The Goan native language is Konkani, although lots of people you will deal with will be from other parts of India. Konkani is a bit long winded to learn and say, hindi is a bit easier. They way you pronounce words in either language is very important as where you place the emphasis can change the meaning.
In Konkani spelt phonetically, Deo boro kuru = Thank you. I once asked if there was a shorter way of saying thank you, the waiter replied yes we say thanks Ek dom beer ane di glass mache = 1 beer and 2 glasses please. Im sure others will be along with plenty more suggestions including how to tell someone to go away

the best book on this subject is one that I've used for fifty years, it's still in print and can be got at.
http://www.skipper.co.uk/cat.aspx?lst=13
It's in paperback priced £10.71. inc. postage. It's called "The Malim Sahib' Hindustani" Up until the mid sixties, all shipping trading regularly with India had to carry Indian crews, only the deck and engineer officers were British. This guide was printed for their use as the vast majority of the Indian crews knew no English. Although some of the stuff in it is relating to seamanship, there are loads of everyday stuff in it. I always take my copy with me, and learn a few phrases to use in the likes of retuarants. The waiters always undestand and get a good laugh at my attempts. Now, whenever I go into the "Taste Of India", in Calangute, the staff all shout out "Tundra Panni Boatt Ghildi" (Cold water, very quickly) in unison and break into roars of laughter. It's not just a dictionary, there's a section on grammar and pronounciation as well. Worth a read if you're an India fan.
Alan

dont know about the spelling but:

Maka zai ek (=1) dakti beer machi (rough translation is I would like 1 (or 2 = don) large beers please. (strange how we all learn how to ask for a beer)
Maka Naka = I don't want. (very useful).

I try Konkani every time we are there.......... and to be honest my attempts are woeful but it's good fun having a go.............and shamefully I have gone off beer too (but honeybee, now that's another story)
Fizz

The Language I use most often is no I dont want a &&&&&&g taxi .slan(cheers)

Good one
Can't imagine you using the "F" word though

Gramps what shipping line did you sail with and what was your rank? I was a radio officer in the 70's an extinct breed now

I was an enginner officer for about six years or so in the late 50s & early 60s, finishing up as a third, always with Ellermans City boats, then the largest UK fleet and now also, like most of the British Merchant Navy, long gone. Traded mostly with the Indian Sub Continent, hence my long standing interest in all things Indian. Sailed with many a grand Sparky, as you say now also an extinct species
Alan

Gramps when are you out in Goa? We are there from early Nov till end March, maybe we could share a couple of beers and a few salty tales. We stay down south and I think you stay up north but its not a great distance. Pm me if you are interested
David

As someone else suggested, Konkani is the main language in Goa. I travel quite a lot and, like you, I always try to get fluent in the essentials - like Good Morning, Please, Thankyou, etc. wherever I travel.
So much so that I can now order a beer in 15 different languages (including Mandarin, Swahili, Sinhalese, and Arabic !!)

I find that it really does help if one shows the locals enough respect to at least try a little to communicate in their language - and my attempts always get a laugh.

There are a few useful websites for the Konkani language, one is

http://www.ourkarnataka.com/learn_konkani/learn_konkani_main.htm

Unfortunately the folks at Eurotalk who provide the excellent series of simple language CDs haven't yet got around to including Konkani in their range - but they do accept requests for future course inclusions so maybe if enough of us requested Konkani it might appear.

my o/h practises on the delevery driver from our local takeaway in hindu,he understands as well,much to my amazememt