Funny translations seem to be popular with many of you, so here's another helping. Enjoy. Have a great weekend.
(I WANT this sign)
In Taiwan, the translation of the Pepsi slogan
Come alive with the Pepsi Generation
came out in Chinese as Pepsi will bring your
ancestors back from the grave.
Come alive with the Pepsi Generation
came out in Chinese as Pepsi will bring your
ancestors back from the grave.
***
Coors translated its slogan, Turn it loose, into Spanish, where it was read as Suffer from diarrhea.
***
The Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan finger-lickin’ good came out in KFC’s first Chinese campaign as eat your fingers off.
***
When Chevrolet developed the Chevy Nova, they decided to market it heavily in Mexico, where the name translates as 'doesn’t go'. The car was later renamed Caribe, which means Caribbean.
Ford had a similar problem in Brazil when the Pinto flopped. The company found out that Pinto was Brazilian slang for tiny male genitals. Ford pried all the nameplates off and substituted Corcel, which means horse.
Elspeth - Oh, these are absolutely priceless! Thanks so much for sharing : ). As a linguist, I just find these irresistible.
ReplyDeleteMargot; I'm pleased you enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteThese are too funny! I can only imagine in reverse how badly Americans (I won't include Canadians or Brits in this blanket statement) would screw up a translation for any other country--if we ever thought to translate anything...which we don't. :)
ReplyDeleteYou offered just the laugh I needed!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks.
I love signs.
ReplyDeleteI think my favourite is one doing the rounds that says in big letters "Caution This Sign as Sharp Edges".
It unlike these is a fake.
Elizabeth; I'm sure every country is guilty of this in some way. "Lost in Translation" isn't just a saying!
ReplyDeleteMary; You're so welcome. Have a great weekend.
Al; The best thing about that sign? Under the sharp edges warning it says in tiny letters "Bridge out ahead".
I love the sign about not teasing the animal, could they be any more specific. I wonder if a tourist was splitting hairs with them about their translation and they decided to cover themselves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the share.
Oh, man...These are fantastic. Where do you find them?
ReplyDeleteMichele
SouthernCityMysteries
Hilarious - I wonder what kind of animal we're not supposed to bug? :)
ReplyDeletePriceless!
ReplyDeleteThese are great. I love 'no coleslaw'!
ReplyDelete