Meaning & use
foreign language phrases
Last updated
Meanings
phraseplural
Common expressions or sayings used in a language that is not your native one.
Grammar: Always plural in this form; for a single item, say 'a foreign language phrase'.
Patterns
- learn foreign language phrases
- use foreign language phrases
- common foreign language phrases
She learned a few foreign language phrases before her trip to Japan.
The app teaches you useful foreign language phrases for everyday situations.
He impressed the locals by using foreign language phrases correctly.
phraseplural
A set of words from another language, often studied for travel or communication.
Grammar: Can be used as a subject or object; often followed by 'for' to specify purpose.
Patterns
- foreign language phrases for travelers
- a list of foreign language phrases
- practice foreign language phrases
The guidebook includes foreign language phrases for ordering food.
We practiced foreign language phrases before the conference.
Knowing some foreign language phrases can make travel easier.
Common combinations
- common foreign language phrases
- The website lists common foreign language phrases like 'hello' and 'thank you'.
- learn foreign language phrases
- Children learn foreign language phrases through songs and games.
- useful foreign language phrases
- She wrote down useful foreign language phrases in a notebook.
- foreign language phrases for travel
- This book covers foreign language phrases for travel in Europe.
Synonyms and how they differ
- expressions in another language
- A descriptive phrase; less fixed than 'foreign language phrases' and more general.
- phrases in a second language
- Similar, but 'second language' often implies a language learned after your first, while 'foreign language' emphasizes it is not spoken in your country.
Word family
- foreign language noun
- A language not spoken in your own country.
- phrase noun
- A small group of words that express an idea.
- phrasebook noun
- A book of common expressions for travelers.
Commonly confused: foreign language phrases or foreign-language phrase?
foreign language phrases vs foreign-language phrase
When used as an adjective before a noun, 'foreign-language' is hyphenated (e.g., a foreign-language phrase). As a noun phrase, it is not hyphenated.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'foreign language phrases' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is plural, so 'phrases' is correct. Option 1 uses the singular 'phrase' with 'some', which is less natural for a countable plural. Option 2 incorrectly pluralizes 'languages' instead of 'phrases'. Option 3 uses a hyphenated adjective form with a singular noun, which is not standard for this plural expression.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “foreign language phrases”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.