WHAT did you just say? ROFL
Talking in a different language can get you into embarrassing situations, we all know that. Mispronounce a word and oops ... different meaning.Then there are the comedians who teach you something that doesn't mean what they told you it means ... there's a guy in my office who has some South African friends and is always pestering me for rude words and phrases in one of South Africa's 11 languages that he can throw at them. (Or as Saffers would say, throw them with).
His research goes both ways. Today we were joking around and he said I was obviously looking for a poesklap.
WHAT???????????????? Sweetie, look these things up before you use them, okay? Poor guy thought he was telling me I needed a quick skelp (Scottish for a smack up the head) Um - I don't know the phrase, but I think you just suggested something a lot more hostile, and further down ...
Ever made a language faux pas?
Comments (6)
Did you ask him if his teacher is from Houtbaai
ps: if I told you about my language faux pas I'd have to kill you
Being unfamiliar with the local fauna, one of our group asked a local if there were any bears around there.
Replied the local, "Oh shore. We got blue bears, raz bears, straw bears...all kinds of 'em!"
Now, if the newcomer had asked if there were any BARS around, he would've been informed, "Black bars are right common...ye might come on one if'n ye go pickin' bears."