The best apps to learn travel phrases before a trip
For speaking phrases out loud before a trip, Pimsleur is the strongest audio course and 333 Sentences is the quickest way through a fixed list of everyday sentences. Babbel suits people who want structured dialogues, Memrise lets you hear real native speakers, and Duolingo is the best free daily habit. Whatever you pick, download Google Translate’s offline language pack as a backup.
At a glance
| App | Best for | Speaking | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333 Sentences | A fixed list of everyday sentences, said out loud | Record and compare, every sentence | First 3 sentences free, no account. Then pay once: 1 week $5, 3 months $18 or 1 year $48. No auto-renewal. |
| Pimsleur | Audio-first speaking practice | Spoken answers in every lesson | Paid subscription with a free trial. |
| Babbel | Structured dialogues with grammar explained | Some speech exercises | Paid subscription. |
| Memrise | Hearing real native speakers | Listening first, some speaking | Free to start; paid plan for full access. |
| Duolingo | A free daily habit | Short speaking prompts | Free with ads; paid plans remove ads and add features. |
| Drops | Travel vocabulary in five minutes a day | Words only | Free with a daily limit; paid plan removes it. |
| Travel Phrasebook by Bravolol | An offline phrasebook in your pocket | Record and play back | Free with in-app purchases. |
| Google Translate | A backup on the trip | Translates for you | Free. |
How we chose
- You speak out loud, not only tap answers.
- It covers what a trip needs: greetings, food, directions, shopping, hotels.
- It is useful within days, not months.
- The price is clear, and a free way to start exists.
The picks
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1. 333 Sentences
Made by us · A fixed list of everyday sentences, said out loud333 everyday sentences in ten topics, from greetings to food, shopping, travel and directions, in English, Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Korean, Italian, Chinese, Russian and Hindi. Each takes about two minutes: hear it, build it from its words, fill the gap, then record yourself and compare with the native audio. Recordings stay on your phone.
- Price
- First 3 sentences free, no account. Then pay once: 1 week $5, 3 months $18 or 1 year $48. No auto-renewal.
- Skip it if
- You want grammar explained, a language outside these ten, or a live person to talk to.
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2. Pimsleur
Audio-first speaking practiceAudio lessons of about 30 minutes that prompt you to answer out loud, so you practise recalling phrases instead of recognising them. Good while walking or driving. Covers 51 languages.
- Price
- Paid subscription with a free trial.
- Skip it if
- You want to see words written down while you learn, or your trip is days away.
-
3. Babbel
Structured dialogues with grammar explainedShort lessons built around everyday dialogues such as ordering food or checking in, with grammar explained along the way.
- Price
- Paid subscription.
- Skip it if
- You mostly want to practise speaking, not reading and tapping.
-
4. Memrise
Hearing real native speakersShort videos of native speakers saying everyday phrases, so you hear the accent and speed you will meet on the street.
- Price
- Free to start; paid plan for full access.
- Skip it if
- You want a complete course in a set order.
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5. Duolingo
A free daily habitFree, game-like lessons that build a streak and basic vocabulary across many languages.
- Price
- Free with ads; paid plans remove ads and add features.
- Skip it if
- Your trip is less than a month away: the course order is not built around travel phrases.
-
6. Drops
Travel vocabulary in five minutes a dayVisual word games for food, transport, numbers and signs.
- Price
- Free with a daily limit; paid plan removes it.
- Skip it if
- You need whole sentences, not single words.
-
7. Travel Phrasebook by Bravolol
An offline phrasebook in your pocketTravel phrases in 18 languages with native pronunciation, slow playback and voice recording. Works without internet.
- Price
- Free with in-app purchases.
- Skip it if
- You want an app that makes you practise; it is a reference.
-
8. Google Translate
A backup on the tripNot a course. Download your language for offline use; camera mode reads menus and signs, and conversation mode translates both sides of a chat.
- Price
- Free.
- Skip it if
- You want to remember anything after the trip.
Which one should you pick?
Your trip is under two weeks away
333 Sentences for the greetings, food, travel and directions topics, plus Google Translate offline.
You have a month or more and a commute
Pimsleur, one lesson a day.
You want to understand why sentences work
Babbel.
You want to spend nothing
Duolingo, the Bravolol phrasebook and Google Translate offline, plus the free phrase lists on this site.
Who should skip 333 Sentences
- You need a language we do not teach yet: we have ten.
- You want grammar rules explained; we teach whole sentences, not rules.
- You want to talk to a person; use a tutor app such as Preply or italki.
Know them. Then say them without freezing.
333 Sentences takes you through these one at a time: hear it, build it, fill the gap, say it and compare with the native voice.
Free phrase lists with audio
Questions
What is the best app to learn travel phrases?
Pimsleur if you want an audio course that makes you speak, 333 Sentences if you want a fixed list of everyday sentences to say out loud, and Duolingo if you want something free. Add Google Translate offline as a backup.
Can I learn enough phrases in two weeks?
Enough for the basics, yes: greetings, please and thank you, ordering, asking for directions and prices. At about two minutes a sentence, 15 minutes a day covers around 100 sentences in two weeks.
Which phrases should I learn first for a trip?
Greetings and thank you, then asking for help, then ordering food, then directions and transport. The free lists on this site are in that order.
Are free apps enough before a trip?
For survival phrases, yes. Duolingo, the free phrase lists with audio on this site and Google Translate offline cover the basics. Paid apps add structure and more speaking practice.