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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

    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.

                              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

                                michael@westergaard.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                                michael@westergaard.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                                michael@westergaard.social
                                wrote last edited by
                                #52
                                Funny fact, Queen Elizabeth was visiting my university some years ago, when she was still alive and I still went to university, and the lifts all had their "i fart" displays hidden using sticky tape to not offend her.
                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.orgB brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.org

                                  @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 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
                                  #53

                                  @brianjohnson @randahl Haha - that one had never occurred to me. How disappointed they must be when they open the door and find cleaning cloths and biros.

                                  brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.orgB 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • fiee@literatur.socialF fiee@literatur.social

                                    @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 This user is from outside of this forum
                                    jowodo@mas.toJ This user is from outside of this forum
                                    jowodo@mas.to
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #54

                                    @fiee @Gupperduck @randahl well this reminds me of French street signs "SAUF" which translates to "except(ion)" and in German it could be interpretation as "you, drink/booze!"

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • naturemc@mastodon.onlineN naturemc@mastodon.online

                                      @Pascal_dher 😱 from France. 😅 @waldschnecke @randahl

                                      dahukanna@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                                      dahukanna@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                                      dahukanna@mastodon.social
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #55

                                      @NatureMC

                                      @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

                                      I’m learning Danish as an English and French speaker and the “half of score(20) or 2 hands plus a number” mental model took some time to get used to - 😬!

                                      naturemc@mastodon.onlineN 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

                                        ahalam@social.vivaldi.netA This user is from outside of this forum
                                        ahalam@social.vivaldi.netA This user is from outside of this forum
                                        ahalam@social.vivaldi.net
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #56

                                        @randahl I didn't know that Danish has so close to Dutch! 💀

                                        steltenpower@social.edu.nlS 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

                                          ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                                          ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                                          ascherbaum@mastodon.social
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #57

                                          @randahl You are on to something! 😉

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                                          cppguy@infosec.spaceC 1 Reply Last reply
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