What Were They Thinking? TERRIBLE Translations!

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[@paultaylorcomedy]

Get 60% off Rosetta Stone with my link: partners.rosettastone.com/paultayloryt-1 And don't forget to send me your favourite terrible translations to my email address!

[@Francophilo-zm6eg]

Apparently, the French didn't improve their (official) translation skills in over 40 years. Could it be that la grande nation just doesn't give a damn about other languages, people, tourists ... (à vous de compléter la liste). E.g: opening of the Musée d'Orsay in 1987: on the bistrot tables of the caféteria a sign told you not to smoke in three languages (ne pas fumer, no smoke please, nicht rauchen bit). Interesting that they are at least quite good at french! Il nous reste encore des années à nous amuser ou à pleurer 😢

[@ultrasuperpingu]

Je viens de voir "Ne pas toucher, demandez aux vendeurs" -> "Don't touch yourself, ask the staff" 😂

[@alexterrieur9639]

Si t'as vu ça dans un salon de massage, ça a du sens 😂

[@herveranchin]

Le gallois dis bien "I am not in the office at this point...."

[@2010AZ]

The one at 8:47 in arabic says broadly : "Reserved for women only. Men are not ever permitted entry."

[@paultaylorcomedy]

That makes sense 😂

[@zahidshabir4038]

@@paultaylorcomedy that is similar to what is written in Urdu too (I am British Pakistani). They managed to translate the Arabic reasonably well if this comment on the Arabic translation is accurate (I don't speak Arabic) but besides the spelling mistake and the mistake in choice of words the sign is talking about WOMENS toilets that men are forbidden to enter

"Special women" are they saying trans-women aren't allowed in? Wouldn't put that interpretation past them.

[@sasukesarutobi3862]

I double-checked the Welsh road sign in Google Translate, and unless Google's been misled by that story being retold so often, "Nid wyf yn y swyddfa ar hyn o bryd. Anfonwch unrhyw waith i'w gyfiethu." does actually mean "I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work for translation."

[@paultaylorcomedy]

😳 idiots!

[@pierreabbat6157]

I checked "swyddfa"; it's "swydd" (job) plus a suffix, so "office", and "gyfiethu", without looking it up, is "gyf-" (cognate with "com-") plus "iaith" (language) plus a verb-making suffix.

[@agnesmichel1286]

Dans un jeu de mahjong sur mon smartphone, "no move left" a été traduit par "plus de mouvement à gauche".

[@aidanclarke6106]

In the original Ghostbusters video game back in 1985, they translated "never cross the streams" in the user notice by "ne traversez jamais les rivières", which has me very confused because there was no rivers in the game 😂😂

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Haha Classic!

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

I don’t understand what cross the streams mean

[@aidanclarke6106]

@@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072 - In the Ghostbusters movie, their weapons emit a stream and 2 streams should never come into contact, hence the "never cross the streams"

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

@ ahh

[@josianecoste]

​les courants plus exactement peut-être ?

[@ultrasuperpingu]

J'avais vu un Polish sausage traduit par polissez la saucisse 🤣

[@agnesmichel1286]

@@ultrasuperpingu celui-ci est brillant !

[@janetallnutt5767]

I've been desperately looking for the photo I took of a sign on a beach on the Montenegro/Albania border. It reads "Ingesting of beach umbrellas strictly forbidden".

[@paultaylorcomedy]

😂😂😵

[@jahanas22]

I heard about the Welsh one years ago. If I remember correctly, all signs need to be translated into Welsh and there is a service for it. The people sent an email and got an out of office reply in Welsh. They assumed that was the translation and posted it.

[@TomBartram-b1c]

Best one was on a B&B website. Randonneurs et pêcheurs .... hikers and sinners!

[@MargaretGeorgemgse]

Ah haha haha haha!

[@zahidshabir4038]

I am British Pakistani and that sign is in Pakistan according to the guy who sent you the email and we do NOT speak Arabic there and it is written in URDU at the bottom and Arabic at the top. That Pakistani sign is WRONG in English and I don't just mean grammatically incorrect but way more than that. The sign actually says in Urdu something along the lines of "this place is for women only, entry for men is strictly forbidden". Basically the sign is outside a women's toilet and is saying that men are forbidden from entry but the English even with the spelling and grammar fixed makes it seem like it may refer to women not being allowed to enter the place but it is in fact the opposite. I don't speak Arabic but according to some commenters it says something similar in Arabic too

[@Elwene2fr]

Le "Made in Turkey" y a la même chose au Canada avec "Fabriqué en dinde" (0 effort sur le français le Canada x))

[@Shan_Dalamani]

Okay, this one is hilarious.

[@tomhalla426]

“Dinde” as in the bird, not the country.

[@lesfreresdelaquote1176]

Vue aussi au Canada: Si Echantillon pour utiliser... Ils ont mélangé _simple_ et _sample_ et ils ont traduit le second... Faut dire que traduire _simple (en)_ en français requiert au minimum trente ans d'étude

[@argumentfoireux1660]

Histoire de rajouter une couche : Importé d'Inde.

[@jrlepage2a03]

Je m'excuse, mais le français est une langue officielle au Canada, au même titre que l'anglais... SVP ne jugez pas l'effort qu'on met pour le préserver de par les traductions pourries venues direct de Chine parce que les compagnies anglophones n'en ont rien à cirer de nous les francophones !

[@lesfreresdelaquote1176]

Seen in the US as a petshop name: the Pet Pourri... Guess they thought that the mix of a Pet Shop and a Bouquet Pourri was the way to go.

[@jrlepage2a03]

Cue all the elementary school ESL class jokes that pupils cannot stop themselves making when they find out "pet" has an entirely different meaning in English than in French... I've definitely been there!

[@loreleiocarolain2209]

There are many shops in Japan where you can buy bath salts and shower gel called "Pourri" (literally rotten) after the French "pot pourri". Many French people buy it just for the name!

[@raphofthehills4405]

"Pot pourri" is somewhat commonly used in the US. They likely played on that w pet pourri. Unbeknownst to them though, the result is probably not what they were after... 😂

[@NachtKaiser666]

Ouah! Paul is back! And considering I live very close to the stade olympique, les assoiffés de cul sounds like a regular weekend dans le Schlag 🤣

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Hahah. The fact that there’s a place called Schlag 🤣

[@NachtKaiser666]

@paultaylorcomedy well, it is the popular diminutive version of Hochelaga, roll on the tongue better than Chelag, and sounds definitely less pretentious than HoMa. Just happens to be a German word that fits the pronunciation haha

[@RomNYC]

The Star Wars mug was definitely English translated into French by some Chinese AI program. Also, totally agree on the play of words in France, dear Lord! Hair stylists are the worst... Crea'tif, Faudra Tif Hair, Tete en l'Hair... No wonder I left France in my 30s, I was traumatized.

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Oh my god. They are horrific 😂

[@agnesmichel1286]

@@RomNYC on pourrait faire mieux en français. Par exemple : un cheveu sur la houppe.

[@moattib]

Faudra tiff hair?? J avoue elle est pas mal celle là!!

[@songtraveler]

Les quêtes sont interdites: No soliciting.

[@rosiebowers1671]

Aaaah merci -- j'étais sûre qu'il y avait une traduction adéquate mais je n'arrivais pas à la trouver, ça me rendait dingue.

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Nice work!

[@jrlepage2a03]

I think soliciting refers to the act of going door-to-door to offer goods or services, rather than begging for change on the streets, no?

[@songtraveler]

@jrlepage2a03 Yes, you are right. I suppose a better way of saying it would be "No panhandling."

[@auroreboreale69]

I saw something in a french ski station, there was a sign with written "neige dure" and the english translation was "snow lasts" XD well yes I hope it does hahaha

[@nathanlaoshi8074]

The "coffre-fort" bit is definitely due to Chinese translation techniques: find somebody who sort of knows English, and that person will use a dictionary or translation device and go with the first offer. There are entire sites devoted to this. Just remember: "Fuck Vegetables."

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Hahah

[@HweolRidda]

We had a shag carpet that was forever eating stuff. I can appreciate a ban on "eating carpets".

[@Yf8f-b2l]

Begging on the streets is forbidden

[@trorisk]

Sur les traductions d'articles qui ont été traduits directement par google trad tu dois trouver pas mal des "enceintes" d'un concert ou d'un musicien traduites par "pregnant".

[@ServalBrennus]

Dans ma ville, il y avait un magasin vendant des articles de bureau. Un des employés venait régulièrement dans le bar de mes parents ou celui d'en face et il laissait la camionnette de l'entreprise à une place de parking. Pendant des années, j'ai pu lire sur la camionnette le nom de l'entreprise, tout le bla-bla et à la fin "sevices après-vente", ils avaient raté le R de service. Certes, il n'y avait pas l'accent de "sévices" mais cela me faisait rire à chaque fois que je la voyais. Malheureusement c'était dans les années 80, je n'avais pas d'appareil photo.

[@dreamsandpictures]

I was wondering when we'd get a new Terrible Translations videos, so glad they're back! I really hope it becomes a series!

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Me too!

[@pqrs_987]

8:46 i remember just enough Arabic from my school days to translate the first 3 words; it says "specially for women only"

[@ameliehohweiller7981]

pour le coup, le "set de con complet" me fait penser à quelque chose que j'avais vu sur un ticket de ciné. ils écrivaient le titre du film sur une seule ligne, suivi de VO ou VF. et quand le titre était trop long, ils le coupaient. c'est ainsi que sur le ticket, "Les adieux à la reine" est devenu "les adieux à la vf"

[@redbeki]

ARAF in Welsh means slow, not stop . You see it a lot on Welsh roads, because, they're mostly really treacherous, with so many sharp , difficult bends.

[@pierreabbat6157]

There's a picture in Wikipedia of both SLOW and ARAF painted on a road.

[@redbeki]

@pierreabbat6157 must be where the rd meets a border..if you travel along the Welsh border in Shropshire, one road, will pass over into Wales and back to England, several times.. along the same road! ..

[@redbeki]

If it meant STOP, you'd be stopping every two minutes, on Welsh roads! Hehe

[@dtrick924]

The sign at the church, are they trying to translate no pan handling?

2:40 quests might better be translated as begging or panhandling

[@bikepunk5923]

L'imitation de Borat, tu m'as tué :D

[@Sole3807]

It doesn't even say women but 'womem' 😭 I love this series

[@Skunk-XCP]

Oh bordel, qu'est ce que j'ai rigolé 😂

[@fabulously695]

As someone whose native language is English, I am unable to read translated signs from French to English. Im in Alsace, where my parents come from, and whoever I go and see something touristy, there is always a translation in English, German and sometimes Alsatian, I kid you not the German sometimes makes more sense than the English! I find the original version in French much more palatable.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I loved reminding you to react to the Terrible Translations and then all of us in the live chat explaining/confusing you 😂

[@marieflorange5985]

Les "titres" de transport à Paris vont être simplifiés et avoir un tarif unique dès janvier 2025...ça sera enfin plus simple pour les visiteurs étrangers que le casse-tête actuel...😅

[@paultaylorcomedy]

😂😂😂

[@moattib]

Le plus casse tête ça va être pendant des mois pour les usagers qui pas assez renseignés vont gueuler et pas comprendre le tarif.. Et les gens derrière les guichets qui vont devoir expliquer le truc pendant tte la journée!

[@jrlepage2a03]

Je n'ai pas la photo, mais j'ai déjà travaillé dans un Dollarama à Québec il y a de cela plus de 10 ans, et dans l'entrepôt en arrière-boutique, je me rappelle vivement avoir vu une affiche qui indiquait comment assembler le poteau dont les chariots sont munis pour éviter que les gens les apportent à l'extérieur du magasin... Bref, l'affiche était bilingue, et en anglais, le titre était "Pole Assembly Instructions". Je vous le donne en mille, la traduction française était : "Instructions de rassemblement de Polonais." 😂

[@JoeBeaudette]

I’m French Canadian (Franco-Manitoban) and I can’t believe how consistently translations SUCK 😂 like who hires these ppl

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

I know this temp agency in Ontario had the French translation of we work for you as AILLER pour vous For YEARS! Until I pointed it out! I got a free sunglasses, baseball cap and water bottle 😎

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

Cup a soup: Chinglish: Mix well flavor Franchinois: À saveur de remuez bien

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

On a peanuts bag in airplane: English: May contain nuts Franglais: Peut contenir des écrous (may contain bolts)

[@Allahwithus99]

Hahaha! Tu m'as fait rire! surtout la traduction du "made kn turkey" "hecho en pavo" 😅

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

2:25 yeah because quêter means that. (Look -Beg- for collections as in money haha) we call beggars quêteux 3:30 Or they could just replace coffre-fort with sécuritaire. For the sake of efficiency because we all know that five words in English means like 12 words in French or Spanish

[@DadoumCrafter]

For the sake of efficiency you would say « Convient au lave-vaisselle et au micro-onde » too

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

@ yess

[@thesmithersy]

5:37 to skip the mid-video ad You're welcome

[@JanetLClark]

Here's one for you, likely translated from Korean and found in Vancouver Canada: "Juicy Pets". That is so wrong on so many levels.

[@emmanuelrainville8244]

What’s the item/sign and what was it supposed to say?

[@moattib]

WE want more of that.. i love that. by being french i m in shame of what we can do.. most of us now are using Google translate and this is why we can found that sort of bad translate!

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

0:01 I think it’s supposed to be eating *_on_* the carpet 8:40 I could be wrong but I think the top is Arabic and the bottom is Urdu

[@tapiredanslombre9588]

1:20 et si ont traduit le nom du restaurant en Français ça donne : le deux trop 😁 ou, le deux beaucoup avec google translate 🤨

[@paultaylorcomedy]

N’importe quoi 🤣

[@lordinateur2448]

Faut penser aux "drives piétons" qu'on a parfois en France

[@Leebpascal1]

Paris région transport fares will simplify in 2025. Zones will disappear, as well as pack of 10 reduce fare. Airport tickets will have a single fare whatever the route or airport. And all passes including year plan or navigo liberté + will be available on phone.

[@konradbanys2239]

Really funny, few swearwords if any, that's Paul Taylor I like!

[@DamocMetalFever]

"Keep" en "Château" au lieu de "Garder/Conserver"

[@aidenvloggingltd]

Thx for mentioning me. When will you start your live videos again?

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Not sure I will. If I do, it may be once a month instead of once a week. We’ll see

[@kshitijvids]

08:42 the text below in Urdu says "this place is for women only, men are prohibited from entering". I have no clue how they failed to translate that into English 😭

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Haha. Thanks for the help!

[@minirop]

Not a translation issue, but there is the famous photo of a product made in China where the German flag has been switched to the Swastika one.

[@paultaylorcomedy]

😳

[@pqrs_987]

Pol Télor has returned!!!! when did you change the email address for Terrible Translations? i'd sent one to the previous gmail address around the end of the summer, maybe i'll forward it to the new one again

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Just recently as it made more sense!

[@איילתסופר-ד3ע]

Those terrible translations are indeed very funny. But the fault is not of the people who talk the language. I have noticed that any translation on a product coming from China, is always funny, because they use some very basic translator that is not programmed to "know" the nuances of a word in a different context, or the meaning of an expression. Those translations are literal, and they have nothing to do with the language or the people, only with the program you use. It is still funny.

[@JoaoPessoa86]

you simply cannot let culture get cut off

[@ptx21]

😡😡

[@nedludd7622]

Many years ago I saw an American documentary with subtitles on Native Americans on French TV. One tribal leader explained that the name of his tribe meant "trader" in their language. The subtitle gave it as "traitor". I wrote to the company and told them I was available if they needed someone. No response. If I listen to you at half speed, you are understandable. Do you try to speak as fast in foreign languages?

[@MargaretGeorgemgse]

My husband was from a similar part of England to Paul.... when he moved to live with me, everyone round us assumed he was really clever... it was just that his accent involved fast speech!

[@paultaylorcomedy]

Haha. That’s a pretty shocking translation 😂

[@meldoborel]

08:42 : "WomeM" ^^ Translators are not that useless in the end but who cares ?!

[@kerouac2]

No need for more of these, especially if you need to devote 25% of the time to an advert;

[@chrislaska5728]

araf = slow

[@somonewholovebts]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXm8dqChptmGadk yes lol

[@paultaylor7082]

With a name like yours, and the fact you speak French although you're English, you'll go far. Sadly although we are similar, my showbiz activity is doing a version of various karaoke favourites, with widening levels of success. Keep up the good work, mon ami.

[@paultaylorcomedy]

😂