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Tim in Phoenix
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 4409
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject: Let's have some fun! |
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Guys!
It is well known that some English words have strange or insulting meanings in other languages, and some foreign words and names have the same in English. Your job is to post the strangest examples you can find. I'll start with my favorite, they make car tires. Ready?
"Kumho"
Don't believe me? http://www.tirerack.com/tires/kumho/kumho-tires.jsp
Another name often associated with insults:
"Chip" 
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garyfritz
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 12088
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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I liked the supposed poor sales of the Chevy Nova in Spanish-speaking countries, where "No va" means "no go" ...
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huggy
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 927
Location: Melbourne,Australia
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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Sick means "f*ck" in Turkish 
Dave
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Tim in Phoenix
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 4409
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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Let us not forget Phoenix's very own Valley Ho hotel........
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ecrabb
Forum Moderator
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 15909
Location: Utah
TV/Projector: JVC RS40, Epson 5010
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| garyfritz wrote: | | I liked the supposed poor sales of the Chevy Nova in Spanish-speaking countries, where "No va" means "no go" ... |
That's actually an old urban legend, Gary...
http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp
Maybe that's what you meant by "supposed", but I thought I'd mention it because I've met a LOT of people over the years that relate and believe this story until I have to burst their bubble. I heard it was an urban legend way back in a marketing class in college.
SC
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dvh99
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 2158
Location: nederland
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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kumho???
_________________
1 answer always poses multiple questions.
marquee 9500ultra HD10L moome hdmi1.3 v3+ some mods.
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Tim in Phoenix
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 4409
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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That was my first reaction, followed by uncontrolled laughter........
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dturco
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Posts: 3778
Location: Eastern Shore Maryland
TV/Projector: Runco DLP VX-3000i Marquee 9500 parts doner
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Tim in Phoenix wrote: |
That was my first reaction, followed by uncontrolled laughter........
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I don't think this translate as funny as Tim thinks.
Kumho *** HO
But it's pronounced,,,, KOO MOH I think.
_________________
Firefly rules. Can't stop the signal.
http://www.hulu.com/firefly
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dvh99
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 2158
Location: nederland
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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oh wait its *** ho, been a while since i visited http://maps.google.nl/maps?hl=nl&tab=wl??
i think its pronounced koemjoo.
link doesnt work i meant de wallen naturally.
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jask
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Posts: 10187
Location: kamloops BC
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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I used to know a very portly fellow names Richard who was informally known as "Dick", until he traveled to Germany and Austria where after a lot of smile somebody pointed out that "dick" was the Germany word for fat. 
shouldn't this be in the off-topic section?
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Curt Palme
CRT Tech
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 24396
Location: Langley, BC
TV/Projector: All of them!
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| jask wrote: | I used to know a very portly fellow names Richard who was informally known as "Dick", until he traveled to Germany and Austria where after a lot of smile somebody pointed out that "dick" was the Germany word for fat.
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I'm not sure if I quite buy that, as Richard/Dick is a pretty common name in Germany. 'Dick' in German does indeed mean 'fat; though. Maybe the women flocked to him, knowing Dick has a dick dick. 
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dvh99
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Posts: 2158
Location: nederland
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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afaik dick is not a common name in germany, dirck or derrick are.
_________________
1 answer always poses multiple questions.
marquee 9500ultra HD10L moome hdmi1.3 v3+ some mods.
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garyfritz
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 12088
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | | Maybe that's what you meant by "supposed", |
Yup. That's why I went back and edited it to "supposed" before anybody saw it.
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draganm
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 8990
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:47 am Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | | garyfritz wrote: | | I liked the supposed poor sales of the Chevy Nova in Spanish-speaking countries, where "No va" means "no go" ... |
That's actually an old urban legend, Gary...
http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp
Maybe that's what you meant by "supposed", but I thought I'd mention it because I've met a LOT of people over the years that relate and believe this story until I have to burst their bubble. I heard it was an urban legend way back in a marketing class in college.
SC |
oh come on now, I knew back in high schooll 20 years ago that a Nova was a no-go. Just because it actually sold well in Mexico doesn't change that. Still not quite as funny as the Dodge Dynasty = Die-nasty 
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Ile
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 1491
Location: Jyväskylä, Finland
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| Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:34 am Post subject: |
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Mitsubishi wanker is one of the funniest screwup name I know.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Pajero
"However, because pajero is a slang term for "wanker" in some varieties of the Spanish language, alternative names have been adopted for many overseas markets. It is known as the Mitsubishi Montero (meaning "mountain warrior") in Spain, India, and the Americas (excepting Brazil), and as Mitsubishi Shogun in the United Kingdom."
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cmjohnson
Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 5180
Location: Buried under G90s
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con" then it explains why we never get much good out of CONgress.
CJ
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Curt Palme
CRT Tech
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 24396
Location: Langley, BC
TV/Projector: All of them!
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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WE had an entertaining afternoon way back when I had an office/shop, as to what would happen when the car manufacturers ran out of 'fast' names?
The Chevy 'Turtle'
The Volvo 'Vulva'
Those are two that I still remember. Had us in stitches back then. I guess you had to be there.
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