Say what? Language translation fun.

[1durphul]

So, I'm sure there are many of us out there that are interested in foreign languages, and occasionally run across some phrase that is hillarious when translated to English.

I'm learning German at the moment and came across one today that I thought was great:

The @ symbol has a name in German "der Klammeraffe" which literally translates to "The bracket monkey".

Also I recently learned that the german word Gift translates to poison.

[Dr. Pyro]

Also I recently learned that the german word Gift translates to poison.

Boy, that IS German!

[Simon of the Playa]

no one gets my jokes until 3 years after i post them...


circa 2009.

[mgb327]

Aw 'cmon Simon, that is almost too....what....too sick? I used to use the phrase "final solution" in my course of speaking once in a while, took a long time before I figured out why some people looked at me funny.

[Sail Man]

no one gets my jokes until 3 years after i post them...


circa 2009.

That's cuz we fail to appreciate your superior intellect.

[TomServo]

"sich übergeben" means what it sounds like..."to vomit"

[BoyScoutGirl]

"ajo" is Spanish for "garlic" and "aho" (same pronunciation) is Japanese for "idiot."

For some reason this has always amused me. Idiots wielding garlic...

[tatonka]

[FIGJAM]

KRANKENWAGON ought to be a mv!

[theCryptofishist]

Also I recently learned that the german word Gift translates to poison.

Boy, that IS German!

It is legitimately the same word. And one gebt Gift just as one gives a gift.
And then you have wissen/kennen--which is only know in English. I think that carries for French and Spanish as well.
Freiheit/gratis and liberte/gratis for free...

[theCryptofishist]

no one gets my jokes until 3 years after i post them...


circa 2009.

Yeah. I still say you should have had an I. G. Cambell's on there. Or Warhol with a Hitler mustache (in white, of course).

[Ugly Dougly]

"ajo" is Spanish for "garlic" and "aho" (same pronunciation) is Japanese for "idiot."

For some reason this has always amused me. Idiots wielding garlic...

Don't EVEN get me started.

S agua water
J awa bubble

S comer to eat
J kome rice

S casa house
J kasa umbrella

S vaca cattle
J baka fool

I will come back with the rest of the list.

[Ugly Dougly]

And in Hindi, the word for ice is "barf", fortunately pronounced differently than what you would think.

[AntiM]

In Farsi, barf and yuck are snow and ice.

[swampdog]

I'm bilingual in British and American. My favorite is "fanny" which in American is an innocuous, somewhat childish term for tush. In British I understand it's a fairly specific mildly rude term for female genitalia. So be careful when shopping for a fanny pack in London. "Bum-bag" I believe is the accepted term in British

[Ugly Dougly]

I'll bet they get a chortle out of Fannie Mae.

[Thecatman]

Thank you, tatonka, for that crash course in German.
Being of German decent, l wish l knew the language. Airplane/airport l knew.

[gyre]

I remember strassenkreuser.

Cassa Contra Cassa = House Fighting House

A tip
Mexican uses so much slang spanish speakers from other countries can be lost.
Rams horn is an AK47, and so on and on
They seem to use more slang than australians, which is saying something.
You need a translation book there as well, I imagine.

Travel Phrases
Every american needs these handy phrases.

May I borrow a towel to wipe up the blood?
¿Me presta una toalla para limpiar la sangre?
Je peux emprunter une serviette pour éponger le sang?
Darfich ein Tuch borgen,um das Blut abzuwischen?
Taoru wo karite chi wo fuite mo iidesuka?

Please do not injure me.
Por favor,no me lastime. '
Ne me blessez pas,s’il vous plaît.
Verletzen Sie mich bitte nicht.
Watashi wo itai me ni awasenaide kudasai.

Do not make me angry.
No me enoje.
Ne me fachez pas.
Ärgern Sie mich nicht.
Okoraseruna yo.

I do not wish to hurt you.
No le quiero hacer daño.
Je n’ai pas l’intention de vous blesser.
Ich will Ihnen nicht weh tun.
Anata wo itai me ni awasetakuarimasen.

I am sorry—I did not mean to offend you.
Lo siento—no quise ofenderlo/ ofenderla.
Je suis désolé(e)—je ne cherchais pas à vous offenser.
Es tut mir leid—ich wollte Sie nicht beleidigen.
Gomennasai—anata no kibun wo gaisuru tsumori wa arimasen deshita.

Do you know a place where I can hide?
¿Sabe usted dónde puedo esconderme?
Vous connaissez un endroit où je peux me cacher?
Wissen Sie,wo ich mich versteckenkann?
Dokoka watashi ga kakure rarerutokoro wo shitte imasuka?

You will never make me talk.
Usted nunca me hará hablar.
Vous ne me ferez jamais parler.
Sie werden mich nie zum Sprechenbringen.
Zettai watashi wo shaberaseru kotowa dekinai.

[Patsh]

I remember strassenkreuser.

Cassa Contra Cassa = House Fighting House

A tip
Mexican uses so much slang spanish speakers from other countries can be lost.
Rams horn is an AK47, and so on and on
They seem to use more slang than australians, which is saying something.
You need a translation book there as well, I imagine.

Travel Phrases
Every american needs these handy phrases.

May I borrow a towel to wipe up the blood?
¿Me presta una toalla para limpiar la sangre?
Je peux emprunter une serviette pour éponger le sang?
Darfich ein Tuch borgen,um das Blut abzuwischen?
Taoru wo karite chi wo fuite mo iidesuka?

Please do not injure me.
Por favor,no me lastime. '
Ne me blessez pas,s’il vous plaît.
Verletzen Sie mich bitte nicht.
Watashi wo itai me ni awasenaide kudasai.

Do not make me angry.
No me enoje.
Ne me fachez pas.
Ärgern Sie mich nicht.
Okoraseruna yo.

I do not wish to hurt you.
No le quiero hacer daño.
Je n’ai pas l’intention de vous blesser.
Ich will Ihnen nicht weh tun.
Anata wo itai me ni awasetakuarimasen.

I am sorry—I did not mean to offend you.
Lo siento—no quise ofenderlo/ ofenderla.
Je suis désolé(e)—je ne cherchais pas à vous offenser.
Es tut mir leid—ich wollte Sie nicht beleidigen.
Gomennasai—anata no kibun wo gaisuru tsumori wa arimasen deshita.

Do you know a place where I can hide?
¿Sabe usted dónde puedo esconderme?
Vous connaissez un endroit où je peux me cacher?
Wissen Sie,wo ich mich versteckenkann?
Dokoka watashi ga kakure rarerutokoro wo shitte imasuka?

You will never make me talk.
Usted nunca me hará hablar.
Vous ne me ferez jamais parler.
Sie werden mich nie zum Sprechenbringen.
Zettai watashi wo shaberaseru kotowa dekinai.

Handy things to know while traveling around....
I now feel prepared.



*studying frantically while awaiting my passport in the mail*

[Elorrum]

Barfi is an India Indian sweet. It also a homophone of my mother's favorite adjective to describe something she did not like the taste of. So imagine my confusion when she offered me some barfi when I visited her.

[Ugly Dougly]

Fresh barf? I certainly hope so!

[gyre]

Handy things to know while traveling around....
I now feel prepared.

*studying frantically while awaiting my passport in the mail*

Just a tip.
If you ever find yourself holding spanish speakers at gunpoint, and I know you will, may I suggest the phrase for 'I do not wish to injure you'.
Floundering for phrases and pulling out movie quotes like 'Vaya con dios', does not have a calming effect.
Rather makes things worse really.

[BBadger]

Just a tip.
If you ever find yourself holding spanish speakers at gunpoint, and I know you will, may I suggest the phrase for 'I do not wish to injure you'.
Floundering for phrases and pulling out movie quotes like 'Vaya con dios', does not have a calming effect.
Rather makes things worse really.

Might consider not holding them at gunpoint too.

[gyre]

Yeah.
Things happen.

[TomServo]

Here's my favorite German word... Reinheitsgebot- (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516, the oldest provision still enforced to protect the consumer.
"We hereby proclaim and decree, by Authority of our Province, that henceforth in the Duchy of Bavaria, in the country as well as in the cities and marketplaces, the following rules apply to the sale of beer:
"From Michaelmas to Georgi, the price for one Mass [Bavarian Liter 1,069] or one Kopf [bowl-shaped container for fluids, not quite one Mass], is not to exceed one Pfennig Munich value, and

"From Georgi to Michaelmas, the Mass shall not be sold for more than two Pfennig of the same value, the Kopf not more than three Heller [Heller usually one-half Pfennig].

"If this not be adhered to, the punishment stated below shall be administered.

"Should any person brew, or otherwise have, other beer than March beer, it is not to be sold any higher than one Pfennig per Mass.

"Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities' confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.

"Should, however, an innkeeper in the country, city or markets buy two or three pails of beer (containing 60 Mass) and sell it again to the common peasantry, he alone shall be permitted to charge one Heller more for the Mass of the Kopf, than mentioned above. Furthermore, should there arise a scarcity and subsequent price increase of the barley (also considering that the times of harvest differ, due to location), WE, the Bavarian Duchy, shall have the right to order curtailments for the good of all concerned."

[TomServo]

Here's my favorite German word... Reinheitsgebot- (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516, the oldest provision still enforced to protect the consumer.
"We hereby proclaim and decree, by Authority of our Province, that henceforth in the Duchy of Bavaria, in the country as well as in the cities and marketplaces, the following rules apply to the sale of beer:
"From Michaelmas to Georgi, the price for one Mass [Bavarian Liter 1,069] or one Kopf [bowl-shaped container for fluids, not quite one Mass], is not to exceed one Pfennig Munich value, and

"From Georgi to Michaelmas, the Mass shall not be sold for more than two Pfennig of the same value, the Kopf not more than three Heller [Heller usually one-half Pfennig].

"If this not be adhered to, the punishment stated below shall be administered.

"Should any person brew, or otherwise have, other beer than March beer, it is not to be sold any higher than one Pfennig per Mass.

"Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities' confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.

"Should, however, an innkeeper in the country, city or markets buy two or three pails of beer (containing 60 Mass) and sell it again to the common peasantry, he alone shall be permitted to charge one Heller more for the Mass of the Kopf, than mentioned above. Furthermore, should there arise a scarcity and subsequent price increase of the barley (also considering that the times of harvest differ, due to location), WE, the Bavarian Duchy, shall have the right to order curtailments for the good of all concerned."