Common non English expressions, translated.

[EldrickOnIce]

I think this might be interesting/fun.
Language can be incredibly rich and descriptive, and often outstanding (or amusing) when translated to English.
I married into a very Greek family, and they have a host of expressions that I thoroughly enjoy (many of them threats) .

Probably my favourite:
Θα φάs ξύλο
Exact translation is "you will eat wood".
So when I cross her, my lovely Greek wife threatens me using this expression.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I think this might be interesting/fun.
Language can be incredibly rich and descriptive, and often outstanding (or amusing) when translated to English.
I married into a very Greek family, and they have a host of expressions that I thoroughly enjoy (many of them threats) .

Probably my favourite:
Θα φάs ξύλο
Exact translation is "you will eat wood".
So when I cross her, my lovely Greek wife threatens me using this expression.

what is the english pronunciation?

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Cheese

what is the english pronunciation?

Best I can come up with is 'tha fas ksilo'.

[troutman]

German: "Andere Mütter haben auch schöne Töchter!"


Other mothers also have beautiful daughters.



Most of the time said, when a young man has a broken heart. Like our "plenty of fish".

[activeStick]

Ooooh this will be fun!

Cantonese - "da fay gay"

Cantonese - to masturbate (as a guy)
English - hit the airplane

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Cantonese - "jeuk cho"

Cantonese - on the run (in a criminal context)
English - wear grass

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Cantonese - "gum yue low"

Cantonese - pedophile
English - goldfish man

This is an old term for pedophiles going back a long time because the story was that pedophiles would carry around a goldfish in a bag to lure children.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Ooooh this will be fun!

Cantonese - "da fay gay"

Cantonese - to masturbate (as a guy)
English - hit the airplane

Cantonese - "jeuk cho"

Cantonese - on the run (in a criminal context)
English - wear grass

打飞机
Almost the same in Mandarin: "da feiji" in pinyin, which sounds like 'da fay jee'

[Ozy_Flame]

I get the "mangiacake" label once in a while from in-laws and other Italians in the larger family. I just find it funny because it basically translates to "Eat Cake" which I think is meant for WASPY / white people behavior. They use it in jest if I can't pronounce Italian words or am completely off-base with Italian history lol

[troutman]

Australia (english but still funny):

Who dropped their guts? = Who farted?

Aussie slang dictionary:
https://www.australiaday.com.au/get-...onary/letter/d

Grease Frisbee = pizza
Budgie Smugglers = mens swimsuit

[activeStick]

Have some more time now so I'll add some more. Cantonese has a TON of slang, so it's a great language for funny or literal translations that make no sense....

Cantonese: "Sam mmm sik chut"

English: "The number 3 doesn't know the number 7".

Meaning: It's used to describe two things or people that are not compatible.

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Cantonese: "Chow yau yue"

English: "Pan fry squid (the act of)"

Meaning: To get fired from a job.

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Cantonese: "Fong fay gay"

English: "Release the airplane"

Meaning: To cancel, at the very last minute, a meeting or date.

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Cantonese: "Gah yau"

English: Add oil

Meaning: To tell someone to "work hard", or to wish someone "good luck"

[devo22]

oh, I can contribute a lot in here ...

German: "Mit mir ist nicht gut Kirschen essen"
English: "You can't eat cherries well with me"
Meaning: beware because I am not easy to deal with

German: "Es ist nicht das Gelbe vom Ei."
English: "It is not the yellow of the egg."
Meaning: it is not the best option

German: "Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof!"
English: "I only understand train station!"
Meaning: this is too confusing

German: "Du bist auf dem Holzweg."
English: "You are on the wooden track."
Meaning: to bark up the wrong tree

German: "Das ist unter aller Sau!"
English: "It is under all pigs"
Meaning: it is terrible

German: "Da wird doch der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt!"
English: "The dog in the pan goes crazy"
Meaning: to express astonishment

German: "Ich glaube, mein Schwein pfeift!"
English: "I believe my pig is whistling!"
Meaning: to express astonishment

German: "Alles ist in Butter."
English: "Everything is in butter."
Meaning: everything is okay

German: "Du gehst mir auf die Nerven / den Sack / den Zeiger / den Keks"
English: "You go on my nerves / balls / hand (of a clock) / cookie"
Meaning: you are annoying

and so, so, so many more.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Have some more time now so I'll add some more. Cantonese has a TON of slang, so it's a great language for funny or literal translations that make no sense....

Cantonese: "Sam mmm sik chut"

English: "The number 3 doesn't know the number 7".

Meaning: It's used to describe two things or people that are not compatible.

=====

Cantonese: "Chow yau yue"

English: "Pan fry squid (the act of)"

Meaning: To get fired from a job.

=====

Cantonese: "Fong fay gay"

English: "Release the airplane"

Meaning: To cancel, at the very last minute, a meeting or date.

=====

Cantonese: "Gah yau"

English: Add oil

Meaning: To tell someone to "work hard", or to wish someone "good luck"

You're missing all the most offensive stuff, which is so much of what Cantonese is known for. Regarded as one of the best languages to swear and insult through unusual idioms as far as I know. Let's get more of those.

[TheIronMaiden]

French: Occupe-toi de tes oignons

English: work on your own onions

Meaning: It's none of your business

[FlamesAddiction]

Croatian swearing always makes me laugh. Especially the nonchalant way it just gets dropped in casual conversations on the street. I am not sure if there is a culture that swears more out in the open.

k Vragu! = Go to the Devil! (Their version of; "go to Hell")

Jebo te patak! = Duck <bleeped> you! (Like; "you got screwed". If you know what a duck's penis looks like, you get the idea)

Čaću ti jarca! = <bleep> your goat father!

Nemoj me jebat! = Don't <bleep> with me! (But not really even used to be mean or threatening. It is used often like in how English people say things like; "Really!?" or "Seriously!?" in casual conversation. Everyone from young kids and little old ladies say it).

Jebem ti krvu! = I <bleep> in your blood! (There are many like this. Another that translates to, "I will <bleep> the front row at your funeral".

Boli me kurac! = My dick hurts! (Used to be dismissive when things are being talked about that you don't care about).

Not a swear, but one that always struck me as weird.

Kako da ne = How yes no (But used in place of the English; "of course not".


A few other things that translate wierd are when being polite when asking for something, you would say; "Daj mi..." or "Dajte mi...", which literally just means; "Give to me..." It's not considered rude or anything, but when people there use English, they often translate literally and sound rude. If you want to be extra polite, you can add; "molim vas" at the end, which means "I beg of you".

Dajte mi pivo, molim Vas = Give to me beer, I beg of you. Sounds so urgent if you say it that way in English, but a completely normal tone there.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I think this might be interesting/fun.
Language can be incredibly rich and descriptive, and often outstanding (or amusing) when translated to English.
I married into a very Greek family, and they have a host of expressions that I thoroughly enjoy (many of them threats) .

Probably my favourite:
Θα φάs ξύλο
Exact translation is "you will eat wood".
So when I cross her, my lovely Greek wife threatens me using this expression.

strikes me this would be more of a threat coming from the man of the house to the wife

[scotty2hotty]

Scottish folks have dozens of words and phrases that make no sense to Canadians (or anyone else). It's still English - but I think it fits the spirit of this thread nonetheless ...

"Your bum's out the window"

means: you're talking crazy talk

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

strikes me this would be more of a threat coming from the man of the house to the wife

Ha you don't know Greek girls so well. Lol.
It is also used pretty much exclusively by Greek mommas when threatening children.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Icelandic: að Tefla við páfann

English: “to play chess with the pope.”

Actually means: to go to the bathroom...

[The Yen Man]

Ha ha this is a fun thread for me cuz there are a ton of Cantonese slang.

The one I like is

Gai tong ngap gong.

Literally translates to chicken talking with a duck.

It's a phrase to use when two people don't know how to communicate with each other.

[Bill Bumface]

In German one word can almost count as a phrase: backpfeifengesicht

Literally, "Cheek whistle face" but "cheek whistle" means slap.

The English equivalent is "a punchable face"

[spuzzum]

Doesn't Schweinsteiger in German mean in English: ' to mount a pig?'