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Holidaymakers are having a difficult time abroad trying to figure out the meaning of signs that were clumsily translated for them.
Holidaymakers are having a difficult time abroad trying to figure out the meaning of signs that were clumsily translated for them, and you can see why...
Notices about women being diseases, people being ordered to play with the opposite sex in public or told to take advantage of the chambermaid have left English-speaking travellers confused.
Signs at the airline ticket office in Copenhagen told visitors that the airline will take their bags and send them in all directions.
Another sign in a Zurich hotel lobby stated that because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.
In Yugoslavia, the flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid and in Japan visitors are invited to take advantage of the staff.
And in Rome, the notice in launderettes' windows promises that if women leave their clothes they can spend the whole afternoon having a good time. Similarly, in Bangkok men are asked to drop their trousers for the best results.
Ladies with nuts are served special cocktails in Tokyo, and in Norway ladies are requested not to have children at the bar. If their children are left unattended, they will be sold to the circus, whereas in Austria, children left unattended will be sold as slaves.
Chris Brown, managing director of sunshine.co.uk, the online travel agent who compiled the translations said: “English speakers are among the most heavily travelled people in the world and so it’s no wonder touristy places try to appeal to them by translating signs and menus.
“However, the problems come when these translations are completely inaccurate. The above examples are just a bit of fun and aren’t likely to offend anyone, other than chambermaids, but when menu translations wind up saying ‘delicious roasted hepatitis’, companies are bound to lose lots of business!”
Holidaymakers are having a difficult time abroad trying to figure out the meaning of signs that were clumsily translated for them, and you can see why...
Notices about women being diseases, people being ordered to play with the opposite sex in public or told to take advantage of the chambermaid have left English-speaking travellers confused.
Signs at the airline ticket office in Copenhagen told visitors that the airline will take their bags and send them in all directions.
Another sign in a Zurich hotel lobby stated that because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.
In Yugoslavia, the flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid and in Japan visitors are invited to take advantage of the staff.
And in Rome, the notice in launderettes' windows promises that if women leave their clothes they can spend the whole afternoon having a good time. Similarly, in Bangkok men are asked to drop their trousers for the best results.
Ladies with nuts are served special cocktails in Tokyo, and in Norway ladies are requested not to have children at the bar. If their children are left unattended, they will be sold to the circus, whereas in Austria, children left unattended will be sold as slaves.
Chris Brown, managing director of sunshine.co.uk, the online travel agent who compiled the translations said: “English speakers are among the most heavily travelled people in the world and so it’s no wonder touristy places try to appeal to them by translating signs and menus.
“However, the problems come when these translations are completely inaccurate. The above examples are just a bit of fun and aren’t likely to offend anyone, other than chambermaids, but when menu translations wind up saying ‘delicious roasted hepatitis’, companies are bound to lose lots of business!”
