He doesn't talk much. You’ve probably noticed that. By the time we get to John Wick: Chapter 4, the guy barely scrapes together 380 words of dialogue across nearly three hours of screen time. But when he does open his mouth, it’s rarely just in English.
John Wick is a ghost, a myth, and apparently, a walking Rosetta Stone. He moves through the global underworld like a local in every zip code, from the rainy alleys of New York to the neon-soaked streets of Osaka. If you've ever wondered how many languages does John Wick know, the answer isn't just a number—it’s a map of his violent history.
The Core Linguistic Arsenal
Most people count about eight or nine languages that John actually uses or understands on screen. It’s not just for show, either. In the world of the High Table, speaking the local tongue isn't about being polite; it’s about survival and professional respect.
1. Russian: The Mother Tongue
This is the big one. We find out in Chapter 3 – Parabellum that John was born Jardani Jovonovich in Belarus. He’s a "child of the Ruska Roma." This makes Russian his most natural second language, or perhaps even his first.
He speaks it fluently with Viggo Tarasov in the original film, though native speakers online love to joke about Keanu’s thick accent. Honestly, it doesn't matter if it’s perfect; in the context of the movie, he’s using it to threaten mobsters who thought he was just another American "civilian."
2. Italian: The Roman Connection
In John Wick: Chapter 2, John heads to Rome. He doesn’t need a translator. He chats with the Sommelier and exchanges tense pleasantries with Italian officials. His Italian is smooth, functional, and deeply professional. It suggests he spent a significant chunk of his "impossible task" years or his early career operating out of Southern Europe.
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3. American Sign Language (ASL)
This is one of the coolest additions to his repertoire. His "conversation" with Ares (Ruby Rose) in the second movie is entirely in ASL. It’s a silent, deadly exchange. It adds a layer of depth to his character—he isn't just a blunt instrument; he’s someone who has adapted to the specific needs of his peers, even the silent ones.
The "Situational" Languages
Beyond the big three, John dips into several other dialects. Some of these are moments of deep respect, while others are just tools to get a job done.
Japanese and Cantonese
By the time we hit Chapter 4, John is basically a linguistic chameleon. He speaks Japanese with Shimazu Koji in Osaka. It’s formal, filled with the correct honorifics, showing he understands the "culture of honor" as much as the words themselves.
Then there’s the Cantonese. He has a brief, bitter exchange with Caine (Donnie Yen) at the poker table. They swap insults that only someone who has spent time in the Triad-heavy corners of Hong Kong would know.
Arabic and Hebrew
In Morocco, the Elder speaks to him in Arabic. While John doesn’t give a long-winded speech back, he clearly understands every word. He also recognizes Hebrew and Yiddish phrases, specifically during his dealings with the diamond-dealing underworld. He knows enough to say "Todah" (thank you) and understand "Zayt matzliah" (good luck/be successful).
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Indonesian (Bahasa)
This was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in Chapter 3. During the brutal fight with the Shinobi (played by The Raid stars Cecep Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian), John drops a "Sampai jumpa."
It means "see you later."
It’s a sign of respect to two legendary fighters. Fun fact: Keanu Reeves actually asked the actors on set how to say it properly because it wasn't originally in the script. He wanted to acknowledge their skill in their own tongue.
Why Does He Know So Many?
John Wick isn't a hobbyist. He didn't spend his weekends on Duolingo. Each language represents a "sector" of the criminal world he had to master to become the Baba Yaga.
- Russian for the mob.
- Japanese for the High Table’s upper echelon.
- Italian for the European contracts.
- ASL for the specialized assassins.
His fluency is a symptom of his legendary status. You don't survive that long in a global assassination syndicate if you're waiting for a translation app to load. He speaks "Underworld," and the specific dialect is just a formality.
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The Mystery of Belarusian
Since he’s "Jardani from Belarus," there is a high probability he knows Belarusian. However, in the films, he primarily uses Russian when dealing with his "family" at the Ruska Roma. In that specific culture, Russian is often the lingua franca of the organized crime world.
How Many Languages Does John Wick Know? (The Final Count)
If we’re counting confirmed on-screen usage or clear comprehension, the list looks like this:
- English (Primary)
- Russian (Native/Fluent)
- Italian (Fluent)
- American Sign Language (Fluent)
- Japanese (Conversational/Formal)
- Arabic (Comprehension/Basic)
- Indonesian (Phrasal/Respect-based)
- Cantonese (Conversational)
- Hebrew (Basic/Comprehension)
Some fans argue he knows Latin because of the tattoos and the Catholic imagery surrounding the Ruska Roma, but he hasn't actually "spoken" it yet. "Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat" is on his back, not his lips.
Basically, the guy knows enough to kill you in about a dozen different cultures.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lore, your next step should be a re-watch of John Wick: Chapter 2 specifically to watch the ASL scene. Pay attention to how the subtitles change style—the filmmakers actually used different fonts and colors for different languages to show how John "processes" the world around him. It’s a masterclass in visual storytelling.