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‘Just Google Translate it,’ someone said in an unfamiliar/foreign language.
That’s probably how most of these writings on clothes you’ll find below were created and put on sale in various parts of the world. While machine translation has greatly improved, it’s still not 100% foolproof, and the hilarious instances below are proof.
While you're scrolling through, don't forget to check out a conversation with Silvi Nuñez, Spanish linguist, professional translator, and managing director of Optimational, who kindly agreed to chat with us more about mistranslations.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Riley Quinn 8 months ago
Louis Vuitton vs Lord Voldemort. We really should start using Voldemort's real name - JK Rowling. Anyone who takes that much delight in UK's decision on transgender is evil.
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#2
Charmanderfan1 8 months ago
In the city of love 🎵 lol phineas and ferb reference
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#3
Not-a-Clue (she/her) 8 months ago
The current month's anti- inspirational quote calendar says "You can do it. But you probably won't." Perfect for me 😂
Silvi Nuñez, Spanish linguist, professional translator, and managing director of Optimational, says that mistakes in translating, aka mistranslations, often reveal how deeply culture and context are tied to language.
"They show us that translation isn't just about words—it's about meaning. A phrase that works perfectly in one language might fall flat or sound ridiculous in another if the cultural reference or tone doesn’t carry over. In short, mistranslations remind us that language is more than grammar—it's human, messy, and beautifully complex."
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Catlady6000 8 months ago
Hugging my big girl is like trying to hug a furry, prickly, squirming worm
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LizzieBoredom 8 months ago
In some states, you can get arrested for that.
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#6
Indeed, cultural understanding is crucial for accurate and effective translation. In language, every word carries additional context, such as cultural connotations, historical references, and social implications. Without having a solid grasp of the source language, the intended message might be miscommunicated.
Like in a 2018 Coca-Cola advertisement when advertisers tried to appeal to Māori, the native population of New Zealand, by translating their slogan “Hello, mate” into their native language. However, they chose not to translate it in full, turning the phrase into “Kia ora, mate.” Little did they know that 'mate' in Māori means 'death,' which gave the slogan a whole new deadly meaning.
#7
Broccoli 8 months ago
It basically means the same thing in the Chinese above the English (I’m Chinese). There wasn’t a translation error, the English grammar is just kind of weird. A more accurate translation would be “I’m always f*****g busy yet I f*****g don’t make money”. Yes, there are that much swear words in the chinese
[>.<]/ 8 months ago
I'm guessing it's translated from Sapnish: mucho trabajo, poco dinero. https://youtu.be/XjxyHlqLmLA?feature=shared
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Annette Easton 8 months ago
Several years ago when I was in China I saw a similar little coin purse with printing that said "Money for call girl"
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#9
Libstak 8 months ago
It’s a song title so……the first part, the whiskey comment is taking the Mickey….
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Luis Hernandez Dauajare 8 months ago
They clearly had one too many glasses of whisky when making this.
As a professional translator who's been in the industry for more than a decade, Silvi has witnessed a wealth of similar translation misunderstandings.
"One of the latest I saw was on a major brand’s website—a simple button labeled “Back” was translated into Spanish as “Espalda,” which literally refers to a person’s back. It’s a classic example of translating without context, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that can make a brand look careless or unprofessional. These mistakes are funny to readers, but costly for brands," she explains.
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Elwood Schwartz (it/that) 8 months ago (edited)
20 years ago, or maybe 25, I could be comfortable in any position. Now it is hard to be comfortable in ANY position. Don't get older kids. Live fast, die young, and leave an unrecognisable corpse.
Load More Replies... Auntriarch 8 months ago
Memory foam mattress toppers help. Failing that, a hot bath and half a bottle of prosecco
Every brand that wants to expand beyond its location should put a lot of resources into translation as well as localization to prevent any mistranslations that can hinder their authority, trust, and overall image in customers' eyes.
Most of us know what translation encompasses, while localization, perhaps, not so much. Well, localization is a comprehensive process that goes beyond translation and addresses cultural and non-textual components as well as linguistic issues when adapting a product or service for another country or locale. It ensures that content is culturally appropriate and well-received in the target market.
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PoutDragon 8 months ago
MY original thought was a guy in one of those weird educational shows but this one's about people in a community and this guy helps install siding for the city's construction company.
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Another famously known example of a company that failed to localize their translations and failed spectacularly was KFC’s attempt to translate their “Finger-Lickin’ Good” slogan into Chinese. Instead of conveying the intended meaning, they translated it into Chinese as “Eat your fingers off.” Not only was it confusing but also quite off-putting, which made a bad first impression with Chinese consumers, probably costing them a pretty penny.
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Doug Moyer 8 months ago
When it was brand new, it said it was an old hat. Lies, I tell you! Lies!!
#18
Luckily, they managed to recover quickly by hiring a local marketing team to revise their messaging and refine the brand's image to Chinese culture. They, of course, replaced the slogan and even incorporated Chinese culinary preferences into its menu, like rice dishes and congee. All this effort paid off, as it helped KFC gain popularity in China and even made it one of the largest and most successful markets.
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Dragons Exist 8 months ago
I know, this is a profound message that more people need to see
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Phemonoe 153 8 months ago
"Why be racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic when you could just be quiet"
Robert Beveridge 8 months ago
This feels like a Cyrillic translator shat the bed halfway through and they still just ran with it.
Abel 8 months ago
If you say these beautiful words Satan appears and kicks you in the balls. Or maybe Santa... But the kick is unavoidable.
joyfulchasm 6 months ago
It is however an extremely pleasant and comfortable kick to the balls.
Load More Replies... PoutDragon 8 months ago
One thing I am confused about is how the heck they somehow managed to substitute a , for a j. , isn't even a letter.
All of this is to say that companies shouldn't downplay the importance of professional translators and localization services, as a small mistranslation can really affect a brand's image. In addition, launching a campaign to foreign markets should be tested with native speakers to avoid any misinterpretations or offensive meanings. And relying 100% on machine translations should definitely be avoided, as it's still not the same as human translation.
#22
Robert Beveridge 8 months ago
From meme to knockoff. Bet you the back says "I was born in February."
#23
#24
"Machine translation can be useful for quick, informal understanding. But it struggles with nuance, tone, and intent—especially when context is missing. That’s why it’s risky to rely on it for anything customer-facing or brand-critical," says Silvi.
"Also, the reliability of machine translation varies by industry. In technical fields or regulated sectors like legal or medical, even small errors can have serious consequences. For marketing content, where tone and style matter, human input is essential. The smartest approach is combining automation with professional review," she concludes.
#25
LadyKing 8 months ago
Jerry is property of pigfarts so Tom need to back off? Or Jerry is maybe using pigfarts as a decoy? Either way kinda want the T-shirt 😂
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#26
Robert Beveridge 8 months ago
But does the sun bringing in heart? Did you ever think of THAT?
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joyfulchasm 6 months ago
Not a problem! They’re saying that they’re not sober at all!
Load More Replies... Robert Beveridge 8 months ago
Fee fi fodelay/never get to heaven if tge devil's on his way/fee fi fodelum... /buy another round if the devil don't come
#29
Robert Beveridge 8 months ago
If I ever reactivate my ok cupid account, I now have a profile overview!
Abel 8 months ago
Get rich and watch movies is not a bad plan, but last time somebody watched a meteor shower (?) they got extincted. 🦖☄️
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Bill Swallow 8 months ago
OK, I read that last line like the chorus of 'Te-Qui-La'. "BER-MU-DA!" Da-daa-da-da-DAA-da-Da-daa..."
Petra Peitsch 8 months ago
Makes sense. Your drunk-self disappearing in Bermuda-triangle from your sober-self.
Nikole 8 months ago
Yep. I cut three inches off of my hair last night! I don’t hate it though.
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StretcherBearer 8 months ago
Roky Erickson has a song called Bermuda. I recommend anything by The 13th Floor Elevators and his solo stuff.
Peter Bear 8 months ago
This also appears in World of Warcraft as one of the dwarf male /joke emojis.
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Oerff On Tour 8 months ago
I'm more peeved the Stipe socks aren't striped. But I'd buy them anyway
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This panda says ur worth it 8 months ago
Can he swing from a web. Idk cuz we don't know what a spinder is
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#42
Marcellus II 8 months ago
You're petty when I'm drunk, and I'm petty drunk.
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#43
#44
Hippopotamuses 8 months ago
The answer tro life, the universe, and everything, and they forget the last bit. Bloody typical!
#45
Bill Swallow 8 months ago
Not among the current bumper crop of ignorant troglodytes.
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#46
Michael Largey 8 months ago
I don't know what's on the back, but this garment uses a comic sans front.
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#50
Peter Bear 8 months ago
So, consider this; if you believe life begins at conception, then every single male was born as a female, physiologically speaking. So by this reasoning, all males are trans.
#51
Michael Largey 8 months ago
Very true. Like "NOT having to worry about NOT having the rent money" or "NOT needing to worry if you do NOT have a job anymore" or"NOT having to give up things you do NOT need", etc.
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#53
PoutDragon 8 months ago
This looks like this was written by someone half drunk. Not drunk enough to write total gibberish, but drunk enough that it isn't proper english.
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Geoffrey Scott 8 months ago
"Wah wah, wah wah wah waaah"...''yes ma'am, I know i didn't spell it right."
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Highfalutin Heron 8 months ago (edited)
Not wrong. He's always got contingency plans. Not sure when Batman started wearing a tie, though
#68
Robert Beveridge 8 months ago
Bet you a week's pay this is a knockoff Rage Against the Machine t shirt.
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What do you think ?
Samantha H 8 months ago
I was feeling rather low before I saw these, I was laughing out loud, bad translations always seem to tickle my funny bone.
Mel in Georgia 8 months ago
My company included a cheap free gift in the products we sold. One was a pedometer made in China. The instructions included with it said things like, "Walk in the flat plane." We found it hilarious. Our customers? Maybe not so much.
Orysha 8 months ago
I hope the instructions included where to find a flat plane.
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CousinFish 8 months ago
Honestly, it's no worse than reading through most on-line postings these days.
BrownEyedPanda 8 months ago (edited)
They left one out. When the Phantom Of The Opera was in NYC, there was merchandise for sale: hats, t-shirts, playing cards. The t-shirts caused a bit of a stir. There was a picture of the Phantom and Christine. The caption: "She chased him 'round the Opera House and caught him by the organ." According to Michael Crawford, it looked like a huge d**g bust, the misprinted merch was hauled out so fast.
Samantha H 8 months ago
I was feeling rather low before I saw these, I was laughing out loud, bad translations always seem to tickle my funny bone.
Mel in Georgia 8 months ago
My company included a cheap free gift in the products we sold. One was a pedometer made in China. The instructions included with it said things like, "Walk in the flat plane." We found it hilarious. Our customers? Maybe not so much.
Orysha 8 months ago
I hope the instructions included where to find a flat plane.
Load More Replies... CousinFish 8 months ago
Honestly, it's no worse than reading through most on-line postings these days.
BrownEyedPanda 8 months ago (edited)
They left one out. When the Phantom Of The Opera was in NYC, there was merchandise for sale: hats, t-shirts, playing cards. The t-shirts caused a bit of a stir. There was a picture of the Phantom and Christine. The caption: "She chased him 'round the Opera House and caught him by the organ." According to Michael Crawford, it looked like a huge d**g bust, the misprinted merch was hauled out so fast.
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