If you've ever interacted with someone who speaks a different language, what is the funniest misunderstanding you've had?
If you've ever interacted with someone who speaks a different language, what is the funniest misunderstanding you've had?
An example of what I mean:
I, in China, told an English speaking Chinese friend I needed to stop off in the bathroom to "take a shit."
He looked appalled and after I asked why he had that look, he asked what I was going to do with someone's shit.
I had not laughed so hard in a while, and it totally makes sense.
I explained it was an expression for pooping, and he comes back with, "wouldn't that be giving a shit?"
I then got to explain that to give a shit means you care and I realized how fucked some of our expressions are.
What misunderstandings made you laugh?
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The Dutch word "poepen" (taking a shit), is a Belgian euphemism for sex. Which is always a great source of fun when making friends near the southern border.
50 0 ReplyI love that in my head im reading "poepen" as "poopin'" with a funny accent
20 1 Reply20 0 ReplyGeef me een klap, papa
6 0 ReplyLol this reminds me of BBC Pidgin:
5 0 ReplyHow is that headline about the woman and not the british man she invited over who threw poop out her second floor window?
1 0 Reply
Never really though about it but there are similar words in German "poppen" (colloquial term for having sex) and "pupsen" which is farting.
3 0 ReplyHey, don't judge the Belgians.
4 0 ReplyYeah, take your hands off of them!
1 0 Reply