What have you, or someone you know, mistranslated? After I see some of yours I'll contribute a couple of my own.
2007-06-09 15:15:38 · 7 answers · asked by mthompson828 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I was living in Puerto Rico and was just learning Spanish. I decided to travel to Europe the summer I was 27.
I went to Spain and got there after traveling overnight from France. When I got off the train I was very tired and wanted to go straight to my hostel.
Like I said I was tired and also alittle on guard being a single female alone.Out of the crowd of taxi drivers I picked a friendly looking Grandpa type so I could let down my defense's for the ride.
The driver put my bags in the trunk and opened his passenger door for me. I didn't think it too odd that I was sitting in the front and it was my 1st time in Barcelona, so I was happy to have a front row seat.
My Grandpa driver started asking me easy questions, where are you from, my name etc... I was happy that I was able to understand and answer in Spanish.
Then he asked me if I was hungry, which I replied, Yes, I am hungry. Tengo Hambre. He asked me again and I repeat myself wondering if he's gonna stop at a food place. Next thing I know he puts his hand on my upper thigh & started squeezing with a very un-Grandpa look on his face!!
I totally freaked but couldn't get out of a moving car & my luggage was still in the trunk. I just yelled NO at him and thankfully we were almost there. He stopped talking to me and looked alittle scared himself.
I realized later he was asking me if I wanted a Man,and I was repeating Yes, I want a man: Tengo Hombre- instead of, I am Hungry, which is Tengo HAmbre. One letter off and very similar sounding to my ear.
There have been other situations like that, but that was my most memorable.
2007-06-09 15:36:15 · answer #1 · answered by isis 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Another Carter one: Then-President Carter was giving a speech in Poland where the translator gave Carter's 'I feel for the Polish people' as something like 'I desire the Poles carnally'.
2007-06-09 23:58:13 · answer #2 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried "Lost in Translation"? It bounces stuff back and forth between five or so languages on babelfish. That can end up pretty funny.
http://www.tashian.com/multibabel/
And, inevitably, a friend of mine asked for some "sopa" when he wanted to take a shower at his hotel in Spain.
2007-06-09 22:24:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really don't know any, but you can go to the sites in the sources section below. Plenty of examples.
2007-06-09 22:20:39 · answer #4 · answered by bryan_q 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my ex-husband brought his german wife to live in buenos aires. saturday morning she goes to the open market, knowing practically no spanish and wanting to buy 'puten' - turkey for christmas. the guy at the stand shouts over the crowd to the stand across: 'hey, the lady wants a puto!-a homo.
2007-06-09 22:56:00 · answer #5 · answered by mary i 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
uhnn i dunno if this is an error... but on my korean friends pencil case it said '*cute drawing of a bunny with a shower cap* winnie the bath bunny, likes taking showers. would you like taking a shower? enjoy taking a shower with winnie' lol i cracked up everytime i read that oh and i have a pen that says 'i enjoy you thrill me like you do.' XP .. theres more but i cant rememberr
2007-06-09 22:30:22 · answer #6 · answered by Teresa C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jimmy Carter said he was pregnant......
(embarazada)
2007-06-09 22:48:23 · answer #7 · answered by doovinator 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋