Funny Linguistic Misunderstandings To Make You Laugh

Funny Linguistic Misunderstandings To Make You Laugh

We have all had unfortunate or surprising adventures during our holidays in different international locations. Generally these will be very amusing. We have been gathering such humorous stories on our web site, from all around the world.
Here are some actual-life examples of "fake pas" and misunderstandings which may consequence from cultural variations:
"Constipado" in Spanish means "to have a chilly" - nothing like what it feels like in English!
If you're feminine then don't say "estoy embarazada" pondering it signifies that you're embarrassed. Far from it, it actually means "I am pregnant"!
In the event you innocently ask a German "Bist du heiss?" (literally: are you hot?) to comment on the weather, he/she might get completely the wrong idea!
For any Individuals visiting England, please keep in mind that "pants" in British English are underwear, not trousers!
Do you want Chinese language food? If so, be careful what you ask for in a restaurant as a result of the phrase for sugar and soup apparently sound quite comparable!
Some misunderstandings transcend language. In Japan it's well mannered to slurp loudly whereas consuming noodles to point out your hosts that you admire them. Try that strategy in England or the USA and you won't get invited again!
In lots of components of England "having your tea" can usually mean "eating your evening meal", as well as simply consuming a cup of tea.
In Spain, asking for "salmon a la plancha" means "grilled salmon" not as one restaurant menu translated it, "ironed salmon" (since the word "plancha" in Spanish also means an "iron" for urgent clothes!).
The above examples provide you with only a small taste of the numerous potential cultural and linguistic pitfalls which exist worldwide. Only by studying about different languages and cultures can we hope to bridge the divide and make the world a greater place.