How to say ‘Happy Christmas’ in 20 languages

/1 Comment/in , /by

Wherever you’ll be celebrating Christmas this year, spread the cheer by learning how to wish even more people ‘Happy Christmas’!

Catalan Bon Nadal
Croatian Sretan Božić
Czech Veselé Vánoce
Dutch Prettige Kerstdagen
Finnish Hyvää Joulua
French Joyeux Noël
German Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek Kala Christougena
Hungarian Boldog Karácsonyt
Icelandic Gleðileg jól
Italian Buon Natale
Norwegian God Jul
Polish Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese Feliz Natal
Romanian Crăciun Fericit
Russian С наступающим Новым Годом (S nastupayuščim Novym Godom)
Spanish Feliz Navidad
Swedish God Jul
Turkish İyi Noeller
Welsh Nadolig Llawen

Another great way to say ‘Happy Christmas’ is to surprise your loved one with a Cactus gift voucher for use towards a language course of their choice.

Just click on the link to order online quickly and easily, with no worries about it being delivered in time for Christmas as it will be sent by email straight to your Inbox! Alternatively, please call one of our language course advisers on 0845 1304775 for more information or to purchase a voucher.

French Christmas carols: chants de Noël

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Bring some festive fun into your home this Christmas with these traditional Christmas carols…en français!

French Christmas carols, or Chants de Noël, are popular across France where Christmas is an important holiday. The French typically celebrate en famille, generations of the same family gathering for big festive meals and attending religious services at Church. For children it is an exciting time – children’s Christmas songs are sung and played at home, at school and in shops across the country in the run up to 25th December.

Although the French have their own carols, they do translate carols from other countries of the world. Below are lyrics to Silent Night, O Christmas Tree and much-loved Jingle Bells…

If there’s one fun way to learn a language and pick up new vocabulary, this is it - and no dictionary in sight!

Douce nuit (Silent Night)

Douce nuit, sainte nuit!

Dans les cieux! L’astre luit.

Le mystère annoncé s’accomplit.

Cet enfant sur la paille endormit,

C’est l’amour infini,

C’est l’amour infini!

Sweet night, holy night!

In the heavens the star shines.

The foretold mystery comes true.

This child sleeping on the hay,

Is infinite love,

Is infinite love!

Christmas_Trees

Mon beau sapin (O Christmas tree)

Mon beau sapin,

Roi des forêts,

Que j’aime ta verdure.

Quand vient l’hiver

Bois et guérets

Sont dépouillés

De leurs attraits.

Mon beau sapin,

Roi des forêts,

Que j’aime ta parure.

My beautiful tree,

King of the forests,

How I love your greenness.

When winter come

Woods and tillages

Are stripped

Of their attractions.

My beautiful tree,

King of the forests,

How I love your finery.

Vive le vent (Jingle Bells)

Vive le vent

Vive le vent

Vive le vent d’hiver

Qui s’en va sifflant soufflant

Dans les grands sapins verts

Oh!

Vive le temps

Vive le temps

Vive le temps d’hiver

Boule de neige et jour de l’an

Et bonne année grand-mère

Joyeux joyeux Noël

Aux mille bougies

Qu’enchantent vers le ciel

Les cloches de la nuit.

Oh!

Vive le temps

Vive le temps

Vive le temps d’hiver

Qui rapporte aux vieux enfants

Leurs souvenirs d’hier.

Sur le long chemin

Tout blanc de neige blanche

Un vieux monsieur s’avance

Avec sa canne dans la main

Et tout là haut le vent

Qui siffle dans les branches

Lui souffle la romance

Qu’il chantait petit enfant

Oh!

10 best chat-up lines in Spanish

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Don’t let the language barrier stop you from chatting up the man or woman of your dreams!

Read on and you’ll have the confidence to walk right up and deliver a killer line, just when you need it…

1. ¿Crees en el amor a primera vista, o tengo que cruzarme contigo otra vez?

Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk past you again?

2. “Perdóname, pero he perdido mi número de teléfono. ¿Me puedes dar el tuyo?”

I’m sorry, but I’ve lost my phone number. Could you give me yours?

3. “Hola, soy tu hombre perfecto. Alguien ha dicho que me estabas buscando.”

Hello, I’m your perfect man. Somebody said you were looking for me.

787068.TIF

4. “Hola, soy un ladrón, y estoy aquí para robar tu corazón.”

Hello, I am a thief, and I’m here to steal your heart.

5. “Debo estar muerto ya que estoy viendo un ángel.”

I must be dead because I’m looking at an angel.

Latino Dancers. Painting of Merenge or Salsa Dancing Couple

6. Esta es una canción excelente. ¿Quieres bailar conmigo?

This is a great song. Would you like to dance with me?

7. ¡Ay que curvas! - ¡y yo sin frenos!

Look at those curves - and I don’t have brakes!

8. Tu papá debe ser pirata, porque tú eres un tesoro.

Your father must be a pirate, because you are a treasure.

9. “¿Cómo te sientes al ser la más bella muchacha en esta sala?”

How does it feel to be the most beautiful girl in the room?

couple and bar sign

10. “¿Puedo comprarte una bebida?”

Can I buy you a drink?

Language note: These chat-up lines are mostly aimed at men chatting up women, but can easily be modified if you are female. Equally they are in the informal ‘tu’ form, but can be modified into the more informal ‘usted’ form.

¡Suerte!

Halloween vocabulary in German

/0 Comments/in , , /by
Der Herbst (m.) Autumn / Fall
Der einunddreißigste Oktober 31st October
Allerheiligen All Saints Day
Das Halloween (n.) Halloween
Der Kürbis (m.) Pumpkin
Die Hexe (f.) Witch
Der Besen (m.) Broom
Der Friedhof (m.) Cemetery
Die Kerze (f.) Candle
Die Maske (f.) Mask
Die Verkleidung (f.) / das Kostüm (n.) Disguise / Costume
Das Skelett (n.) Skeleton
Die schwarze Katze (f.) Black cat
Die Fledermaus (f.) Bat
Die Spinne (f.) Spider
Die Vogelscheuche (f.) Scarecrow
Die Kürbislaterne (f.) Jack-o’-lantern
Der Vampir (m.) Vampire
Der Kobold (m.) Goblin
Die Mumie (f.) Mummy
Das Ungeheuer (n.) / das Monster (n.) Monster
Der Teufel (m.) Devil
Die Süßigkeiten (pl.) Sweets / Candy

Halloween vocabulary in French

/0 Comments/in , , /by
L’automne Autumn / Fall
Octobre October
Le trente et un 31st
La Toussaint All Saints Day
Halloween Halloween
Un potiron Pumpkin
Une sorcière Witch
Un balai Broom
Un cimetière Cemetery
Une bougie Candle
Un masque Mask
Un déguisement Disguise / Costume
Un squelette Skeleton
Un chat noir Black cat
Une chauve-souris Bat
Une araignée Spider
Un épouvantail Scarecrow
Un feu follet Jack-o’-lantern
Un vampire Vampire
Un lutin Goblin
Une momie Mummy
Un monstre Monster
Un diable Devil
Des bonbons Sweets / Candy

Halloween vocabulary in Italian

/0 Comments/in , , /by
Halloween Halloween
ottobre October
trentuno 31st
Ognissanti All Saints Day
automno Autumn/Fall
zucca Pumpkin
strega Witch
ginestra Broom
cimitero Cemetery
candela Candle
maschera Mask
travestimento Disguise / Costume
scheletro Skeleton
gatto nero Black cat
pipistrello Bat
ragno Spider
spaventapasseri Scarecrow
lanterna Jack-o’-lantern
vampiro Vampire
folletto Goblin
mummia Mummy
mostro Monster
diavolo Devil
Dolci/caramelle Sweets / Candy

Cactus offer a wide range of Italian Courses both in the UK and around the world.

How to say Happy Easter in 10 languages

/2 Comments/in , /by
French Joyeuses Pâques
German Frohe Ostern
Italian Buona Pasqua
Spanish ¡Felices Pascuas!
Dutch Vrolijk Pasen
Polish Szczęśliwej Wielkanocy!
Danish God påske
Portuguese Feliz Páscoa
Catalan Bona Pasqua
Romanian Paşte Fericit

Cactus Language offers a range of language courses in the UK, the US and worldwide!

The tomato fight: top 10 phrases in Spanish to help you survive La Tomatina!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Ever year in a small village named Buñol, near Valencia in Spain, local Spaniards take to the streets, which become a battlefield for their weapon of choice…tomatoes! Check out our top ten ‘La Tomatina’ essential festival vocabulary and phrases!

‘La Tomatina‘ festival begins on the last Wednesday of August and is part of a week-long Spanish festival. It starts with the palo jamón - the “ham stick” - a greased pole with a piece of ham at the top. While the crowd wait impatiently for someone to try and climb the pole they sing and dance.

Once someone has climbed to the top of the pole and got the ham, a water cannon is fired into the air signalling the beginning of the tomato fight! Then several trucks filled with tomatoes are poured onto the gathered crowd and the locals start throwing them at each other!

If you would like to truly take part in this amazing tomato fight in Spain, then check out our essential vocabulary and phrases to ensure you survive the festival!

Our Top 10 La Tomatina phrases:

ENGLISH SPANISH
Did someone get the ham? ¿Alguien consiguió el jamón?
Let the battle begin! Que comience la batalla!
Watch out! ¡Cuidado!
Behind you! Detrás de usted/de ti!
Take cover! Ponerse a cubierto!
All I see is red Todo lo que veo es de color rojo
Has there been a signal yet? Han dado ya la señal?
Where can I wash my clothes? ¿Dónde puedo lavar mi ropa?
Stop! I’ve had enough! ¡Alto! Ya he tenido suficiente!
I need some rest! Necesito descansar un poco!

Our Top 10 La Tomatina Vocabulary:

ENGLISH SPANISH
the tomato el tomate
to squash aplastar
to hurl lanzar
the ham stick el palo jabón
safety glasses gafas de protección
the battle la batalla
the hose la manguera
projectile el proyectil
dirty sucio
to wash lavar

Cactus specialises in organising language courses for individuals and groups, having done so since 1999 for clients all over the globe and for diverse needs and budgets. Our expertise in the field of face-to-face tuition is second-to-none. With an extensive network of approved teachers and a strong in-house academic team, we are able to tailor a language course to suit your specific learning needs, anywhere in the world and whenever is convenient to you.

Oktoberfest or “d’ Wiesn” to the locals

/0 Comments/in , , /by

To help you survive this annual German festival we have come up with some essential phrases and vocabulary…

Every year over 6 million people flock to the city of Munich in Germany to be part of the world famous German festival, Oktoberfest. And what exactly do you do? Drink beer from 6 of Munich’s brewers for 16 days! However, there are plenty of other things to do in this charming city in southern Germany, such as trying the delicious local food and taking a ride on the world’s largest portable rollercoaster!

Finally, if you really want to join in the festivities, why not try dressing up? Ladies traditionally wear a Dirndl, which is a Bavarian dress with an apron, and men wear a Lederhosen, which are leather shorts with embroidery.

Impress the locals with our top 10 Oktoberfest phrases and vocabulary!

ENGLISH GERMAN
Hello my name is….what is your name? Hallo, ich heiße ….. Wie heißt du? – (Great way to make new friends!)
Another beer please Noch ein Bier, bitte.
I need a re-fill, please! Nachschenken, bitte!
It’s tapped! O’zapft is! (b)
I want to buy beer tokens Ich möchte Biermarken kaufen
Which way is the Wiesn? (Large field where Oktoberfest takes place) Wo geht es zur Wiesn?
Next round is on him/her! Die nächste Runde zahlt er/sie!
Cheers! Prost!
One, two, drink! Oans, Zwoa, Gsuffa! (b)



ENGLISH GERMAN
Rollercoaster die Achterbahn
Beer tent das Bierzelt
Family day (prices are cheaper) der Famillientag
Waiter/Waitress die Bedienung
Sausage die Wurst
Beer mug der Bierkrug
Pretzel die Brezel
Ticket die Fahrkarte
Music die Musik
Bartender der Wirt

(b) indicates that it is in Bavarian German

If you find yourself wanting to expand on your vocabulary, also visit www.oktoberfest.de for a whole dictionary of essential Oktoberfest words.

Cactus specialises in organising language courses for individuals and groups, having done so since 1999 for clients all over the globe and for diverse needs and budgets. Our expertise in the field of face-to-face tuition is second-to-none. With an extensive network of approved teachers and a strong in-house academic team, we are able to tailor a language course to suit your specific learning needs, anywhere in the world and whenever is convenient to you.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The next FIBA Basketball World Cup is taking place in Spain and we thought we would like to help basketball enthusiasts, around the world, with some essential vocabulary and phrases in Spanish!

This international event, which takes place every four years, will be hosted by several cities across Spain from the 30 August to 14th September 2014. The FIBA Basketball World Cup brings together 22 teams from across the world, including previous champions the United States. The tournament has been running for over 60 years!

How exciting would it be to watch this invigorating sport in Spain?! To ensure you can join in on all the fun, we have provided some essential Spanish vocabulary and phrases to make sure you are well and truly warmed-up for next year!

Basketball lingo that will even impress the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant!

ENGLISH MEANING SPANISH
Slam dunk One of the most famous phrases. It is a high jump shot in which the ball is thrust down through the hoop. Mate
Bank shot A Shot that is aimed at the backboard so it “banks” into the Basket. This shot is used when close to the basket and usually when the player is face on and not to the sides of the court. Tiro a tablero
Player A member of the basketball team. El jugador / la jugadora / el/la baloncestista
Jump pass / shot A pass / shot made while the player is in the air. El pase / el tiro en suspensión
Free throw An unopposed attempt to score a point, usually awarded to a team after a foul by the shooter on the opposing team. El tiro libre
Dribble When a player bounces the ball. Driblar
Referee An official who enforces the rules in sports. Árbitro
Substitute A player who comes into the game to replace a player on the court. Sustituto
Dead ball When there’s a dead ball, the ball is not in play. Balón muerto
Pivot When a player is standing still with the ball he has to keep a foot on the floor, until he passes or shoots the ball. He can’t lift his foot but he can turn on it. This is called pivoting. Pivote

Top ten phrases translated into Spanish for when you’re cheering on your team in the Basketball World cup!

ENGLISH SPANISH
Coast to coast Costa a costa (from one end of the pitch to the other)
Take the shot Toma el tiro
He shoots, he scores! Tira y marca
Let’s go, let’s go! ¡Vamos vamos!
We are better than them! Somos mejores que ellos
Champions! Campeones
Pass the ball Pasa el balón
Ref, that was a foul! ¡Árbitro, que era una falta!
My grandma could throw better than that! Mi abuela podría tirar mejor que eso
Shoot it Tira

Check out the official FIBA website for more information: www.fiba.com

Cactus specialises in organising language courses for individuals and groups, having done so since 1999 for clients all over the globe and for diverse needs and budgets. Our expertise in the field of face-to-face tuition is second-to-none. With an extensive network of approved teachers and a strong in-house academic team, we are able to tailor a language course to suit your specific learning needs, anywhere in the world and whenever is convenient to you.