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Literally-Translated Animal World Map Shows How Ridiculous Their Names Can Be
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Literally-Translated Animal World Map Shows How Ridiculous Their Names Can Be

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These maps of Asia, Europe, and Africa will change how you look at every creature and critter using their translated synonyms.

Through a set of beautifully illustrated maps, you can reimagine what the animal kingdom would look like if these animals lived up to their literally translated names.

More info: tails.com

Africa’s Literally Translated Animals

Using translations from Swahili, Zulu and Afrikaans, we have found the literal translations for insects, mammals, sea creatures and more!

For example, the translation from the Nigerian language Hausa refers to Donkeys as ambassadors. I don’t know who it flatters more, the donkey or the ambassador, but we like the idea of ‘ambassador’ Donkeys roaming the streets:

Image credits: Tails.com

Reimagined African animal

Image credits: Tails.com

Asia’s Literally Translated Animals

From languages such as Korean, Sindhi, and Vietnamese, we’ve reimagined what it would be like if these animals fit their translations.

The literal Vietnamese translation for a Shark is ‘Fat Fish’ and you can understand why, though we wouldn’t recommend calling the shark fat (he might get offended)

Image credits: Tails.com

Reimagined Asian animal

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Image credits: Tails.com

Europe’s Literally Translated Animals

These spectacular images feature translations in languages such as German, Norwegian, and Serbian.

You can see why a Hamster would be described as ‘The Observer’, they are always watching You from their neat little corners…

Image credits: Tails.com

Reimagined European animal

Image credits: Tails.com

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Rebekah25

Rebekah25

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Rebekah25

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joannie avatar
Joannie Goulet
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Native French speaker here. Guépard does not translate to "guard" in French. Where does this b******t come from?

lamijunk_2013 avatar
Sunzilla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Kipepeo" is not an Afrikaans word. A butterfly is a "vlinder" which doesn't really translate into anything. As if "butterfly" isn't strange enough : butter & fly.

titas-burinskas avatar
Titas Burinskas
BoredPanda Staff
Verified
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hello, I'm the co-author of this work. We have reacted to the fact that there was a mistake that it's translated from Swahili, and not Afrikaans, so we changed the graphic. We know the translations are off, but that's because Google Translate was used.

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joannie avatar
Joannie Goulet
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Native French speaker here. Guépard does not translate to "guard" in French. Where does this b******t come from?

lamijunk_2013 avatar
Sunzilla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Kipepeo" is not an Afrikaans word. A butterfly is a "vlinder" which doesn't really translate into anything. As if "butterfly" isn't strange enough : butter & fly.

titas-burinskas avatar
Titas Burinskas
BoredPanda Staff
Verified
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hello, I'm the co-author of this work. We have reacted to the fact that there was a mistake that it's translated from Swahili, and not Afrikaans, so we changed the graphic. We know the translations are off, but that's because Google Translate was used.

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Load More Comments
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