Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (Cyborg)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Brand Logo

CIRCLE WITH A DOT

  1. Home
  2. Uncategorized
  3. Examples that Danish is the most confusing language for English speakers:

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

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Uncategorized
offtopic
103 Posts 78 Posters 280 Views
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • lies_das@digitalcourage.socialL lies_das@digitalcourage.social

    @randahl
    english 'gift' means in german 'poison'

    me_@sueden.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
    me_@sueden.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
    me_@sueden.social
    wrote last edited by
    #68

    @lies_das @randahl And 'married' in Danish, Swedish and Norwegian...

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.orgB brianjohnson@mastodon.sdf.org

      @CiaraNi @randahl Indeed. I worked for a very famous Danish brewery for some years and people obviously expected there to be a cupboard full of 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
      #69

      @brianjohnson @randahl A reasonable expectation!

      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

        taatm@mathstodon.xyzT This user is from outside of this forum
        taatm@mathstodon.xyzT This user is from outside of this forum
        taatm@mathstodon.xyz
        wrote last edited by
        #70

        @randahl 🤣
        The people of the Netherlands of talk of ‘spread shit’ as it sounds in to English ears.

        Then they show you their spreadsheet.

        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

          thepolishdispatch@mstdn.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
          thepolishdispatch@mstdn.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
          thepolishdispatch@mstdn.social
          wrote last edited by
          #71

          @randahl oh, and counting. Don't forget the counting.

          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

            malaule@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
            malaule@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
            malaule@mastodon.social
            wrote last edited by
            #72

            @randahl may be they need to learn danish

            swggrkllr3rd@mastodon.worldS 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • caman@connectop.usC caman@connectop.us

              @randahl I love linguistic crossover words and phrases with different meanings! I remember my high school German class when our rather jaded teacher was ready to teach a room full of adolescents how to conjugate the verb fahren. He told us to go ahead and get the guffaws and belly laughs out of the way so we could continue our lesson. He was right.

              When visiting Denmark, I’ll take the stairs. I do wonder if those elevators go both to the basement and the top floor. Just don’t ever hit the down button.

              dravyptak@mastodon.mlD This user is from outside of this forum
              dravyptak@mastodon.mlD This user is from outside of this forum
              dravyptak@mastodon.ml
              wrote last edited by
              #73

              @CAman @randahl there might be a "stairway to Heaven" near the Gods Elevator 😄

              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

                projektionsyta@mastodon.nuP This user is from outside of this forum
                projektionsyta@mastodon.nuP This user is from outside of this forum
                projektionsyta@mastodon.nu
                wrote last edited by
                #74

                @randahl

                Reminds me of the British gentleman who stepped off the train somewhere in northern Sweden, and saw the sign Godsexpedition (=freight office). He asked "Where am I?" The answer was "Welcome, you're in Häll!"

                Häll is, of course, pronounced "hell".

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • dahukanna@mastodon.socialD dahukanna@mastodon.social

                  @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 This user is from outside of this forum
                  naturemc@mastodon.onlineN This user is from outside of this forum
                  naturemc@mastodon.online
                  wrote last edited by
                  #75

                  @dahukanna It is interesting to observe that most people who work in the gastronomy sector often count in their native language, even if they are completely fluent in the other language.
                  @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

                  dahukanna@mastodon.socialD 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

                    darkpaw@mstdn.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                    darkpaw@mstdn.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                    darkpaw@mstdn.social
                    wrote last edited by
                    #76

                    @randahl Ah, but Danish people have no idea what an English diaphragny on the fluffnivalve is.

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

                      @dahukanna It is interesting to observe that most people who work in the gastronomy sector often count in their native language, even if they are completely fluent in the other language.
                      @Pascal_dher @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
                      #77

                      @NatureMC @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl
                      Instinctual, no cognitive effort to recall and time-effective system 1 vs deliberate, brain cognitive effort required to recall and slower system 2.

                      naturemc@mastodon.onlineN 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • dahukanna@mastodon.socialD dahukanna@mastodon.social

                        @NatureMC @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl
                        Instinctual, no cognitive effort to recall and time-effective system 1 vs deliberate, brain cognitive effort required to recall and slower system 2.

                        naturemc@mastodon.onlineN This user is from outside of this forum
                        naturemc@mastodon.onlineN This user is from outside of this forum
                        naturemc@mastodon.online
                        wrote last edited by
                        #78

                        @dahukanna I have now mastered the French numbering system sufficiently to write cheques, but I always count in my head in German to save my brain for more important things. 🤭 Or I use the Belgian French ...

                        @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

                        dahukanna@mastodon.socialD 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

                          sarpau@mastodon.socialS This user is from outside of this forum
                          sarpau@mastodon.socialS This user is from outside of this forum
                          sarpau@mastodon.social
                          wrote last edited by
                          #79

                          @randahl Randahl I wonder why🙄

                          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

                            amenonsen@flipping.rocksA This user is from outside of this forum
                            amenonsen@flipping.rocksA This user is from outside of this forum
                            amenonsen@flipping.rocks
                            wrote last edited by
                            #80

                            @randahl There was a Swedish film festival in Delhi many years ago, and I remember some… consternation in the audience when the last frame said of some film said "SLUT" in big white letters on a black screen.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • malaule@mastodon.socialM malaule@mastodon.social

                              @randahl may be they need to learn danish

                              swggrkllr3rd@mastodon.worldS This user is from outside of this forum
                              swggrkllr3rd@mastodon.worldS This user is from outside of this forum
                              swggrkllr3rd@mastodon.world
                              wrote last edited by
                              #81

                              @MaLauLe @randahl Røv og ræv.

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

                                @dahukanna I have now mastered the French numbering system sufficiently to write cheques, but I always count in my head in German to save my brain for more important things. 🤭 Or I use the Belgian French ...

                                @Pascal_dher @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
                                #82

                                @NatureMC @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

                                From practice and lived experience:
                                - More than 100 - can count with no effort in English
                                - less than 100 - can count with no effort in English and French.
                                - less than 50 - can count with no effort in English, French, Danish and German.

                                naturemc@mastodon.onlineN 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • dahukanna@mastodon.socialD dahukanna@mastodon.social

                                  @NatureMC @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @randahl

                                  From practice and lived experience:
                                  - More than 100 - can count with no effort in English
                                  - less than 100 - can count with no effort in English and French.
                                  - less than 50 - can count with no effort in English, French, Danish and German.

                                  naturemc@mastodon.onlineN This user is from outside of this forum
                                  naturemc@mastodon.onlineN This user is from outside of this forum
                                  naturemc@mastodon.online
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #83

                                  @dahukanna Great! @Pascal_dher @waldschnecke @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

                                    fixato@toot.catF This user is from outside of this forum
                                    fixato@toot.catF This user is from outside of this forum
                                    fixato@toot.cat
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #84

                                    @randahl here in Norway you can get a divine massage: https://www.godmassasje.no

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • rayotron@mstdn.socialR rayotron@mstdn.social

                                      @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 This user is from outside of this forum
                                      tomminieminen@mastodontti.fiT This user is from outside of this forum
                                      tomminieminen@mastodontti.fi
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #85

                                      @rayotron @randahl The Russians do that too. Their films end with Finnish word “koheli” (= madman, crazy person).

                                      rayotron@mstdn.socialR 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • fiee@literatur.socialF fiee@literatur.social

                                        @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 This user is from outside of this forum
                                        cppguy@infosec.spaceC This user is from outside of this forum
                                        cppguy@infosec.space
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #86

                                        @fiee @mad @randahl @rhempel

                                        A Frenchman I know always laughs when he visits the UK and sees the words "for sale". In French, "fort sale" (in which the T is silent) means "really dirty".

                                        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

                                          hoare_spitall@mastodon.worldH This user is from outside of this forum
                                          hoare_spitall@mastodon.worldH This user is from outside of this forum
                                          hoare_spitall@mastodon.world
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #87

                                          @randahl But you must concede that English native speakers often have difficulty with their own language, let alone another one.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups