What funny/embarrassing language errors have you made?
Jun 20th, 2008, 07:13 PM
#21
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..I mispronounced to kiss in French...what I said was a rather indelicate verb to describe what is sometime an outcome of the verb to kiss...Thank goodness I was around friends who corrected me and laughed as I blushed.
Jun 20th, 2008, 08:33 PM
#22
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I've told this story before, but if you'll bear with me, I'll repeat it here -
Prior to our trip to Italy I called up an apartment rental agency in Rome and [thought I] said, in the only Italian phrase I knew, "Hello. I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian ...". The person on the phone started laughing and passed me along to someone else who was also laughing when she picked up the phone. I told my DD (who speaks Italian) that everybody laughed at me, so she asked me exactly what I'd said.
Turns out I'd called those people up at work in Rome and told them that I was sorry THEY didn't speak Italian. No wonder they laughed ...
Prior to our trip to Italy I called up an apartment rental agency in Rome and [thought I] said, in the only Italian phrase I knew, "Hello. I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian ...". The person on the phone started laughing and passed me along to someone else who was also laughing when she picked up the phone. I told my DD (who speaks Italian) that everybody laughed at me, so she asked me exactly what I'd said.
Turns out I'd called those people up at work in Rome and told them that I was sorry THEY didn't speak Italian. No wonder they laughed ...
Jun 21st, 2008, 12:29 AM
#23
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Australian to Irish. When I was young I lived in Dublin. I walked into the women's section in a large department store and asked a shop assistant "do you have any black skivvies?". She did not reply at all. She just looked at me and blinked. Another customer burst out laughing and explained that a skivvy means servant in Ireland, not the turtle neck sweater I was hoping to buy!
Jun 21st, 2008, 01:27 AM
#25
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"JoeCal: That doesn't mean "I'm drunk," it means "I'm pregnant."
It also means drunk (at least in Burgundy)
Il est complètement plein (or) bourré!
You could have said "je suis pleine comme un oeuf!" (I'm full like an egg!)which means you ate too much.
It depends on the context...
"Pleine" for pregnant is ONLY for animals, never say that about a woman! Elle est "enceinte" not "pleine".
It also means drunk (at least in Burgundy)
Il est complètement plein (or) bourré!
You could have said "je suis pleine comme un oeuf!" (I'm full like an egg!)which means you ate too much.
It depends on the context...
"Pleine" for pregnant is ONLY for animals, never say that about a woman! Elle est "enceinte" not "pleine".
Jun 21st, 2008, 09:38 AM
#27
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As a way of repaying some medical school lones, my doctor spent some time on a Navajo reservation. She was trying out her Navajo on a woman and said something she thought was harmless, but which really meant that the woman was going to die.
The patient, however, realized what was going on and just began laughing.
The patient, however, realized what was going on and just began laughing.
Jun 21st, 2008, 09:51 AM
#28
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My husband & I took Italian lessons prior to our trip to Rome. First night he went to the local shop to get some wine, cheese & bread. He asked the nice young girl for some "vino, formaggio & pene". She laughed and went to get her father. He came out and asked what it was that my husband wanted. He repeated the request and the man told him "No signor, you want PANE, not pene. Pane is the bread and pene is, how do you say it, the p****!"
Jun 21st, 2008, 09:55 AM
#29
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And 2nd story. Daughter in France, meeting lots of people, talking politcs. They ask her about voting for Clinton or Obama and she explains that this is just the "preliminaire". She then finds out this means "foreplay".
Jun 21st, 2008, 11:38 AM
#30
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Coco,
When I lived with a French family outside Beauvais, they used to joke that a newly rich neighbor was "bourré de fric." Does that mean he was "drunk with money" or similar? The phrase stuck with me, although I have seldom heard it since.
Thanks!
When I lived with a French family outside Beauvais, they used to joke that a newly rich neighbor was "bourré de fric." Does that mean he was "drunk with money" or similar? The phrase stuck with me, although I have seldom heard it since.
Thanks!
Jun 21st, 2008, 11:54 AM
#31
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BT, hope you don't mind me answering your question...
I've come across that phrase quite a lot. Bourré basically means full, crammed or stuffed, so the expression means "stuffed with money", i.e. loaded.
I've come across that phrase quite a lot. Bourré basically means full, crammed or stuffed, so the expression means "stuffed with money", i.e. loaded.
Jun 21st, 2008, 11:59 AM
#32
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>>And 2nd story. Daughter in France, meeting lots of people, talking politcs. They ask her about voting for Clinton or Obama and she explains that this is just the "preliminaire". She then finds out this means "foreplay".<<
Well, that's one way of describing the primaries...
Lee Ann
Well, that's one way of describing the primaries...
Lee Ann
in Dijon and it was bourré de monde! \
)
Jun 21st, 2008, 02:09 PM
#37
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As a summer student in Montpellier, the locals knew that we were supposed to be speaking French and never let us off the hook. Some of the kids were not fluent and it was too funny..one asked ou est la gare...but pronounced it GAYRE (guerre) which of course means war, and the lady went on and on about oh Dieu, we're at war??? SO funny. I posted my trip report with this story, but it's good...two weeks ago in rural France I sent my husband to get 2 pizzas...a trois (3) fromage ...a mixture of 3 cheeses, all local, and a Margharita. He came back with 3 cheese pizzas and a margarita. We had enough for 12 people. Not to mention the time he asked for a WC and everyone in the place starting howling. I have no idea what he said, but it must have been good. He's better with maps than language.
Jun 21st, 2008, 02:39 PM
#38
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Prior to leaving for France, I had foolishly decided to weed my garden one last time. By the time I arrived, I had a peculiar rash and problems breathing. At the hospital, I tried to explain that I had "poussin ivy", until I realized that "fish ivy" wasn't quite the issue. It appears that poison ivy is not native to France, and everyone looked at me in confusion. I then went into pantomime mode and made digging motions, explaining "le jardin." At that point, the new doctor who'd come in reassured me that I was not going to die, but if I did - France was a civilized country and they would NOT bury me in the garden!!
Jun 21st, 2008, 05:39 PM
#40
I meant to say smile to my waiter who was not his usual upbeat, and I, "qui parles Français comme une vache espagnole"**said mouse. He started laughing knowing I spoke little French so he translated to everyone. What joy it brought to the dining crowd and seemd much more relaxd.
** The expression in France is directed at one who speaks poor French.
** The expression in France is directed at one who speaks poor French.
