Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
35
25 Literal Translations That Don’t Mean What You Think – Try To Pass This Quiz
After the success of Part 1, we’re bringing 25 brand-new direct translations of words from different languages into English. From Afrikaans to Italian, the magic behind these words is that they make no sense when directly translated into English.
It seems easy-peasy, but can you actually tell what the German “pompous lemon” refers to?
Or the meaning of “gatarra” in Italian?
After you finish, let us know in the comments which funny words you know that turn into nonsense when translated to English 😄 And most importantly, give it your best shot 🧐
🚀 💡 Want more or looking for something else? Head over to the Bored Panda Quizzes and explore our full collection of quizzes and trivia designed to test your knowledge, reveal hidden insights, and spark your curiosity.💡 🚀
RELATED:
Image credits: Pixabay
Newest Trivia & Quizzes for You Discover trivia, brain teasers, and quirky quizzes — fresh every week!
•
Progress:
Not Quite Done Yet!
Continue the Quiz
Your result:
SCORE
REWARD
Discover Your Competitive Edge
Subscribe Premium to Compare Your Stats with Others
More Premium features:
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How did you score compared to others?
You scored better than % of people
Trivia Takers
Score
Your general stats:
TOTAL POINTS
TRIVIAS SOLVED
PERFECT SCORES
QUIZZES COMPLETED
| User | Result | Reward |
|---|---|---|
  | / 25 | |
| | / 25 | |
Trivia Top Performers
You
What do you think ?
Ace 3 months ago
Since when was Pamplemousse a German word? Maybe they've borrowed it, I dunno, but it's most definitely French.
sturmwesen 3 months ago
Pampelmuse! I f****d that up even as a German. it's so oldschool
Load More Replies...
Paulina 3 months ago (edited)
This quiz got weird and confusing pretty quickly... First, there's nothing golden-meaning in the Polish word "pomarańcza', not even close. There's no apple in it either! The Italian word given in the explanation would make a lot more sense. Then "pamplemousse" is a French word, not German. Then again, in #11 we're not given the literal meaning to "desvelado", so there's no way of finding the right answer - just choosing blindly. And so on... Part one was made a lot better.
Mere Cat 3 months ago
Not to mention the choice between drums and a percussion instrument, only 1 correct..
Load More Replies...
Philenzortia 3 months ago (edited)
Sobre mesa (over table) is not a dessert. It usually means a coffee or a tea. The dessert comes before la sobre mesa.
BewilderedBanana 3 months ago
my thoughts exactly. even the definition underneath the answer reads "Sobremesa means lingering at the table for conversation after the meal is over." That does not equal dessert :)
Load More Replies... Ace 3 months ago
Since when was Pamplemousse a German word? Maybe they've borrowed it, I dunno, but it's most definitely French.
sturmwesen 3 months ago
Pampelmuse! I f****d that up even as a German. it's so oldschool
Load More Replies... Paulina 3 months ago (edited)
This quiz got weird and confusing pretty quickly... First, there's nothing golden-meaning in the Polish word "pomarańcza', not even close. There's no apple in it either! The Italian word given in the explanation would make a lot more sense. Then "pamplemousse" is a French word, not German. Then again, in #11 we're not given the literal meaning to "desvelado", so there's no way of finding the right answer - just choosing blindly. And so on... Part one was made a lot better.
Mere Cat 3 months ago
Not to mention the choice between drums and a percussion instrument, only 1 correct..
Load More Replies... Philenzortia 3 months ago (edited)
Sobre mesa (over table) is not a dessert. It usually means a coffee or a tea. The dessert comes before la sobre mesa.
BewilderedBanana 3 months ago
my thoughts exactly. even the definition underneath the answer reads "Sobremesa means lingering at the table for conversation after the meal is over." That does not equal dessert :)
Load More Replies... You May Like 28 Real Questions From Top IQ Assessments That Only A Few Can Solve - Prove You Can “Can You Tell Norway From Sweden?”: Name 35 European Countries Using Just Their Map Position This 30-Question Useless Facts Challenge Will Reveal How Weirdly Smart You Really Are “Americans, Think You’re Irish?”: Decode All 32 Slang Terms From Ireland To Prove It
Raquel Teixeira
Gerda K.
Gerda K.
Raquel Teixeira
Related on Bored Panda
25
18