Sunday, April 3, 2011

Lost in Translation: Funny Translation Mistakes

I was glancing at the website for ski chalet rented for the ACID ski trip when I noticed something funny:


Look at the last line: "common shower with 4 nuzzles." Although it's obvious they meant to say shower nozzles, I still couldn't help but laugh. Shower nuzzles. Doesn't it sound goofy? I may never say the word "shower head" again...

Living in Europe had definitely gotten me accustomed to linguistic errors. I butcher French on a daily basis, and I regularly read and hear all sorts of funky English grammar. For the most part, it's simple mistakes: misuse of articles, errors in subject-verb agreement, misplaced prepositions, and the like. Sometimes, however, these mistakes are more than just grammatical -- they're downright hilarious.

Here are some of my favorites:

  • In Lisbon, we ate at a restaurant featuring "squib kabobs" and "fried squib salad." (This might not be funny unless you're an enormous Harry Potter nerd fan like me...)

  • Outside a restaurant/bar in Rome: "Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar." Yes, I think I would prefer to go to a hospital...

  • Museum in Salzburg, Austria: "Please leave you're values in the front lockers." I promise, the museum was dedicated to Mozart, not debauchery.

  • This isn't really a translation error, seeing as how English is Ireland's first language, but I thought it was funny anyway. Much better than a speed bump, don't you think?



    Have you ever encountered any funny translation mistakes?




1 comment:

  1. I LOVE the 'lost in translation' things you see when traveling. 'Nuzzles'?!?!? That is hilarious.

    Gorgeous pictures!

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