Avoid These 20 English Words When in Other Countri

If you travel abroad frequently for work, or if you have an e-commerce store with customers from all over the world, it’s worth noting that there are a number of English words that, phonetically, don’t work in other countries and can lead to double entendre or unintended offence territory. Here are 20 of them to help you ensure that your communication isn’t lost in translation.

France

Preservative. Avoid asking about preservatives in France; you’ll probably be met with strange looks. It means ‘condom’ in France.


Norway

Pick. If you’re visiting Norway, don’t use the word ‘pick’. Your Norwegian colleague is unlikely to be impressed - it means ‘d*ck’ over there.


Turkey

Peach. Going to Turkey? Avoid asking for a peach in the supermarket or anywhere else for that matter. It means ‘bastard’ in Turkish.

Germany

Gift. ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth’, we’re told; perhaps more so in Germany where the word means ‘poison’.

Korea

Salsa. Out for a Mexican in Korea? It’s probably best not to ask for salsa: it means ‘diarrhoea’ in Korean.

Sweden

Speed. Try not to talk about speed when in the company of others in Sweden. It means ‘fart’.


Portugal

Pay Day. If you’re in Portugal, refrain from singing with happiness that it’s ‘pay day’. No one will be impressed. In Portuguese it means “I farted”.

Hungary

Cookie. If you’re visiting Hungary, whether on business or for pleasure, avoid asking for a cookie. It means ‘small p*nis’ in Hungarian.


Japan

Jerry. It’s perhaps a little late for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, but if you’re in Japan, avoid using the word – it means ‘diarrhoea’ over there.


Italy

Tremendous. Refrain from boasting about the tremendous prices you offer your clients. In this country, ‘tremendo’ is the word for ‘terrible’.


Netherlands

Bill. Asking for the bill might raise a few guffaws in the Netherlands: ‘bil’ means ‘buttocks’ there.



Spain

Cool. The word cool is too close for comfort to the Spanish word 'culo'; a crude term for 'bum'. Best avoided.






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Comments (9)

Germany
Gift. ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth’, we’re told; perhaps more so in Germany where the word means ‘poison’.cheers thumbs up
interesting.. and curious laugh
In Japan, I just thought it's geri. And it is pronounced the way it is written not as jerry. I just think one word in Japan that you've got to avoid is the word baka. In Spanish and Filipino,it pertains to cow or cow's meat. In Japan, it pertains to a foolish person, things or actuations.
if we write August with small letter like august then it means "Profoundly honored". doh
Dreamcatcher99 interesting handshake
Dreamcatcher99 "Kos" i know its meaning but i can not write it due to have bad meaning sad flower
postneoludite ...... you will have to give a name comfort
Thai people need to be careful talking about pumpkins in English ..... Its similar to the eff word.
Dutch Also have some crazy words ...like work man ....vakman .... The v being more of an eff sound.
Nicefeet doh doh doh doh
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imrankhan84

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