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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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  • 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

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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

      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
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      • 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
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        • 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".

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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

            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
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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

              quantensalat@scicomm.xyzQ This user is from outside of this forum
              quantensalat@scicomm.xyzQ This user is from outside of this forum
              quantensalat@scicomm.xyz
              wrote last edited by
              #88

              @randahl I fart @ Gods elevator

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA ascherbaum@mastodon.social

                @randahl You are on to something! 😉

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                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
                #89

                @ascherbaum @randahl

                I'm guessing "Din" means "your" (like Middle English "thine") and this sign displays your current speed?

                ascherbaum@mastodon.socialA 1 Reply Last reply
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                • cppguy@infosec.spaceC cppguy@infosec.space

                  @ascherbaum @randahl

                  I'm guessing "Din" means "your" (like Middle English "thine") and this sign displays your current speed?

                  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
                  #90

                  @CppGuy @randahl yes. But for English speaking people it is still somewhat funny.

                  cppguy@infosec.spaceC 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • tomminieminen@mastodontti.fiT tomminieminen@mastodontti.fi

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

                    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
                    #91

                    @tomminieminen @randahl

                    That's interesting! I guess if a filmmaker were half Russian, half Danish they would end their movie with "Crazy Slut".

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • 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
                      praetor@mstdn.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                      praetor@mstdn.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                      praetor@mstdn.social
                      wrote last edited by
                      #92

                      @pointysticksncoffee @randahl @cookingroffa I'm an American, as you know, and I live in a VERY Latino apartment buildiing. And they think it's all strange that I know Norwegian, but not Spanish. It's fun. And I was outside cleaning pillows. Fluffing them. And my neighbor is like "What you doing?" And I said "Beating my pute", and he's like "WHAT?!", because puta in Spanish is whore, but in Norwegian (and i believe in Danish) pute mean pillow. Which has now become an inside joke of the complex.

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

                        @randahl

                        Or the evergreen road signs "Fart kontrol" 🙂

                        mycrowgirl@flipping.rocksM This user is from outside of this forum
                        mycrowgirl@flipping.rocksM This user is from outside of this forum
                        mycrowgirl@flipping.rocks
                        wrote last edited by
                        #93

                        @Gupperduck and the German parking exit wishing drivers to have a „Gute Fahrt“. @randahl

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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

                          dchest@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                          dchest@mastodon.socialD This user is from outside of this forum
                          dchest@mastodon.social
                          wrote last edited by
                          #94

                          @randahl what about poor kittens? 🙂

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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

                            cpultz@lincolnite.netC This user is from outside of this forum
                            cpultz@lincolnite.netC This user is from outside of this forum
                            cpultz@lincolnite.net
                            wrote last edited by
                            #95

                            @randahl

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                            • xeno@hexokina.seX xeno@hexokina.se

                              @randahl@mastodon.social it might have been "Kan jeg sidde ned" that's another really goofy one

                              energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                              energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                              energetic_nova@mastodon.social
                              wrote last edited by
                              #96

                              @xeno @randahl

                              Yeah. Before trying to learn a language, I spend time listening to the sounds deciding if I can say them or if they are differentiated enough.

                              So anyway, Japanese is the most friendly language to me because of the limited sounds. I attempted Hungarian for the challenge and I ran into all the word forms that were too inconsistent… and how much it felt like every single word was very unique… but no gender! Which made me quit French fastest despite friend thinking I was natural

                              energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE energetic_nova@mastodon.social

                                @xeno @randahl

                                Yeah. Before trying to learn a language, I spend time listening to the sounds deciding if I can say them or if they are differentiated enough.

                                So anyway, Japanese is the most friendly language to me because of the limited sounds. I attempted Hungarian for the challenge and I ran into all the word forms that were too inconsistent… and how much it felt like every single word was very unique… but no gender! Which made me quit French fastest despite friend thinking I was natural

                                energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                                energetic_nova@mastodon.socialE This user is from outside of this forum
                                energetic_nova@mastodon.social
                                wrote last edited by
                                #97

                                @xeno @randahl

                                My friend thought with very little coaching I sounded native saying the basic phrases. And she begged me to learn and… I really hate nasal sounds. And I hate gender.

                                Online friends are lovely this way

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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

                                  mycrowgirl@flipping.rocksM This user is from outside of this forum
                                  mycrowgirl@flipping.rocksM This user is from outside of this forum
                                  mycrowgirl@flipping.rocks
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #98

                                  @randahl a silly French sign for young Germans is this one.

                                  In french it shows the roadway is closed to traffic “Sauf Bus” (except for busses).

                                  But in German “saufen” means to guzzle or chug, especially alcohol.

                                  So it kinda makes it look like the road is closed to the party bus. Cue giggling teens taking pictures while making fake disappointed faces and pointing at the sign.
                                  https://www.imago-images.de/bild/st/0052044897/s.jpg

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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

                                    yoh@hachyderm.ioY This user is from outside of this forum
                                    yoh@hachyderm.ioY This user is from outside of this forum
                                    yoh@hachyderm.io
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #99

                                    @randahl, är det inte i Svergie också?

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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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

                                      pottenbakkerij_hoogland@mastodon.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                                      pottenbakkerij_hoogland@mastodon.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                                      pottenbakkerij_hoogland@mastodon.social
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #100

                                      @randahl your post only illustrates how limmited your thinking becomes when you can only read, write and speak one language.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic
                                      • philsalkie@mindly.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                                        philsalkie@mindly.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                                        philsalkie@mindly.social
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #101

                                        @ohthyme @lies_das @randahl
                                        Yeah, they're the mammal equivalent of spitting cobras.

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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

                                          plwt@mstdn.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                                          plwt@mstdn.socialP This user is from outside of this forum
                                          plwt@mstdn.social
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #102

                                          @randahl Thank you for sharing that. I hope that while some may see confusion, I hope that others see small differences that brings people together to learn more about each other.

                                          (The elevator one may be more accurate - in my experience the freight elevator is often the one that works and is likely to be more spacious.)

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