If you’re running a business in a tourist-heavy country, having signage in English is a smart move. However, your smarts go out the window if the English translations you display turn into the wrong kind of funny jokes. We understand that not everyone knows the language well enough not to get lost in translation, but please—don't trust Google Translate to give you anything but a literal conversion of whatever you type in, turning your sign into a hilariously bad translation.

Machine Translation Fails

Each language is an intricate system. Knowing the literal meaning of each word will only get you so far and is definitely not enough to make a good translation. Unfortunately, this is exactly where machine translators fail spectacularly and produce awfully bad translated signs. They are still learning how to deal with a language as a living organism, not just a bunch of nouns and verbs. 

Well, to be fair on translation tools, it’s possible that some of these errors were just honest typos. Either way, scroll down to see the funniest bad translations people have come across during their travels and vote for the most epic fails. Also, is anyone up for a nice ‘decomposed Moscow mule’ later?  

#2

Menu that says "Ice cream in the a*s"

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John L
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now that I think of it, this may be a great way to shrink swollen hemorrhoids. 😜

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What is the Greatest Problem of Translation?

While many things go into making a good translation, some things are often the main culprits of funny translation fails. One of them is words that sound similar in two languages but mean different things. They are called the translator’s false friends.

Another thing responsible for many hilariously bad translated signs is taking things too literally instead of translating the meaning. And the shorter the text, the more difficult it is to translate it because you don’t have enough context to help you.

Funny Translation Fails by Humans

Often, bad translation is entirely on the person who made it because they either didn’t have enough knowledge or didn’t bother to double-check if the result actually made sense. 

However, beyond dealing with false friends and ambiguous words, translating also involves understanding cultural nuances, references, and context. What makes sense in one culture might not in another, making accurate translation complex. Hence, linguistic challenges are just the tip of the iceberg.

Either way, ridiculously bad translated signs are funny to read, so keep scrolling for more translation fails in advertising. Vote for the ones that make you laugh the most, and share them with your friends!

#11

"Nazi dental laboratory" wrong translation from the arabic

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John L
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps we can expect to see Dustin Hoffman, and Laurence Olivier, working there?

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#17

Wrong translated sign about cream milk with coconut humans

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#19

Wrong translated menu

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Scott Johnson
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Hey, son, I know you're mad at me for grounding you and all, but you're learning English in school, right? Would you translate this menu for my restaurant before it's printed? You will? Thanks, mate, I appreciate it."

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#26

Wrong translated arabic sign

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John L
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, about hot/spicy foods, they say you get to enjoy it twice. Once going in, and once coming out. That post above about "Ice Cream In The A*s" makes perfect sense now. :D

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#29

Wrong translated arabic menu

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Andrew Gibb
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they are in the variety of dishes category- variety is the spice of life...

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What is a Common Translation Mistake?

Apart from taking things too literally during translation, another common mistake is using the very first option the dictionary offers you for the word you’re looking for. Sometimes, it may really be the meaning you need, but there’s a good chance that the one that actually suits your context is a little down the entry. Keep that in mind when translating to avoid more translation fails and improve accuracy.

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#43

Wrong translated menu

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#47

Wrong translated TVMs sign

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#54

Wrong translated arabic sign

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#55

Wrong translated toilet sign

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Tayyib “T410” Cankat
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually it is translated quite well. I think they mean "Press the flush button again to stop water"

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#68

Wrong translated hotel sign

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Tomatoe
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both German and English translations are so hilarious that I had to go and actually google this one, to see what it was supposed to say :) It sure takes the art of miss-translation to the next level - Crema de verdura would be vegetable soup - any native Spanish speaker here is welcome to correct :)

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#70

Wrong translated sign about the roof

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Verner Carlberg
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, on the path under the roof of dangerous, I will fear no evil, all though I might cringe a little.... Psalm 23:4, King George III edition

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#72

Wrong translated menu

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mimmini
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

kurki=chanterelles, really tasty, but I don't think I will eat them any time soon after reading this...

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#73

Wrong translated backpack instruction

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#77

Wrong translated entrance sign

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Tomatoe
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry for being a killjoy - but this must be a fake. No way this would survive an hour in Germany, let along long enough to get rusty.

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#83

Wrong translated menu

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Joel Sánchez (kazer)
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In some Spanish variants "chica" and "chico" mean "small", but they can also mean "girl" and "boy", respectively. Hence the confusion.

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#87

Wrong translated arabic sign

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Verner Carlberg
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when you want to make a "that's what I said last night" joke, but know you'll be banned from panda if you do.

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#95

Wrong translated arabic sign

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Guney Ar
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha. Gotta be kidding me. I saw that one many times in my country too. They are trying to say discount but the problem is "discount" word is using like "something that down" in our language. And finally when they try to translate it, they are having "Downloads". jejeje

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#96

Wrong translated seaside sign

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Irene Argyris
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Italian translation is obviously correct, but it's probably the only one! :-D

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#98

Wrong translated mozzarella tag

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Konstantina Karampetsou
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ποικιλία (ποικ.) that is a miscellaneous collection of things translated to "assortment" (a*s) lol!!!

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#105

Wring translated working hours sign

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#107

Wrong translated toilet sign

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Lara B.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That looks shopped. The original writing on the top is uneven in the places where the paper is creased. The bottom one is way to straight and not blurry enough.

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#108

Wrong translated sign in the toilet

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Keeks
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Considering the urine on the sign, this keeps happening.

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#114

Wrong translated menu

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#116

Wrong menu translation from french

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#117

Wrong translated french warning

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Lindsay Ameye
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah the difference between a and à. The accent does not show in the capital letter and leave it up to google translate to f**k up the rest for you.

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#119

Wrong translated "Formule Gourmande"

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Willie D'Kay
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you read about the various small dishes and barbecue assortment then "greedy formula" actually makes perfect sense. It is kind of greedy to want so much.

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#126

Free toilets sign

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Kristen Hdz
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes... in some countries there are still pay toilets. Also, you pay for the toilet PAPER. God forbid you have an "issue" that requires extra.

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#128

Sign where it says that you get your purchase free without an invoice

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Kristen Hdz
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

meh, it's accurate, albeit slightly awkward. factura can be invoice, bill, check (as in a restaurant)... makes sense.

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#132

Lack of a proper rescue squad bathing sign

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Philippe Lessard
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In french it actually translate: the balneazon is not pure sure the absence of rescue service... wtf is balneazon... perhaps they ment baignade but it still make no sense at all so just don,'t do it

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#134

Failed translated Spanish sign

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Arend Kant
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a translation but a replacement. The translation wouldn´t have made any sense.

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#135

Failed translated sign about chairlift and kids

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José Gouvêa
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the original Portuguese text is obnoxiously stupid and bookish. I am a native speaker, I live in Brazil, am a writer with a degree and an MBA and I have not understood what this sign means. It surely means something about people with underage children having to do some kind of test, but the wording is awkward and the punctuation breaks the sentence randomly, further obscuring the text. Whoever wrote this can't translate well its own ideas into his own native language.

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#136

Wrong translated sign about lawn, transgressors and the law

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Willie D'Kay
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of these signs are just missing a single letter. I probably wouldn't notice if I made a sign in a different language.

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#138

Sign that leads to mediation and prayer room

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Jörg Zingler
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ermm, whats wrong with this translation? Thats Political Correctnes German style.

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#139

"Good Appetite" sign

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Hanno Van Der Woude
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is no exact translation. But most english speaking people will say "Enjoy your meal".

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