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  3. Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

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  • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

    Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

    In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

    When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

    Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

    In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

    #offtopic

    andresimous@oslo.townA This user is from outside of this forum
    andresimous@oslo.townA This user is from outside of this forum
    andresimous@oslo.town
    wrote last edited by
    #32

    @randahl
    Hihi,
    i was giving away some cans of Jule øl for chrismas here in Germany, wich leads to confusion, because the german word Öl means oil.

    the_wub@mastodon.socialT 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • pointysticksncoffee@wandering.shopP pointysticksncoffee@wandering.shop

      @randahl @cookingroffa in The Netherlands, Nutricia, a producer of a wide variety of foodstuff, including baby food, confused English speakers with this gem. Translation: mama, this/that one, that one, that one… Please

      Link Preview Image
      publictorsten@mastodon.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
      publictorsten@mastodon.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
      publictorsten@mastodon.social
      wrote last edited by
      #33

      @pointysticksncoffee @randahl @cookingroffa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaXigSu72A4

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • mad@freiburg.socialM mad@freiburg.social

        @randahl @rhempel

        Same here in Germany. Some people believe "Sale" is a brand.

        fiee@literatur.socialF This user is from outside of this forum
        fiee@literatur.socialF This user is from outside of this forum
        fiee@literatur.social
        wrote last edited by
        #34

        @mad @randahl @rhempel
        No, no, that only hints at salted prices!
        (In German that means overly expensive, dunno if it works in English.)

        cppguy@infosec.spaceC 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

          Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

          In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

          When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

          Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

          In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

          #offtopic

          gpshewan@mastodon.socialG This user is from outside of this forum
          gpshewan@mastodon.socialG This user is from outside of this forum
          gpshewan@mastodon.social
          wrote last edited by
          #35

          @randahl I don’t think it’s just the translations, I’m always reminded of Andre Wickstroms stand up about Danish 😏 (old and the sound drops for a few seconds) https://youtu.be/ssmIARL5RvE?si=U44nykPzXLuK5Xfk

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

            Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

            In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

            When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

            Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

            In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

            #offtopic

            mikill@mastodon.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
            mikill@mastodon.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
            mikill@mastodon.world
            wrote last edited by
            #36

            @randahl Funny but not real. At least not common.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

              Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

              In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

              When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

              Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

              In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

              #offtopic

              technozid@friendica.a-zwenkau.deT This user is from outside of this forum
              technozid@friendica.a-zwenkau.deT This user is from outside of this forum
              technozid@friendica.a-zwenkau.de
              wrote last edited by
              #37
              @randahl In German speaking countries we have a lot of shops labelled "Bad Design" (bathroom design), like this one: tirolerin.at/wp-content/upload…
              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                #offtopic

                irisfreundin@troet.cafeI This user is from outside of this forum
                irisfreundin@troet.cafeI This user is from outside of this forum
                irisfreundin@troet.cafe
                wrote last edited by
                #38

                @randahl My observation is that English speakers have problems with _any_ foreign language. They principally expect the whole world naming things the same way as they do. 😉

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • gupperduck@mastodon.socialG gupperduck@mastodon.social

                  @randahl

                  Or the evergreen road signs "Fart kontrol" 🙂

                  fiee@literatur.socialF This user is from outside of this forum
                  fiee@literatur.socialF This user is from outside of this forum
                  fiee@literatur.social
                  wrote last edited by
                  #39

                  @Gupperduck @randahl
                  WRT street signs, I love the French “Rappel” (remember the speed limit), which means about “tantrum“ or “to rattle” in German.

                  jowodo@mas.toJ 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • andresimous@oslo.townA andresimous@oslo.town

                    @randahl
                    Hihi,
                    i was giving away some cans of Jule øl for chrismas here in Germany, wich leads to confusion, because the german word Öl means oil.

                    the_wub@mastodon.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
                    the_wub@mastodon.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
                    the_wub@mastodon.social
                    wrote last edited by
                    #40

                    @andresimous @randahl That's easier for English speakers as we use the words "beer" and "ale" interchangably.

                    So we have both the Germanic and Norse derived words for beer in the language.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                      Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                      In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                      When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                      Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                      In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                      #offtopic

                      scubyw@mastodon.nzS This user is from outside of this forum
                      scubyw@mastodon.nzS This user is from outside of this forum
                      scubyw@mastodon.nz
                      wrote last edited by
                      #41

                      @randahl https://mastodon.social/@randahl/116186288182184462
                      Clear as butter. 'Yag ni taler Danske'.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                        Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                        In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                        When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                        Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                        In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                        #offtopic

                        ranaldclouston@fediscience.orgR This user is from outside of this forum
                        ranaldclouston@fediscience.orgR This user is from outside of this forum
                        ranaldclouston@fediscience.org
                        wrote last edited by
                        #42

                        @randahl my father in law enjoyed that there was a cookbook called 'God Mad', which sounds like something a superstitious caveman might declare.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                          Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                          In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                          When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                          Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                          In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                          #offtopic

                          connynasch@mastodon.socialC This user is from outside of this forum
                          connynasch@mastodon.socialC This user is from outside of this forum
                          connynasch@mastodon.social
                          wrote last edited by
                          #43

                          @randahl I have never seen it like that, have read all the comments with a huge grin! My country is multilingual and I personally speak 5 languages fluently. 🤔 🤗

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                            @rhempel nowadays were have the opposite problem, as window signs will often say "Sale!", which is confusing to Danes, as that means "Halls!", as if there is some big rooms inside the building.

                            riley@toot.catR This user is from outside of this forum
                            riley@toot.catR This user is from outside of this forum
                            riley@toot.cat
                            wrote last edited by
                            #44

                            @randahl "Here, you can get your halls decked! (Gay apparel sold separately.)" @rhempel

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • mad@freiburg.socialM mad@freiburg.social

                              @randahl @rhempel

                              Same here in Germany. Some people believe "Sale" is a brand.

                              harald@mementomori.socialH This user is from outside of this forum
                              harald@mementomori.socialH This user is from outside of this forum
                              harald@mementomori.social
                              wrote last edited by
                              #45

                              @mad @randahl @rhempel Sale! is a chain of grocery stores here in Finland

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                                Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                                In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                                When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                                Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                                In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                                #offtopic

                                rayotron@mstdn.socialR This user is from outside of this forum
                                rayotron@mstdn.socialR This user is from outside of this forum
                                rayotron@mstdn.social
                                wrote last edited by
                                #46

                                @randahl
                                As an arthouse cinema projectionist I learned that Danish and Swedish films end with an insult. I don't think they're calling the whole audience sluts, just that one person in row three.

                                tomminieminen@mastodontti.fiT 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • ciarani@mastodon.greenC ciarani@mastodon.green

                                  @randahl One day, Middelfart is going to open an art museum and the sign pointing to Middelfart Kunst is going to make visitors so happy.

                                  aileen22@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                                  aileen22@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                                  aileen22@mastodon.social
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #47

                                  @CiaraNi @randahl 🤭

                                  ciarani@mastodon.greenC 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                                    Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                                    In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                                    When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                                    Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                                    In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                                    #offtopic

                                    cblte@nrw.socialC This user is from outside of this forum
                                    cblte@nrw.socialC This user is from outside of this forum
                                    cblte@nrw.social
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #48

                                    @randahl @lenzgr I fart = Ich fahre.. 🙂 hihihi

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • aileen22@mastodon.socialA aileen22@mastodon.social

                                      @CiaraNi @randahl 🤭

                                      ciarani@mastodon.greenC This user is from outside of this forum
                                      ciarani@mastodon.greenC This user is from outside of this forum
                                      ciarani@mastodon.green
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #49

                                      @Aileen22 @randahl 🙂

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                                        Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                                        In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                                        When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                                        Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                                        In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                                        #offtopic

                                        brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.orgB This user is from outside of this forum
                                        brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.orgB This user is from outside of this forum
                                        brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.org
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #50

                                        @randahl @CiaraNi My favourite is visitors seeing a walk-in cupboard with "LAGER" on the door, that is filled with all sorts of stuff, but never any beer.

                                        ciarani@mastodon.greenC 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • randahl@mastodon.socialR randahl@mastodon.social

                                          Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

                                          In Denmark, when washing machines are done, their displays write, "Slut!", which means "Finished".

                                          When someone enters an elevator, the display changes to "I fart", which means "On the move".

                                          Tourists have difficulty finding a nice WC, because the signs often say "Bad toilet", meaning "Bathroom and toilet".

                                          In lobbies with multiple elevators, one sign may say, "Gods elevator", which means "Freight elevator".

                                          #offtopic

                                          lockedintospace@mastodon.socialL This user is from outside of this forum
                                          lockedintospace@mastodon.socialL This user is from outside of this forum
                                          lockedintospace@mastodon.social
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #51

                                          @randahl Imagine a washing machine displaying "Slut!" in an Anglophone country.

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