Getting around
Subway
Stand clear of the closing doors.
Stand clear of the closing doors.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
New York
United States
New York City is five boroughs around a harbour, with Manhattan as the dense island in the middle.
How the language is used
English is the public language of signs, schools, and city offices, and Spanish is widely heard on streets and in shops.
In this city
- Language
- English
- Also heard
- Spanish, Chinese and Russian
- A local word
- Bodega — A corner grocery.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Bodega
One bagel, to go.
One bagel, to take away.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Deli
A regular coffee.
A regular coffee.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Street
How you doin'?
How are you doing?
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
English is the language of the ride, the shop, and the street.
In Queens, the Bronx, Washington Heights, you also hear Spanish, Chinese and Russian.
A first day in New York can run on four lines: “Stand clear of the closing doors.”, “One bagel, to go.”, “A regular coffee.”, and “How you doin'?”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- One everyday you-form covers most shops. Please and thanks do the polite work.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In New York, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Bodega. It means A corner grocery..
Places you can see
- Statue of Liberty — A harbour statue on Liberty Island, reached by ferry from Manhattan.
- Central Park — A long park through the middle of Manhattan, with paths, lawns, and lakes.
- New York subway — An underground network that ties the five boroughs together under the streets.
Food
Pizza by the slice, bagels, and diners sit beside kitchens from almost every cuisine.
Getting around
The subway links the boroughs under the streets, with buses on the avenues and ferries in the harbour.
Daily life
You share a sidewalk with office crowds at midday and with street vendors after dark.
A few everyday phrases
English
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Good morning | Good morning |
| My name is… | My name is… |
