Comments on: Best Blunders In The Lands Of Other Languages http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/05/best-blunders-in-the-lands-of-other-languages/ The Expeditioner is a travel magazine for the avid traveler featuring travel articles and video from around the world. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Candice http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/05/best-blunders-in-the-lands-of-other-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-1785 Candice Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:27:53 +0000 http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=5525#comment-1785 LOL! These are amazing. I particularly enjoy the storekeeper's good humour. LOL! These are amazing. I particularly enjoy the storekeeper's good humour.

]]> By: Caity http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/05/best-blunders-in-the-lands-of-other-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-1781 Caity Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:09:59 +0000 http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=5525#comment-1781 When I was studying in France and out at a party with my host sister I accidentally told the whole group that I was ibred. The host of the party asked me why I looked the way I did (they all thought I was Swedish or Norweigan and couldn't believe I was American) I tried to tell them "It's because I have Swedish and Norwegian ancestors in my family" but I actually said "It's because I have Swedish and Norwegian incest in my family." Needless to say, people became very quiet and looked a bit horrified until my host sister explained to them what I meant and cleared up my faux pas. The french word for ancestor is ancetre but I said anceStre which sounds like the French word for incest because of the S I put in the word. Ah mon dieu... When I was studying in France and out at a party with my host sister I accidentally told the whole group that I was ibred.

The host of the party asked me why I looked the way I did (they all thought I was Swedish or Norweigan and couldn't believe I was American) I tried to tell them "It's because I have Swedish and Norwegian ancestors in my family" but I actually said "It's because I have Swedish and Norwegian incest in my family." Needless to say, people became very quiet and looked a bit horrified until my host sister explained to them what I meant and cleared up my faux pas.

The french word for ancestor is ancetre but I said anceStre which sounds like the French word for incest because of the S I put in the word.

Ah mon dieu…

]]> By: ATP http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/05/best-blunders-in-the-lands-of-other-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-1779 ATP Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:59:53 +0000 http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=5525#comment-1779 I taught English in Korea for a year. I'm trying to impress my nine-year-old students with my counting ability. I count to twenty. I'm thinking I'm saying the word "eighteen" and wondering why the whole class is breaking into peals of raucous laughter... ...and when I ask the Korean teachers about it, and repeat the word I used, eyes bug out and hands get clasped over mouths. My liaison, Charles, grins a mile wide and says, "That is the f-word you are saying." Turns out the Korean word for the number 18 bears a distressingly close resemblance to the Korean f-bomb. It's just a matter of inflection and consonant stress. And I was, literally, effing it up. No wonder my students kept asking me to say it again and again and again and again... Took me WEEKS to live that one down. I taught English in Korea for a year. I'm trying to impress my nine-year-old students with my counting ability. I count to twenty. I'm thinking I'm saying the word "eighteen" and wondering why the whole class is breaking into peals of raucous laughter…

…and when I ask the Korean teachers about it, and repeat the word I used, eyes bug out and hands get clasped over mouths. My liaison, Charles, grins a mile wide and says, "That is the f-word you are saying."

Turns out the Korean word for the number 18 bears a distressingly close resemblance to the Korean f-bomb. It's just a matter of inflection and consonant stress. And I was, literally, effing it up. No wonder my students kept asking me to say it again and again and again and again…

Took me WEEKS to live that one down.

]]> By: TheExpeditioner http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/05/best-blunders-in-the-lands-of-other-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-1778 TheExpeditioner Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:45:04 +0000 http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=5525#comment-1778 I recall telling many people in Argentina that I worked as an "avocado" -- that was until I learned the word I was looking for was "abogado." I recall telling many people in Argentina that I worked as an "avocado" — that was until I learned the word I was looking for was "abogado."

]]> By: Tomato Man http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/05/best-blunders-in-the-lands-of-other-languages/comment-page-1/#comment-1777 Tomato Man Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:27:39 +0000 http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=5525#comment-1777 I was in Mexico once, and I meant to ask the cab driver if he had a wife, nstead I asked him if he wanted my wife. I was in Mexico once, and I meant to ask the cab driver if he had a wife, nstead I asked him if he wanted my wife.

]]>