Live football, sleep football, speak football!

        Of all the great advances the human race has made since we came down from the trees, none is more important than the ability to communicate. The power of speech and the intelligent thought that goes with it are what really set us apart from our dumb friends the animals. However, when travelling abroad, or indeed when meeting foreigners at home, language can often present a barrier to communication. Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to participate in the conversation around you, especially when you know it's interesting but you just can't join in. Maybe you have a point to make but don't know how. Perhaps someone is wrong but you can't tell them. Maybe everyone is laughing but you don't get the joke. Indeed, it's when you struggle to do something as simple as buy a stamp, order a beer, take a bus or find the football stadium, that you feel at your most helpless abroad. However, if you have even a basic command of the other language these tasks become simple and the satisfaction of achieving them is immense.

        The English are lucky in that, nowadays, many people all over the world have at least a basic knowledge of our language, but any attempt to converse in a foreign tongue will usually be warmly and enthusiastically received. A conversation with a local can be a rewarding experience and can really help you to get the feel of a town or country and its people. And remember, as a football fan you have one key asset you can use to communicate: the international language of football. Football fans the world over share the same emotions, frustrations, hopes and desires and can easily relate to one another. As a large and ever increasing proportion of the world's population take an interest in football you have a ready-made topic of conversation to use as an ice-breaker anywhere. Identifying a football fan is easy enough - young to middle-aged males in a bar, look for a shirt, maybe a scarf, a group of lads drinking beer, especially on a match day. Chances are they will speak football. Many's the time I've used the opening gambit 'You going to the match?' or 'You come from here? You must support insert relevant local team then.' or 'Did you see that goal/game/fight last night?' and we've nattered away like old friends over a few beers for hours on end. Great players. prospective transfers, epic away trips, anything can be discussed. You can also glean valuable local information about where to stand, where to avoid, where to drink and who to boo, etc...

        I do recommend trying to learn the basics of the language for any country you visit as it'll really enhance your trip, but to get to the heart and soul of another country's football culture use the indispensable About a Ball guide and multilingual phrasebook.

        You too can talk About a Ball, anytime, anyplace.

Football Language Dictionary

English to French - English to German - English to Italian - English to Spanish - English to Portuguese