Did you know that there are nearly 6500 different languages spoken across the globe? Languages allow us to communicate, express feelings and build, sustain or break relationships through the beauty of words (hey, that’s exactly what we do here at LK!).
Now in the age of globetrotting and a world of incredible diversity, it’s important to harness the ability to communicate effectively – not only to get what you want, but to also show respect and appreciation for other cultures.
Eating vegan can be easy and inexpensive. Yes – even when traveling. In many countries, meat is seen as a luxury, so it makes sense that when visiting new places – veggies and grains make up the most budget-friendly of traditional meals.
But what about when it comes to placing your order?
The following 10 languages are the most spoken in the world, as of 2017. So, if traveling or simply have a linguistically-curious disposition – wrap your tongue around these phrases to ensure a happy, meat-free meal.
How To Say You’re a Vegan In The World’s 10 Most Spoken Languages
1. Chinese (Simplified)
‘我是一位纯素食主义者。我不吃鱼、海鲜、禽、 肉或任何来自于动物的食品，包括蛋、奶制 品以及蜜蜂’ translates to ‘I am a vegan. I do not eat fish, seafood, poultry, meat or any animal products including eggs, dairy products, and honey’.
Also, ‘我是素食主义者’ (wǒ shì sùshí zhǔyì zhě) means ‘I am a vegan’. Or, for veggies – “bu chi rou” means “we do not eat meat”.
See the phonetic translation here.
2. English
‘I am vegan. I do not eat any meat, milk, cheese, butter, honey, fish, eggs, poultry, seafood or other animal products.’ Or, if that’s (understandably) a bit too much of a mouthful, many places are becoming aware of what the phrase ‘I am a vegan’ means. Pronounced VEE-GAN.
See the phonetic translation here
3. Spanish
‘Soy una persona vegana. No como pescado, mariscos, aves, carne ni ningún tipo de alimentos procedentes de animales, incluyendo huevos, productos lácteos y miel’ translates to ‘I am a vegan. I do not eat fish, seafood, poultry, meat or any animal products including eggs, dairy products and honey’.
In short, ‘Soy vegano/a’ means ‘I am a vegan’.
Find the phonetic translation here.
4. Arabic
لا ِأنا نباتي ص المأكولات البحرية ولا لحوم الطيور ولا غيرها من اللحوم ولا أي منتج من المنتجات الحيوانية بما فيها البيض ومنتجات الألبان والعسل translates to ‘I am a vegan. I do not eat fish, seafood, poultry, meat or any animal products including eggs, dairy products and honey’.
In short – أنا نباتي (‘ana nabati) means ‘I am a vegan’.
Find the phonetic translation here.
5. Hindi
मैं एक शाकाहारी हूँ means ‘I am a vegan’.
Also, if ordering custom dishes – this video shows you how to pronounce every vegetable in Hindi!
Find Hindi phonetics here.
6. Russian
Я веган (Ya vegan) means ‘I am a vegan’. A term for ‘vegan‘ is вегетарианский, said ‘vegetarianskiy‘ –
Find the phonetic translation here.
7. Bengali
আমি একটি ভেজান am – this translates to ‘I am vegan’. This Bengali phrasebook, complete with pronunciation is helpful phrases for travelers and may well come very handy.
8. Portuguese
You can say ‘Eu sou vegana/o’ – pronounced “e-oo sow ve gah noo/ah”. This means ‘I am a vegan’, super handy when ordering food!
9. French
‘Je suis végétalien/végétalienne. Je ne mange pas de poissons, de crustacés, de volaille, de viande, ni de produits d’animaux comme notamment les œufs, les produits laitiers et le miel’ – this phrase translates to ‘I am a vegan. I do not eat fish, seafood, poultry, meat or any animal products including eggs, dairy products and honey’.
Or – for a quick phrase, you can say ‘I am a vegan’ with ‘Je suis végétalien’ – pronounced “jhuh soo vee jhuh tall ee in“.
10. Punjabi
In Punjabi, the word for vegan and vegetarian is the same. ਮੈਂ ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ ਹਾਂ (maiṁ śākāhārī hāṁ) means ‘I am a vegan’. Also, ਸ਼ਾਕਾਹਾਰੀ (śākāhārī) simply means ‘vegan’.
To help you explain further, ਕੋਈ ਅੰਡਾ ਜਾਂ ਦੁੱਧ ਨਹੀਂ (Kō’ī aḍā jāṁ dudha nahīṁ) means ‘no eggs or milk.’
Alternately, World Accent has created a handy phrase translate card, with native speaking experts – it’s free to download here and saves you from doing all the hard work or saying something wrong.
A handy travel tip is to write phrases down and show your server or a chef, especially when your tongue is not fluent in the country’s native language and pronunciation is tricky. Treat phrasebooks like your survival bible and make use modern technology by keeping travel apps available at your fingertips.
