The way they speak in Australia,South Africa,Canada,Ireland...?

Question

Any funny experience, verbal misunderstanding ? Any words sounding particularly funny to you (american people) ?
Thad´be a kerfuffle.

Answer 1

I am from South Africa, we speak just fine, its the Australians, Canadians, and Americans that have wierd accents... ;)

Answer 2

As an Australian, I did find a certain misunderstanding funny in the United Kingdom.

I was talking about my pants (trousers) not fitting correctly.

Pants in the Uk = underpants/undies/jocks in other countries.

So both the sales assistant and myself were red faced when they realised what was going on.


Now, for a more American based answer, I think it's funny how in Australia a thong can both be a certain type of underwear, and a type of shoe, whereas in the U.S it normally means a type of underwear. Does lead to some confusion :)

Answer 3

I am also in South Africa and I agree with Silent Assassin 100% that we do not speak funny. It is the Irish, English & Australians that we can say we have a problem understanding.

Answer 4

I'm a Safro too... Most South Africans of Dutch descent and ALL native South Africans speak with sometimes unintelligible accents. Quite embarrassing... "Eye ken laaik two bee werrieng 'n djien pent" and "Pliz spik sloawa, ay dawnt anda-stend" examples

Answer 5

I left my track pants on the back of the chesterfield in a host family in Denver, Colorado.
I am from Canada but they had no idea what I was talking about.

Answer 6

At one of my Japanese lessons (I was living in Japan at the time), one of the British guys leaned to Bradley (an American) and asked, "Bradley, can I borrow a rubber?" All us Americans in the room laughed, because while it means ''eraser'' in the UK, in America, it's a slang term for "condom''.

Answer 7

there is nothing wrong with the way South Africans speak. every one else has weird accents.

not all south africans speak like the oke above me says

Answer 8

Spiritually speaking, i think of we are all spiritually speaking as quickly as we spiritually communicate. except of course, we are spiritually spiritually thinking speaking. Then they style of bypass one yet another out. you finally end up a place similar to Limbo. some call it The White Void. some call it Ponderosa. Spiritually speaking, of course.

Answer 9

If an American goes to Australia and says that they´re really "pissed" the Australian is going to think they mean "drunk". You have to say "pissed OFF".