Over the years various people have sent us pictures of a number of signs and products from all over the world that (frankly) made us laugh out loud… here are the top ten.
We know its funny but don’t make the mistake yourself. When you translate your signs, documents, website or anything else into a language you cannot read make sure you use a professional language translation company.
And… we have about a million more of these things – so if you like them leave a comment and we’ll make a new site with them all on.
Funny stuff!
that first one might be at a very hot pond, like a cooling pond for a factory or a very hot spring.
lolol painapple they sound delicious! – @Sam: yeah that was the first thing i thought of when i saw that too
Yeah.. the first one isn’t a bad translation.. they are like hot springs but not the kind you can swim in.. they will literally boil you alive..
…why do you laugh at the Chniese, right here in America we have the “wet-backs” who wont even attempt
to learn the language of the country they live in! Anderson Copper ( from CNN ) says that there are more Chinese
speaking English than the entire population of America !!! I could go on and on about the Mexicans and expense
they are but , that would kill the humor.
[...] There are a few more of these on our Company’s main blog at -> Bad Translation [...]
to Lawrence, just put things in the right context: In America, the vast majority speaks Spanish. If you meant the US, then I am sorry to say that that mixture of bad German and bad French you call English is not a language, just a sore throat disease. The fact that it has been adopted as a “lingua franca” almost everywhere is the clearest demonstration that bad taste is rampant worldwide. As for you who live in the US, I suggest you start learning Spanish real fast, because it’s just a matter of years before this language replaces the throat disease. ¡Hasta la vista, Pringao!
Anderson Coppper is an idiot..anderson cooper on the other hand is a genius
What’s wrong with the top one? If that’s at a geyser pond you WILL be cooked iff you fall in.
Dear Patrick,
You poor, poor man.
I’m glad you say that the vast amount of people in (North and South) America speak Spanish.
Funny thing is, those people are mowing my lawn tomorrow morning.
Your countries are super poor. And if the recession gets any worse, your people in America will be out of a job, and some will come home as a last resort, which will make your countries burdened with poor emigrants from your country, but back now (The country will get even poorer, if you didn’t notice.)
There’s the door –>
Kill yourself.
Wow, the second to last one (Offer the seat…) was weird. ‘Gravid’ is norwegian for pregnant. The ‘Crippie’ could be simply mistaking l for an i, but how did they get a norwegian word in there?
By the way, gravid means carrying an egg. This terminology is mostly used in veterinary science and ornithological (bird) science. Just in case readers thought that the people on this bus yield seats to misspelled gravy people.
Awesome BTW!!!! Owch painapple!
Great site and information – i recommend this site
Patrick is a dickweed! You say the vast majority of US speaks Spanish. That’s funny since 90% of EVERYTHING in this country is written in English. Even Taco Bell’s menu is! Its funny how you make fun of the English language, yet most countries in the world require English to be learned in their schools. And you say English sounds like bad German and bad French?! All German sounds bad, like they are pissed or something and about to spit in your face. And everyone who speaks French sounds like a huge homo! French is for sailors and women to speak. If you are a man, grow a set of nuts and speak English! Hasta la vista queerbate!
As a translator, I enjoyed these signs. They made me chuckle. I wish some people would enjoy them without making this a political issue between countries.
These are funny signs!! Politics discussion is the next room to the left.
Look, this is about funny mistranslations, not your personal prejudices and I personally like the site. Shut up about other peoples languages, It is not nice to talk bad about each other. Didn’t your mother ever tell you, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything?
Couple more I found:
Japanese hotel room – You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid
Paris hotel elevator – Please leave your values at the front desk
Tokyo hotel – It is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If you are not a person to do such a thing is please not read this notice
Bucharest hotel – The list is being fixed for the next day. During this time you will be unbearable
Leipzig elevator – Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up
Athens hotel – Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11am daily
Belgrade elevator – To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving then going alphabetically in national order.
Sarajevo hotel – The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid
Moscow hotel – You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried daily except Thursday
Swiss menu – Our wines leave you nothing to hope for
Hong Kong tailors shop – Ladies may have a fit upstairs
Bangkok dry cleaners – Drop your trousers here for best results
Paris dress shop – Dresses for street walking
Rhodes tailor shop – Order your summer suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation
Hong Kong advert – Teeth extracted by the latest methodists
Rome laundary – Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time
Swiss mountain inn – Special today… no ice cream
Copenhagen airline – We take your bags and send them in all directions
Moscow hotel – If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it
Norwegian lounge – Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar
Tokyo shop – Our nylons cost more than common but they are better for the long run
Acapulco hotel – The manager has personally passed all the water served here
With regards to previous posts:
La Migra wins the price for the dumbest post, congrats. It’s a trip around the world on foot. Being proud of your own language is like being proud that you can shit. It’s what you say. Not in which language.
Dear Patrick
I am Vietnamese living in America and therefore, I am learning English day in and day out. It’s my responsibility to do whatever it takes to melt in; including ” learn English”. Melting in is a key word here my friend.
Haha I love funny signs, especially translations.
For those arguing about languages, what’s the point? You can’t help what your mother tongue is, it’s simply something you’re born into. Additionally, whether a language is “good” or not is all personal opinion anyway.
If you want to speak the “better” language, then learn as many as you can. Each culture is beautiful in its own way, and obviously every culture has its faults. Learning languages enables you to understand these cultures, and will also allow you to understand and increase your enjoyment of these translations
And for those who speak English as their native tongue, I’m sorry you started out with the disadvantage of speaking the dominant language, but don’t let that keep you from learning about others!
And with that, I leave you one of my favourites
A sign on some steep stairs in the Dragon Tower in Harbin, China tells you to “Slip and fall down carefully” (小心滑倒)
[...] Here is something funny to get this blog going. The Language Blog at Bloglingua.com collected Top 10 great examples of bad translation. [...]