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50 Times Non-Native English Speakers Tried To Say Something And It Came Out In Funny And Sweet ‘Translations’
Interview With Author
A TikToker shared a funny story of a non-native English speaker creating some beautiful, unintentional poetry when trying to discuss moths and it spawned a frenzy of similar stories, phrases, and wonderful expressions. We reached out to Chris Rory, who created the original TikTok, to hear more about his experience and see some other examples. So get comfortable, pick up a notebook, and get ready to write down some excellent expressions that you should include in your everyday vocabulary. Be sure to upvote your favorites and check out Chris’ TikTok account here.
More info: TikTok
Image credits: chris.rory
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#6
Skyla King 3 years ago
My Italian friend always says, “the pieces are eating each other!” Whenever we play chess. It’s hilarious and adorable.
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Phoenix(or nix)they/them 3 years ago
The Japanese direct translation of hedgehog is "needle mouse". I don't remember the actual word though.
#20
reiko_liesegang@yahoo.de 3 years ago
It is a word to word translation of the german Word „Staubsauger“
#21
Luke Branwen 3 years ago
Okay but that phrase is so raw that I had to pause and ponder it for a moment
#23
PolymathNecromancer 3 years ago
One of my Grandmas had a birthday cake fire when she turned 90.... it was awesome
#27
Luis Hernandez Dauajare 3 years ago
Reminds me of my brother at an American wedding. He forgot the name for "best man" and called him "spare groom".
#30
Becca Kuehn 3 years ago
I've had trouble remembering the word colander, so I called it the 'hole bowl'. 🕳 🥣 ☺️
#46
Luis Hernandez Dauajare 3 years ago
Literally, they translate in Spanish as "Molars of Judgment" (Muelas del Juicio)
#48
Shehzadi Amal 3 years ago
When my Pakistani friend was first learning English he would say "I have believe in you!" in place of *I believe in you*. I have never used the latter again. 😂 ❤️
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Fatal Immortality 3 years ago
I've heard both "manhole pancake" and "bumpy pancake" for waffle
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Matthew Currie 3 years ago
Long ago my wife had a Japanese room mate in college, who called the shower "the little rain room." The term still gets used occasionally.
#73
Mary Peace 3 years ago
Have you ever been to a classical music concert and seen the kettle drum?!
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LillieMean 3 years ago
As a Finn, I didn't know the correct English word, so I said a claw that prevents laundry from flying away.
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What do you think ?
Terran 3 years ago
The first thing everyone should know about learning foreign languages is that no matter how good you know a language, if you don't speak it a lot, you won't remember words. So creatively describing stuff in your own words is a very usefull skill to keep the conversation going. These stories here aren't just funny anecdotes, but are testaments to human creativity and our unbreakable will to successfully communicate with each other.
LokisLilButterknife 3 years ago
One of the ways people are officially tested for different levels of language proficiency (European Board of language proficiency which starts from level A1- complete beginner to C2 (complete native speaker fluency) is just how creatively non-native speakers can use clever anecdotes or descriptions if they don’t know a specific term. One of the questions you are sometimes asked for c1 or c2 fluency is to teach someone how to tie teach a child how to tie their shoes which is actually a lot harder than you think.
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Apatheist Account2 3 years ago
Because we Brits are so good at foreign words...I once tried to ask my French teaching assistant if I could call her "tu" by saying "puis-je tu toyer", but it came out as "tu tuer", which meant "can I kill you"?
ЛеснойКороль(ForestKingHe/Him) 3 years ago
when i was still learning english i once said “i want to utilize your toilet” and have never lived it down amongst my friends
Mila Preradović 3 years ago
Take some comfort in knowing that a friend of mine once described red, horn-shaped peppers as "horny peppers"😁🌶🌶🌶
Load More Replies... Terran 3 years ago
The first thing everyone should know about learning foreign languages is that no matter how good you know a language, if you don't speak it a lot, you won't remember words. So creatively describing stuff in your own words is a very usefull skill to keep the conversation going. These stories here aren't just funny anecdotes, but are testaments to human creativity and our unbreakable will to successfully communicate with each other.
LokisLilButterknife 3 years ago
One of the ways people are officially tested for different levels of language proficiency (European Board of language proficiency which starts from level A1- complete beginner to C2 (complete native speaker fluency) is just how creatively non-native speakers can use clever anecdotes or descriptions if they don’t know a specific term. One of the questions you are sometimes asked for c1 or c2 fluency is to teach someone how to tie teach a child how to tie their shoes which is actually a lot harder than you think.
Load More Replies... Apatheist Account2 3 years ago
Because we Brits are so good at foreign words...I once tried to ask my French teaching assistant if I could call her "tu" by saying "puis-je tu toyer", but it came out as "tu tuer", which meant "can I kill you"?
ЛеснойКороль(ForestKingHe/Him) 3 years ago
when i was still learning english i once said “i want to utilize your toilet” and have never lived it down amongst my friends
Mila Preradović 3 years ago
Take some comfort in knowing that a friend of mine once described red, horn-shaped peppers as "horny peppers"😁🌶🌶🌶
Load More Replies...
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