The ability to speak several languages is a valuable skill, but knowing when to stay quiet is an even greater one.
One cab driver learned this the hard way when he launched into a vivid rant about his passenger in Romanian, confident she couldn’t follow. Little did he realize, she caught every word—and by the end of the ride, she responded with a remark that left him completely floored.
More info: Reddit
The cab driver went on a rude rant about his passenger in his native language
Image credits: ollyy / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Little did he know, she understood every word and wasn’t about to let it slide
Image credits: ArthurHidden / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: bagelundercouch
“Be polite and friendly to others, no matter if they understand you or not,” advises polyglot
Bored Panda spoke with Lisa, a polyglot and content creator known as @polyglottelle on Instagram, to get her thoughts on encounters like this.
“I’ve actually experienced something similar while I was abroad,” Lisa told us. During a taxi ride with a local friend, the driver started commenting on her appearance, calling her “hot” and asking her friend if she was his girlfriend. “He had no idea I could understand every word because I stayed quiet the whole time,” she recalled. But things took a turn when the driver began insulting her for being a foreigner.
Lisa decided to keep her composure until the end of the ride. When it was time to get out, she calmly asked the driver—in his own language—to stop at a different location since they had changed their minds. “He was completely caught off guard that I not only understood him but could respond perfectly,” she said.
While the encounter was amusing to her, it also served as an important reminder. “You never know who might be able to follow what you’re saying, so you have to be mindful of your words,” Lisa reflected. “They can hurt people or lead to unpleasant situations.”
“So my advice: be polite and friendly to others, no matter if they understand you or not.”
Watch movies and talk to yourself if you want to be fluent in a foreign language
Lisa, originally from Germany, is fluent in four languages—German, English, Spanish, and Portuguese—and is now working on three more as she strives to eventually master 15.
One of her favorite things about learning new languages is connecting with the cultures behind them. “Even though it’s the same language, cultural differences can influence how it’s used and express the mentality of the people really well,” she said.
She finds idioms and untranslatable expressions particularly fascinating. “For example, the Portuguese word Saudade expresses a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia,” Lisa shared. “Or the German word Fernweh, which describes being homesick for a place you’ve never been.”
Of course, reaching fluency requires time, dedication, and effort, but Lisa has practical tips for beginners looking to improve. “Start by watching YouTube videos for beginners, reading your favorite book, or watching a familiar movie or show,” she suggested.
“If you already know the story, you don’t have to focus on the plot—you can concentrate on learning the words instead,” she explained. “I especially enjoy watching travel or ‘a day in my life’ vlogs because the visuals make it clear what’s happening, and certain words are repeated often enough to stick in your head naturally.”
Many recommend speaking from day one, and Lisa agrees it’s a good approach. “But it’s not always easy to find someone to practice with, so start by talking to yourself or reading sentences out loud,” she suggests. “It helps you get used to forming sentences, and when you finally have a conversation, your muscle memory will guide you.”
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