midnight
- ( )
Duration edit
- _____ minute(s)
- ( )
- _____ hour(s)
- ( )
- _____ day(s)
- ( )
- _____ week(s)
- ( )
- _____ month(s)
- ( )
- _____ year(s)
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Days edit
- today
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- yesterday
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- tomorrow
- ( )
- 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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Months edit
- 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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Writing time and date edit
Colors edit
- black
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- white
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- gray
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- red
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- blue
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- yellow
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- green
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- orange
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- purple
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- brown
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Transportation edit
Bus and train edit
- How much is a ticket to _____?
- ( )
- One ticket to _____, please.
- ( )
- Where does this train/bus go?
- ( )
- Where is the train/bus to _____?
- ( )
- Does this train/bus stop in _____?
- ( )
- When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
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- When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
- ( )
Directions edit
- How do I get to _____ ?
- ( )
- ...the train station?
- ( )
- ...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?
- ( )
- ...sites to see?
- ( )
- Can you show me on the map?
- ( )
- street
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- Turn left.
- ( )
- Turn right.
- ( )
- left
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- right
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- straight ahead
- ( )
- 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 edit
- Taxi!
- ( )
- Take me to _____, please.
- ( )
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- ( )
- Take me there, please.
- ( )
Lodging edit
- Do you have any rooms available?
- ( )
- How much is a room for one person/two people?
- ( )
- Does the room come with...
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- ...bedsheets?
- ( )
- ...a bathroom?
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- ...a telephone?
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- ...a TV?
- ( )
- 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?
- ( )
- ...cheaper?
- ( )
- OK, I'll take it.
- ( )
- I will stay for _____ night(s).
- ( )
- 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?
- ( )
- What time is breakfast/supper?
- ( )
- Please clean my room.
- ( )
- Can you wake me at _____?
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- I want to check out.
- ( )
Money edit
- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
- ( )
- Do you accept British pounds?
- ( )
- Do you accept euros?
- ( )
- 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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Eating edit
- A table for one person/two people, please.
- ( )
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- ( )
- 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.
- ( )
- Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
- ( )
- fixed-price meal
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- a la carte
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- breakfast
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- lunch
- ( )
- 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)
- ( )
- I'm finished.
- ( )
- It was delicious.
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- Please clear the plates.
- ( )
- The check, please.
- ( )
Bars edit
- Do you serve alcohol?
- ( )
- Is there table service?
- ( )
- A beer/two beers, please.
- ( )
- A glass of red/white wine, please.
- ( )
- A pint, please.
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- A bottle, please.
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- _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
- ( )
- 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!
- ( )
Shopping edit
- 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.
- (..)
- OK, I'll take it.
- ( )
- Can I have a bag?
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- Do you ship (overseas)?
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- I need...
- ( )
- ...toothpaste.
- ( )
- ...a toothbrush.
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- ...tampons.
- . ( )
- ...soap.
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- ...shampoo.
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- ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
- ( )
- ...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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Driving edit
- I want to rent a car.
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- Can I get insurance?
- ( )
- 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
- ( )
Authority edit
- I haven't done anything wrong.
- ( )
- It was a misunderstanding.
- ( )
- Where are you taking me?
- ( )
- Am I under arrest?
- ( )
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
- ( )
- I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
- ( )
- I want to talk to a lawyer.
- ( )
- Can I just pay a fine now?
- ( )
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