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Blessed be those who didn't have to go through the trouble of learning the English language. Some might say that learning Japanese or Icelandic might be the most difficult task out there, but even the most complicated aspects of those languages have some kind of logic behind them. English grammar and the language itself, on the other hand, has some truly nonsensical characteristics to it and a plethora of arbitrary rules.

Those with English as their native language never have to consciously work through the kinks of spelling out Wednesday or why writers write, but fingers don't fing and grocers don't groce. Learning English as a secondary language is a real minefield once you figure out the basic grammar rules and step into more specific areas. And these people decided to point some of the most confusing things out there to prove their point. English is a weird language and at times makes no sense whatsoever, especially for a language that is so widespread.

#1

English-Language-Logic-No-Sense

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Orillion
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who's up for the defenestration of Donald Trump. I say we do it overmorrow.

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To be fair, many linguists would easily find a logical answer to most of the problems presented in these messages, as English language has a lot of nuances (like words being borrowed from Latin and Greek, or the fact that some words had their origins lost or they ceased to be used in spoken language). However, that doesn't mean that they still don't fail to confuse people trying to learn the language, as even the most sound explanation might seem nonsensical when the original problem could be solved by, well... changing the language? Ah, let's leave this for the linguists to figure out and non-native speakers to be confused about, right?

#6

English Nonsense

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SykesDaMan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It took me a while to remember which one is positive and which one is negative between horriffic and terrfic...

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#10

English Nonsense

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So Dou
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have the exact same word in french and with the same meaning ... others meaning too ;)

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#13

English-Language-Logic-No-Sense

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La Petite Morte
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Usually by getting a handy or getting screwed by an attractive person. At least for a little bit, anyway.

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Alex Noott
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh and loses is pronounced loozes, though loose is just loose.

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Alex Noott
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Loses not looses. Two different meanings, tho loose doesn't have an s on the end.

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

As I recall the Brits have their fair share of naughty words.

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

A French teacher shocked that English word can have this kind of second meaning?! French language is full if this kind of word!! That shouldn't be a surprise

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

Since when is handy slang for hand job? I've never heard that

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Yang Wu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Cell phone" translate in Chinese is "handy phone" too

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

When I read that last sentence, I imagined it in a french accent, and now I can practically see all this happening in my mind

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Linda Robinett
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like that German name. I like the British Mobile for the phone also. We really don't need to tell everybody that the phone works of a cell system and it is a mobile phone.

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F. H.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a cell phone in 1992 called HandyTel100. That's probably the origin of the word.

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Bathsheba
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eh? Maybe it's a British thing (you know - English the, erm, ENGLISH way) but "handy" is a common word. Just means useful or convenient.

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John Montgomery
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Why are Americans like this" we're sexually repressed because of Puritan ancestors.

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

Handy also means "useful". By the way, it's "loses", dumb a*s.

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#14

English-Language-Logic-No-Sense

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Artex Gorilla
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brits also use 'Quite' in a sarcastic manner if agreeing with someone (who they don't agree with).

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#20

English Nonsense

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Aileen
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve also heard, “I before E except when your feisty foreign neighbor Keith leisurely receives eight counterfeit beige sleighs from caffeinated atheist weightlifters. Weird.”

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#25

English-Language-Logic-No-Sense

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Aldhissla VargTimmen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a broadcasted spelling competition for the Dutch language as well ^^ Dutch is easier though, makes more sense :)

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#27

English Nonsense

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I hear someone say "the other day", I assume it's something within a month. I never think someone would mean something they did like a year ago

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#28

English Nonsense

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Full Name
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if uncovered wagons were the first form of mass transportation so you literally were "on" it.

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#30

English Nonsense

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George Utley
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fridge is a slang shortening of one of the original refrigerators - Fridgidaire...

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#31

English-Language-Logic-No-Sense

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Phil Boswell
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same way that the sentence "I never said she stole all my money" takes on a completely different meaning depending upon which particular word you emphasise…

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#32

English Nonsense

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it has nothing to do with the words man/woman and comes from Latin humanus

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#36

English Nonsense

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because "Philippines" is in English while "Filipino/Filipina" is Spanish. No need to stress out. In Spanish the country is Filipinas. All is well, they're just words in two different languages!

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#38

English Nonsense

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#40

English-Language-Logic-No-Sense

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Piou
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You mean man's laughter isn't the same as manslaughter? Hmmm maybe I should reconsider my hobbies

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