What languages do you use the most in a given day? Buying my cigarettes in French.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (228508)
Walnut Creek, California
July 12, 2025 10:30am CST
I am a decent English speaker, as it is my first language. I was close to fluent in Italian (for a 4-year-old) when we lived in Italy for a year. But I have forgotten most of the Italian I learned. I speak a tiny bit of Spanish, as I have lived in California for many years. I even know few words of Hebrew.
But the language I learned in school was French. I can carry on a Very Basic conversation in French.
The guy who runs my local gas station is from Algeria. He speaks Berber, French and English. He may speak other languages as well. When I buy my cigs from him, we speak only in French. It is actually really fun. Plus I can ask him questions (in English) if there is something I do not understand. We both get a kick out of our interactions.
What languages do you speak? If you are Filipino, or Indian, where English is taught in the schools, do you speak some English on a daily basis? Do you mostly speak Tagalog, or Hindi? Or your native dialect? What language(s) were you "forced" to learn in school?
10 people like this
12 responses
@marguicha (227809)
• Chile
5h
I know French and English besides my native Spanish. I was very glad when we went to France and could "eat" in French.
My husband did not know a single word of French as his teacher in school sent him to play soccer while she taught the rest of the students.
My husband did not know a single word of French as his teacher in school sent him to play soccer while she taught the rest of the students.3 people like this
@marguicha (227809)
• Chile
3h
@TheHorse He was part of the best soccer team of his time.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (228508)
• Walnut Creek, California
Just now
@marguicha Have you ever watched "South Park"?
@LadyDuck (478768)
• Italy
4h
The official languages of Algeria are Arabic and Berber, but most people also speak French, it's the same in Morocco. I speak Italian all the time with my husband, but we also use French a lot, because we lived 31 years in Monte Carlo, where French is the official language.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3370)
•
2h
@TheHorse probably. The North Africans I worked with were mostly from Morocco and spoke French fluently as well as Arabic, but there were also two from Algeria. One spoke French well and the other didn't, so I guess it depends on where you're from. They all speak Arabic, though. Next time he sells to you, say "shukran" instead of "merci" and see what he does. Bet you get a big smile!
@DaddyEvil (153017)
• United States
5h
I know some words/phrases in Spanish but I speak English the most... I took 4 years of French in high school but don't have anyone to practice with so have forgotten most of it now.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (3070)
• United Kingdom
Just now
I only use English although if needed I can use sign language….i used to work in a school supporting hearing impaired children, and I was a regular at the local deaf club too.
@LindaOHio (194330)
• United States
2h
I speak English. I knew some Italian when I was younger; but I only remember a few phrases. I took Latin in high school. So stupid. I should have taken French. Would have loved to have learned Spanish; but they only offered Latin, German and French.
@TheHorse (228508)
• Walnut Creek, California
Just now
@AliCanary I enjoy noting the similarities between Italian, French, and Spanish words. But I have never studied Latin.
@AliCanary (3370)
•
2h
Having studied Latin will give you a big boost in French, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese! You can go on Duolingo and learn for free - that's what I do!
1 person likes this
@LooeyVille (108)
• United States
4h
English. I speak a tiny bit of Spanish and and a fair bit of German.
1 person likes this
@LooeyVille (108)
• United States
4h
@TheHorse 3 years of German in high school. My great-grandfather who I never met immigrated here from Germany. My dad was posted in Germany for a while in the Air Force.
@AliCanary (3370)
•
2h
@LooeyVille My dad was in Germany during the occupation and picked up a little German. I took a summer class in junior high, but I decided to go with French in high school. However, my sister took German the whole time and is quite fluent. I rotate among French, German, Spanish and Japanese on Duolingo, but I really concentrate most on Spanish because it's most useful in my job. Alles gut!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86849)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
48m
I am fluent in English and Latvian, At home I think in both languages and pray in Latvian,
@AliCanary (3370)
•
2h
English is my native language, but I use Spanish very often at my job (I'm in HR). I also studied French in school - three years of it, actually. Was in French Honor and everything. I got a chance to practice when a lot of North Africans were hired at my job (they spoke only Arabic and French, and only I and an English gentleman had ANY French, so we were elected to help communicate). However, with no practice for several years, I can't hold much of a conversation in French. At least having studied French made learning Spanish easier. I have also studied German, Portuguese, Zulu, and Japanese, and I know various words and phrases in Arabic, Chinese, Amharic, Serbian, Russian, Vietnamese, and Urdu.
@cabuyogty (3918)
• Philippines
3h
I usually speak in Tagalog , I'm a Filipino and we were forced to speak or write in English when it was the subject is English in school.
