Funny translations

[AllisonR]

What kind of words / expressions does your language have, that are just so funny when translated into another language? Danish is a VERY LITERAL language. Most everything is called exactly what it is. Some funny examples:

nipple is "breast wart"
placenta is "mother cake"
umbilical cord translates as "belly button rope"
midwife is "earth mother"
brow/face presentation at birth is "star gazing"
penis is "peeing man"
yoni is "peeing wife"
airplane is "flying machine"
morning rolls are "round pieces"
.... I could go on forever, but I'll stop here. Please share.

[~sweet pea~]

I don't have time for a whole list, but I remember the crest-fallen look on my then BF's (now DH) face when I translated his favorite Italian veal dish, Osso Buco, to it's literal meaning: bone (with a) hole. Not so exotic anymore.....

[MetasMom]

That's a lot like German!

I also love:
gloves = shoes for the hand

[Katica]

English isn`t my first language but as best as I can translate:

vacuum cleaner = dust sucker
fridge = cooling closet (or wardrobe)
airplane = also flying machine

I`ll try to think of more... love this thread :thumb

[muttix2]

Das ist doch nicht mein bier.

It is an "older" kind of saying but basically it means "that's none of my business." literally it means "that is not my beer." :) My cousin (Turkish, lives in Germany) and I use this as a "joke" saying between the two of us all the time. :)

[emmasmommy]

This is a fun thread! Swedish is a lot like Danish in that it is very literal. I just can't think of anything from Sweden to add right now though. We go to Sweden in a couple of weeks, and I know I will think of tons of examples then!

[cotopaxi]

Oh, see, and when I lived in Chile they accused English of being too literal.
They asked how to say "guatero" and I was like "hot water bottle" and they thought that was boring.

[superstella]

I know there are a lot in Greek too, but I am too tired this morning to think properly! HOpefully by subbing I'll see this thread on my list later when I'm more awake. :p

I can think of only one which is
knees = corners