Do I need Lithuanian to study in Lithuania?

No. Most degree and Erasmus programmes are taught in English, and younger people in cities usually speak some English. But a few phrases make daily errands smoother and locals genuinely appreciate the effort.

How do I say thank you?

Ačiū (AH-choo). It's one word, used everywhere, and easy to remember.

Is 'Labas' rude in a shop?

Not rude, but it's casual. With strangers, older people or staff, 'Laba diena' (good day) is the safer, more polite choice.

Will people switch to English if I try Lithuanian?

Often, yes — especially in Vilnius and Kaunas. Don't take it personally; they're being helpful. Keep using your phrases anyway.

Survival Lithuanian for students: phrases that actually help

You don't need to speak Lithuanian to study here — most programmes are in English — but a handful of basic Lithuanian phrases for students make shops, cafés and small talk much warmer, and locals appreciate the effort even when your pronunciation wobbles.

Start with these six

If you learn nothing else, learn these. They cover most everyday moments.

Lithuanian	English	Rough sound
Labas	Hi / hello	LAH-bahs
Ačiū	Thank you	AH-choo
Prašau	Please / here you go	prah-SHOW
Atsiprašau	Sorry / excuse me	aht-sih-prah-SHOW
Taip / Ne	Yes / no	type / neh
Viso gero	Goodbye	VEE-soh GHEH-roh

Ačiū does a lot of work

One word — ačiū — covers nearly every "thanks" you'll need: paying at a till, getting directions, leaving a café. Master this one first.

Formal vs informal: read the room

Lithuanian, like many European languages, has a more formal register. Getting this roughly right is the difference between sounding friendly and sounding too casual.

With strangers, staff and older people, lead with Laba diena (LAH-bah dee-EH-nah, "good day"). It's the safe, polite default in shops, restaurants and offices.
With friends and classmates your own age, Labas is perfectly natural any time of day.
Time-of-day greetings exist too: Labas rytas (good morning) and Labas vakaras (good evening).

When in doubt, go formal — Laba diena is never the wrong choice.

In a café, shop or canteen

Student life runs on coffee and cheap lunches, so these come up daily.

Kiek kainuoja? — How much does it cost? (kyek kai-NOO-oh-yah)
Prašau — used both for "please" and when handing something over.
Kavą, prašau — A coffee, please.
Sąskaitą, prašau — The bill, please. (SAWS-kai-taw)
Ačiū, viso gero — Thanks, goodbye — a tidy way to leave.

You'll also hear Prašom from staff, meaning roughly "here you go" or "you're welcome."

When you're stuck

Sooner or later someone speaks to you in fast Lithuanian. These get you out politely.

Ar kalbate angliškai? — Do you speak English? (ar kal-BAH-teh ahng-LISH-kai)
Nekalbu lietuviškai — I don't speak Lithuanian. (neh-kal-BOO lyeh-too-VISH-kai)
Nesuprantu — I don't understand. (neh-soo-prahn-TOO)
Atsiprašau, kur yra...? — Excuse me, where is...? (...kur ee-RAH)

They may switch to English

In Vilnius and Kaunas especially, many people will answer in English the moment they hear an accent. That's helpfulness, not rejection — keep practising your phrases regardless.

A few small-talk extras

Handy once you've settled in and want to sound a little more local.

Kaip sekasi? — How are you? (kaip SEH-kah-si)
Puikiai — Great / fine. (POO-ee-kyai)
Malonu susipažinti — Nice to meet you.
Sveikas / Sveika — informal "hi" to a man / to a woman.
Į sveikatą! — Cheers! (literally "to health")

Pronunciation: the only rules you need now

č sounds like ch in "church"; š like sh in "shoe"; ž like the s in "measure".
Ė/ė is a long "eh"; y is a long "ee".
Lithuanian is read largely as written — once you know the special letters above, most words are predictable.

Don't worry about getting it perfect. A friendly Laba diena and an ačiū on the way out already mark you as someone who's made an effort, and that goes a long way.

Save this for offline

Screenshot the first table or add the six core words to your phone notes. When your signal drops on the trolleybus or you're at a market stall, you'll have them ready without needing a translation app.