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As a Lithuanian, I often find myself baffled by the way we translate foreign movie titles. In our country, Superbad became Hard NutsEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was transformed to The Power of Feelings, and This is the End was renamed to Christmas Cakes, Drugs, and Sex. Turns out, we're not the only ones doing this.

Even though the task of translating a movie title to a local audience seems like a fairly simple one, handled by one of those fancy types who speak more than one language, it's really complex. So much so that it sometimes makes the story sound like a totally different thing. Continue scrolling this list by Bored Panda and see for yourself.

As one linguist said, while the practice of translation is always a work of adaptation, it is much more so when it comes to translating movie titles. For instance, how should the Russian villain in a typical Hollywood production be presented in Moscow cinemas? And what do we do about cultural references?

In addition, there is the fact that the title of a movie is supposed to summarize and condense a two-hour story. Therefore, the translator must rifle through nuances, overtones, examples of polysemy, as well as a number of other approaches.

#3

Meth Dad (Slovakia)

Meth Dad (Slovakia)

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A.M. Pierre
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It sounds like the sitcom version of the show. “Next week on ‘Meth Dad’: Can Walter handle drug dealers, watching his kids for a day, AND his nosy neighbor? Find out on ‘Meth Dad’!”

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What makes it even more difficult is that the reader has no context to understand the translated title of the film; a title should be evocative and should work with no other references than its own semantic values and connotations. The translator can't use contextual elements to supplement or clarify the meaning.

The translation of movie titles involves not only retaining/giving it meaning, but there are also rhythmic constraints (in this case, this comes closer to literary translation and more specifically, poetic) and commercial ones (bringing us closer to marketing translation). It's a minefield.

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#4

It's Raining Falafel (Israel)

It's Raining Falafel (Israel)

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#6

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Behaved Very Nicely Around Me (Malaysia)

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Behaved Very Nicely Around Me (Malaysia)

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#7

Santa Is A Pervert (Czech Republic)

Santa Is A Pervert (Czech Republic)

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#9

If You Leave Me, I'll Erase You (Italy)

If You Leave Me, I'll Erase You (Italy)

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#10

My Partner With The Cold Snout (Germany)

My Partner With The Cold Snout (Germany)

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#12

Super Power Dare Die Team (China)

Super Power Dare Die Team (China)

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Vic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like a catch phrase a power ranger would use..

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#13

The Unbelievable Trip In A Wacky Aeroplane (Germany)

The Unbelievable Trip In A Wacky Aeroplane (Germany)

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#14

Rita Heyworth, Key To Escape (Finland)

Rita Heyworth, Key To Escape (Finland)

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Wyn Williams
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Works both ways, a Finnish film called girl you will be a star was translated to English as beauty and the beast :) the translator also changed a lot of what was said as apparently he didn't like the movie

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#16

My Boyfriend Is A Psycho (Russia)

My Boyfriend Is A Psycho (Russia)

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#17

This Hitman Is Not As Cold As He Thought (China)

This Hitman Is Not As Cold As He Thought (China)

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#18

Six Naked Pigs (China)

Six Naked Pigs (China)

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#20

The Hole Of Malkovich (Japan)

The Hole Of Malkovich (Japan)

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#21

If You Drink, Don't Marry! (Brazil)

If You Drink, Don't Marry! (Brazil)

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kathoco
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

France: Very bad trip (so the title is changed but it's still in English, not French)

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#24

A Supertough Kangaroo (Spain)

A Supertough Kangaroo (Spain)

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Nadine
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now they're just making the titles sound funny on purpose. In Spain the word "kangaroo" ("canguro") means "babysitter" as well as the animal...

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Luis Martín
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The right translation would be "A supertough baby sitter". In Spanish kangaroo=baby sitter.

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TheDankBoi 69
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah that's how babysitters are called in Spain. In Hispanic America the movie title is called "A Bullet-proof Babysitter"

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CCTheVampire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was a really good movie. No clue where Kangaroo came from though

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Cybele Spanjaard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What has a dummy ( Aussie for pacifier)got to do with a kangaroo? I object

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the lord of weebs
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i mean van disel is strong but i do not think he is a kangaroo but correct me if i am wrong

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#26

Captain Supermarket (Japan)

Captain Supermarket (Japan)

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#29

American Virgin Man (China)

American Virgin Man (China)

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#30

Full Of The Nuts (Germany)

Full Of The Nuts (Germany)

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