translation

In this wide world, we see a lot of hilarious translations and translation fails. Languages are complex and hard to understand completely. These frustratingly interesting observations on language and silly literal translations are a good example of that. This can come to a head when overzealous tourists try to get a tattoo in not only a language they don't understand, but in characters that are also completely foreign to them. Case in point, you don't want to misstep and end up as the "goldfish man"

We know that languages are all weird, and the one we use can be particularly confusing, but that can make it a more fun and nuanced thing to explore. We're all for seeing some creative uses and misuses of the English language. If you just wanna see people totally suck at English, then here are people who failed at using the English language.

Learning the words for things in other languages can be particularly eye opening. From overly literal German translations like "hand shoes" to more poetic euphemisms you'd never think you'd hear, every culture has come up with it's own particular brand of funny words for things. For more, here are non-native English speakers sharing common phrases they wish we had.

When Google translate fails, we get these kinds of masterpieces. 

What a concept. This tweet from MaglioJen popped off featuring the translated lyrics to Smash Mouth's late 90's, early 00's anthem "All Star." The thing was originally translated by Isaac Mayer and he even performed the Aramaic version on Youtube. Still sounds like a pretty damn great song no matter the language.

These translations will wax fish the if you can whether a misspelling is in the photo. Clothes are the subject to which donut.

It's true, you shouldn't expect people to speak perfect English everywhere in their world. That said these translations are light years away from perfect.

Signs are brimming with the fun. Others are in different forms. How do they whereabouts go? Don't ask for humor when it here is.

These people tried their very bestest, and it wasn't quite good enough. Nothing melts our icy hearts like the hilarity of someone clearly failing at translation; it usually results in some seriously ridiculous sentences. 

Sometimes you just don't have the time to let paint dry or edit anything at all.

Guys. Stop eating carpet. 

The NBA is big in China, and fans have taken to giving players complex and ridiculous nicknames over the years. Historian Nick Kapur explained this on twitter.

Kinda like when a guy gets a tattoo in Chinese characters that says "Integrity Catfish"

When this restaurant failed to correctly translate Arabic a little bit of dark-humored comedy gold ensued; and low and behold, this definitely wasn't the first time this has happened. Thank goodness for us, cause the translation fails people shared in response to this one were great!