Lost in translation: your biggest language oopsies

There are mistakes, and then there are oopsies.

Let me clarify.

A mistake is something like, bashing someone on public transport, making a typo in a work email, accidentally calling that person you fancy on Whatsapp while trying to click on their profile picture.

Whereas an oopsie is something you shouldn’t cringe, or feel bad about. Especially not when that oopsie takes place when speaking a new language. You’re trying your best. I’m proud of you. And the European Commission found that around 38% of Brits speak another language, so, these things are bound to happen.

Something that usually helps me get out of a shame spiral is sharing my pain with people. So I’ve put together a list of language “mistakes” that many people have fallen victim to. Now, let’s go on this journey together, virtually hold hands, and make ourselves feel better.

Don’t make a money oopsie

The language “mistakes”

The wonderful people at Babbel have made my life significantly easier by creating list after list of lingo boo boos. Thank you Babbel. Shoutout to you for being fab.

German

Oopsie 1

Mein Freund or meine Freundin
You think you’re calling somebody your friend, but what you’re actually doing is calling them your boyfriend or girlfriend while simultaneously ruining a friendship.

Oopsie 2

Gute Nackt
Aww you’re saying goodnight. Cute. WRONG. You’re saying “Good naked.” Don’t confuse “Gute Nacht” with “Gute Nackt.” Once again, you may be ruining a friendship.

Oopsie 3

Ich bin langweilig.
Trying to tell someone you’re bored? Kinda rude. But karma’s getting you back. What you’re actually saying is “I’m boring.” Don’t be so hard on yourself, you’re a hoot. You should be saying “Ich bin gelangweilt.”

French

Oopsie 1

Tu es bonne
You’re under the impression that you’re telling someone “you are good” when in reality you’re saying “you are hot.” Stop being such a flirt, say “ "Tu es doué(e)” which means talented, instead.

Oopsie 2

1. Je suis plein(e).
   Had a lot to eat? You full? Well, when you say “Je suis plein(e),” you’re telling your table companions that you’re either drunk or pregnant. Bit of an overshare. Say “J’ai vraiment bien dîné” to avoid the cringe.

Oopsie 3

Blessé (French)
In France? Feeling too blessed to be stressed? Well you’re not blessed, what you are when you say “Blessé” is “I’m injured.” Weirdo. Go for “béni.”

Spanish

Oopsie 1

Estoy embarazado/a
Well, you’re trying to tell someone you’re embarrassed but what you’re really telling them is that you’re pregnant. Stop telling people you’re pregnant. Bet you're embarrassed now. The correct phrase is “Tengo vergüenza.”

Oopsie 2

¿Puedo tener un pie?
I'm going to set the scene. You’re at a lovely café in Spain living your best life. You’re peckish. You see the person next to you eating a lovely piece of pie. You want pie in your life too. You go to order and say “¿Puedo tener un pie?” Well you’re not ordering pie, you’re ordering a foot. Say “¿Puedo comer pastel?” if you don’t want to look like a psycho.

We’ve come to the end of our oopsies. Prevent yourself from making an oopsie with your money and get your lovely little hands on a Wise account so you can send money across borders with the mid-market exchange rate, affordable fees, and order a Wise card so you can pay like a local when you’re on your holiday. Delicious.