One in ten people can order a beer in five or more languages, poll reveals - as Brits master the art of getting the drinks in on holiday
As Brit sunseekers prepare to jet off on their summer holidays, new research has revealed that even though the nation struggles with learning languages, this does not apply to ordering beer.
But while one in four Brits admit they're too embarrassed to talk in a different language, the poll revealed that they can order a beer in an impressive three different languages, while 10 per cent have nailed it in five or more.
The findings are a result of an Amazon survey as part of its Chatterbox series, and showed the most common phrases that the nation has mastered on average in three languages, including 'excuse me', 'I don't understand', and importantly - 'where is the toilet?'.
While all helpful phrases to know, many holidaymakers have found themselves in the wrong place after misunderstanding directions, or with the wrong meal after mixing up words in an order.
Full of good intentions, a whopping 85 per cent of Brits vow to scrub up on the lingo before they go on their next holiday, but nine per cent confessed that they never do.
While one in four Brits admit they're too embarrassed to talk in a different language, the poll revealed that they can order a beer in an impressive three different languages, while 10 per cent have nailed it in five or more
Amazon worker Ben Walmsley, 31, Yorks, said that his Spanish is hopeless but that trying goes a long way, even helping him to befriend the head waiter at the Hotel Presidente in Benidorm, Spain, where he got exclusive perks.
'I've always been rubbish at languages, but the head waiter at our hotel took a shine to me and my family, when we tried to mimic some Spanish phrases he'd say,' he said.
'In return, every time we went into his restaurant, he'd give us his best Yorkshire accent speaking to us in English, which was equally as comical.
'By the end of the holiday, he was giving us the best table in the house, free drinks and bottles of prosecco.
'It shows that giving it a go is the most important thing. People appreciate the effort and even if it goes wrong, it can be a bonding experience.'
According to the new data, the most commonly confused words include 'fizzy' and 'still', at 38 per cent, followed by 'left' and 'right', 27 per cent, and 'please' and 'thank you', at 25 per cent.
But the new poll also revealed the top 'language cheats' that people use to get by while on a holiday abroad.
Over half of the people - 51 per cent - admitted to only learning the first half of a sentence in a foreign language in the hope they can finish the rest in their own native language.
Some 56 per cent only learn to ask the phrase 'do you speak English?', while 24 per cent are too embarrassed to try and speak a different language.
Two in 10 said they've been sent to the wrong place after getting the language wrong and 25 per cent have suffered eating the wrong dish in a restaurant after getting the language mixed up.
A further 13 per cent have been short-changed and seven per cent have accidentally given a giant tip because they failed to calculate the exchange rate correctly.
Ahead of holiday season, travel and language expert Alex Rawlings recommended trying to perfect at least five phrases before travelling abroad.
He suggested learning a greeting phrase such as 'Hello' or 'Good Evening', a phrase that shows appreciation including 'thank you very much', an apology phrase, a question phrase like 'where is' or 'what is', and a compliment.
'And say it with a smile,' he added, 'as this will help you to connect with people, and that's really important.'
