Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
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Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Gillthepainter wrote:I use the German word for lingerie ...... undercrackers.
Dodgy thoughts process, is camera a japanese word. I know robot is Russian.
Camera is Latin for a small room, isn't it???
- Stokey Sue
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Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
The trouble with "French" in English is you get a lot of false friends (faux amis, that does translate exactly)
The French for cul-de-sac is impasse for example.
And in the other direction French OH caused offence once or twice by use of "eventually" which is not the same as eventuellement in French as she is spoke, so someone would say "We could make a trip to that nice pub" and he would say "Yes, eventually" which would be considered rather a cold response, - he really meant " oh, yes, if we can get it to work out" - I suppose more literally "if we can make an event of it"
The French for cul-de-sac is impasse for example.
And in the other direction French OH caused offence once or twice by use of "eventually" which is not the same as eventuellement in French as she is spoke, so someone would say "We could make a trip to that nice pub" and he would say "Yes, eventually" which would be considered rather a cold response, - he really meant " oh, yes, if we can get it to work out" - I suppose more literally "if we can make an event of it"
- QinNortham
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Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
In the UK we use the word "en suite" when booking a room with a bathroom. In France it would usually be une chambre avec salle du bain, never an en suite in sight! Sorry I may have my genders wrong!
- Joanbunting
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Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Another favourite of mine in French is sensible - meaning sensitive. The thought of me having sensible feet or the cat having food for sensile cats still creases me up.
- Stokey Sue
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Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
We've drifted haven't we? Sense and Sensibility after all...
My Turkish neighbour told me I was "not respectable" - fortunately she meant "not responsible" for the latest crisis
My Turkish neighbour told me I was "not respectable" - fortunately she meant "not responsible" for the latest crisis
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Joanbunting wrote:Another favourite of mine in French is sensible - meaning sensitive. The thought of me having sensible feet or the cat having food for sensile cats still creases me up.
Similar here. "Sensibel" is sensitive. I am have a sensible Natur and a sensible skin.
- Alexandria
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Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Usche,
Thank you for your very animated feedback ..
Have a nice weekend ..
Thank you for your very animated feedback ..
Have a nice weekend ..
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.
- Alexandria
- Posts: 923
- Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:19 pm
- Location: Barcelona
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
False Friends in English and Latin rooted languages are quite humorous ..
A donkey in English and in Spanish: Burro y Asno and in Italian: Burro = Butter
In English, Embarrassed and in Spanish: Embarazada = Pregnant and Italian: Essere Incinta = To be Pregnant
These are just two of the dilemas when studying languages ..
Have a lovely weekend ..
A donkey in English and in Spanish: Burro y Asno and in Italian: Burro = Butter
In English, Embarrassed and in Spanish: Embarazada = Pregnant and Italian: Essere Incinta = To be Pregnant
These are just two of the dilemas when studying languages ..
Have a lovely weekend ..
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.
- karadekoolaid
- Posts: 1773
- Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:40 pm
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Don´t get me started on "simpático" - or sympathetic? Or not?
Or comprometido - as opposed to compromised
Or comprometido - as opposed to compromised
- Badger's Mate
- Posts: 393
- Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 6:07 pm
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
I don't use my school French very often, although when I have had to it seems to come back. I have dabbled with German, but it wasn't necessary.
I have got by in Spanish in a few countries but find it quite hard work, perhaps because I didn't start learning until I was an adult. I struggle to pick up conversation, so can generally ask for something but not always grasp the answer, or understand announcements.
It would be fair to say I don't know my Asno from el Burro...
I have got by in Spanish in a few countries but find it quite hard work, perhaps because I didn't start learning until I was an adult. I struggle to pick up conversation, so can generally ask for something but not always grasp the answer, or understand announcements.
It would be fair to say I don't know my Asno from el Burro...
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Oh, don't get me started, either.
German "Muckefuck" has English speakers in stitches. But it's not something erotic, but a word for "mocca faux" - Ersatz-coffee.
German "Muckefuck" has English speakers in stitches. But it's not something erotic, but a word for "mocca faux" - Ersatz-coffee.
- Alexandria
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- Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:19 pm
- Location: Barcelona
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Badger Mate,
Donkey butter, perhaps !!
Ha Ha Ha ..
Just had a hearty chuckle !!!
Have a lovely weekend ..
Donkey butter, perhaps !!
Ha Ha Ha ..
Just had a hearty chuckle !!!
Have a lovely weekend ..
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.
- Alexandria
- Posts: 923
- Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:19 pm
- Location: Barcelona
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Sakkarin & Karakoolaide,
Thank you for all your wonderful " Language False Friend " feedback ..
Yes, there are quite an uncountable number of them ..
Here is a cutie Gentlemen: " Slips " in Spanish are Boxer Shorts in English !!!!
Have wonderful weekend ..
Thank you for all your wonderful " Language False Friend " feedback ..
Yes, there are quite an uncountable number of them ..
Here is a cutie Gentlemen: " Slips " in Spanish are Boxer Shorts in English !!!!
Have wonderful weekend ..
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
What a hilarious thread this has become! I am still giggling at your comments, Uschi!
- Stokey Sue
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- Location: Stoke Newington, London
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
[quote="Alexandria"
Here is a cutie Gentlemen: " Slips " in Spanish are Boxer Shorts in English !!!!
Have wonderful weekend ..[/quote]
Slip has quite a few meanings in English, a slip is a small piece of paper, a slip can be a little fall, a slip can also be a little bit of a plant (cutting) from which you grow a new one.
But I guess you mean this one (the joke works in French too)
Here is a cutie Gentlemen: " Slips " in Spanish are Boxer Shorts in English !!!!
Have wonderful weekend ..[/quote]
Slip has quite a few meanings in English, a slip is a small piece of paper, a slip can be a little fall, a slip can also be a little bit of a plant (cutting) from which you grow a new one.
But I guess you mean this one (the joke works in French too)
- Alexandria
- Posts: 923
- Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:19 pm
- Location: Barcelona
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Sue,
In Spanish the word "slips" has only one meaning: Men´s Boxer Shorts ..
In English, a slip ( the noun, not the verb to slip ) is a piece of clothing women used to wear under their dresses or skirts .. There are " full slips " like in your photograph and " half slips " for skirts ..
Have a nice weekend ..
In Spanish the word "slips" has only one meaning: Men´s Boxer Shorts ..
In English, a slip ( the noun, not the verb to slip ) is a piece of clothing women used to wear under their dresses or skirts .. There are " full slips " like in your photograph and " half slips " for skirts ..
Have a nice weekend ..
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
I'm just wondering how on earth we learned to speak English!!!
- Alexandria
- Posts: 923
- Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:19 pm
- Location: Barcelona
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Renée,
Quite a humorous thread ..
When I originally posted the thread, I had not really thought it would be successful ..
However, it turned out fabulously ..
Have a lovely day ..
Quite a humorous thread ..
When I originally posted the thread, I had not really thought it would be successful ..
However, it turned out fabulously ..
Have a lovely day ..
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Alexandria wrote:Sue,
In Spanish the word "slips" has only one meaning: Men´s Boxer Shorts ..
In English, a slip ( the noun, not the verb to slip ) is a piece of clothing women used to wear under their dresses or skirts .. There are " full slips " like in your photograph and " half slips " for skirts ..
As Sue rightly said, there are several meanings for the noun "slip" in English, not just the underwear.
Re: Foreign Languages: Daunting for you or Ease ?
Uschi wrote:German "Muckefuck" has English speakers in stitches. But it's not something erotic, but a word for "mocca faux" - Ersatz-coffee.
I used to get clouted round the head regularly in German lessons, as I could not help myself from laughing out loud every time a funny-sounding word was introduced. Even the most innocent of words had me in stitches - I remember "kugelschreiber" and "radiergummi" both getting me a slap, and I think I may even have got a detention the lesson they introduced "art" into our German vocabulary...
Our German teacher was Irish, and his German had a particular Irish twang to it which made the words sound even funnier.
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