In my 50 years of speaking Portuguese, I have so many stories you just wouldn't believe! Asking at a cafe in Brazil for a "sanduiche grilado," a grilled sandwich, meaning grilled cheese. But grilado is slang for hassled, and the word for grilled is grelhado. And a thousand other examples! It's part of the journey.
Quite funny! When Hubby and I first arrived in Portugal, I went to a restaurant and asked for a rare steak. The translator showed "raro," which means "uncommon" in Portuguese. Naturally, confusion ensued until Hubby flipped his hand rapidly while imitating a grilling hiss.
However, the "worst" mis-translation I did was while I was in Argentina. I was the only person on the expedition who knew no Spanish (of any form!). I was trying to learn a little, so I told the whole team that I saw some birds in a tree. Apparently, that's not what I said. Instead of birds, I said a different word, and the whole team looked at me oddly. When I asked what I had said, the expedition leader replied, "pussy, not the cat." Embarrassing then, but now Hubby and I look at each other when an attempt at speaking Portuguese goes wrong and say, "pussy, not the cat;" our own private joke, and reminder to keep humor in the situation.
In the Peace Corps, one of my fellow volunteers learned the French word for water: eau. He bought a bottle of what he thought was water; it said "eau" on it. He took a swig and forever learned that "eau de javel" means bleach.
So vital to laugh at ourselves when we're learning!
I'm completely fluent now, but my bilingual daughters would often get embarrased at things I said. One day, at a family gathering (my husband is Portuguese), instead of saying "vou dar um beijinho ao Tio" (I'm going to give a little kiss to uncle) I said "Vou beijar o Tio" (I'm going to kiss uncle). I thought it was the same, but it actually implies I was going to snog the uncle... My daughter just said "Oh mum! No!" and hid her head in shame...
And don't get me started on the difference between cocó and coco (poop and coconut) or mispronouncing cozinha (kitchen) as cuzinha (little arse)... there's plenty of these.
Those are both such great stories! And since you asked for embarrassing or funny language stories, here’s one. I did a study abroad semester in Spain, some 40 years ago. My roommate and I lived with a family in Salamanca. One very hot day we came home from school and the father of the family asked how we were. My American roommate said “soy muy caliente” which translates to “I am very hot” but like hot for a romantic partner! 🤭The father laughed and corrected her, “tengo calor” which translates to I’m hot ( because it’s hot out). She went red in the face when she realized her mistake and blurted out, “¡Estoy muy embarazada!” Which does NOT mean I am very embarrassed, it means, I am very pregnant! 🫣🤣 Thank you for the opportunity to share this story.
Not me, but my dad in Germany in the ‘60s. HE was stationed at Ramstein AFB and was trying to order a cake from a local baker with Snoopy on it. The baker kept staring at him in confusion until finally his daughter, who understood English, came out and clarified:” You want to order a cake for your DOG?”
I speak Portuguese but I have called the fridge a “frigideira” (frying pan) as it sounds like “frigidaire” (refrigerator) in French. And to flip things around, I’m still embarrased to say “ficar constipada” to mean “catch a cold”… and “refrigerantes” for soft drinks doesn’t sound like something I should drink!
Thanks for your comment. I get it. My Portuguese grandmother who moved to the U.S. when she was a young woman used to call the refrigerator "frigidator." That's what I thought it was pronounced until I started to learn Portuguese. I also have to be careful not to ask for a "corpo" of wine instead of "copo." I have done that on more than one occasion by accident. - CW
I have not experienced this but I love the story. I can definitely imagine myself in a similar situation. What I love about it is the human connection. It’s a wonderful story!
I too am learning that its ok to screw up and get things wrong. It's better to try and get it wrong than to insist on speaking English. Fortunately, every encounter we've had that starts with a terse denouncement of speaking English has ended up with smiles when we have attempted our very poor Portuguese. I have so much to learn and that's unlikely to ever stop.
Thanks for your comment, Grant. Foreign language learning is definitely a work in progress that never ends. I have learned to accept that and just try to do my best. - CW
Not a mistake I have made (I speak French and it's the same in that language), but just don't ask if any food has "preservativos" in them as "preservativos" is not the the Portuguese word for "preservatives" as you might assume it is but rather the work for "condoms".
In my 50 years of speaking Portuguese, I have so many stories you just wouldn't believe! Asking at a cafe in Brazil for a "sanduiche grilado," a grilled sandwich, meaning grilled cheese. But grilado is slang for hassled, and the word for grilled is grelhado. And a thousand other examples! It's part of the journey.
Quite funny! When Hubby and I first arrived in Portugal, I went to a restaurant and asked for a rare steak. The translator showed "raro," which means "uncommon" in Portuguese. Naturally, confusion ensued until Hubby flipped his hand rapidly while imitating a grilling hiss.
However, the "worst" mis-translation I did was while I was in Argentina. I was the only person on the expedition who knew no Spanish (of any form!). I was trying to learn a little, so I told the whole team that I saw some birds in a tree. Apparently, that's not what I said. Instead of birds, I said a different word, and the whole team looked at me oddly. When I asked what I had said, the expedition leader replied, "pussy, not the cat." Embarrassing then, but now Hubby and I look at each other when an attempt at speaking Portuguese goes wrong and say, "pussy, not the cat;" our own private joke, and reminder to keep humor in the situation.
In the Peace Corps, one of my fellow volunteers learned the French word for water: eau. He bought a bottle of what he thought was water; it said "eau" on it. He took a swig and forever learned that "eau de javel" means bleach.
So vital to laugh at ourselves when we're learning!
I'm completely fluent now, but my bilingual daughters would often get embarrased at things I said. One day, at a family gathering (my husband is Portuguese), instead of saying "vou dar um beijinho ao Tio" (I'm going to give a little kiss to uncle) I said "Vou beijar o Tio" (I'm going to kiss uncle). I thought it was the same, but it actually implies I was going to snog the uncle... My daughter just said "Oh mum! No!" and hid her head in shame...
And don't get me started on the difference between cocó and coco (poop and coconut) or mispronouncing cozinha (kitchen) as cuzinha (little arse)... there's plenty of these.
Those are both such great stories! And since you asked for embarrassing or funny language stories, here’s one. I did a study abroad semester in Spain, some 40 years ago. My roommate and I lived with a family in Salamanca. One very hot day we came home from school and the father of the family asked how we were. My American roommate said “soy muy caliente” which translates to “I am very hot” but like hot for a romantic partner! 🤭The father laughed and corrected her, “tengo calor” which translates to I’m hot ( because it’s hot out). She went red in the face when she realized her mistake and blurted out, “¡Estoy muy embarazada!” Which does NOT mean I am very embarrassed, it means, I am very pregnant! 🫣🤣 Thank you for the opportunity to share this story.
Love it! - CW
Not me, but my dad in Germany in the ‘60s. HE was stationed at Ramstein AFB and was trying to order a cake from a local baker with Snoopy on it. The baker kept staring at him in confusion until finally his daughter, who understood English, came out and clarified:” You want to order a cake for your DOG?”
Been there! Gotta love the fact that pretty much every time it ends up with smiles and obrigado, obrigado, obrigado (muitas vezes!) :)
Thanks for your comment, Bob. I'm glad I'm in good company! - CW
I speak Portuguese but I have called the fridge a “frigideira” (frying pan) as it sounds like “frigidaire” (refrigerator) in French. And to flip things around, I’m still embarrased to say “ficar constipada” to mean “catch a cold”… and “refrigerantes” for soft drinks doesn’t sound like something I should drink!
Thanks for your comment. I get it. My Portuguese grandmother who moved to the U.S. when she was a young woman used to call the refrigerator "frigidator." That's what I thought it was pronounced until I started to learn Portuguese. I also have to be careful not to ask for a "corpo" of wine instead of "copo." I have done that on more than one occasion by accident. - CW
I have not experienced this but I love the story. I can definitely imagine myself in a similar situation. What I love about it is the human connection. It’s a wonderful story!
I too am learning that its ok to screw up and get things wrong. It's better to try and get it wrong than to insist on speaking English. Fortunately, every encounter we've had that starts with a terse denouncement of speaking English has ended up with smiles when we have attempted our very poor Portuguese. I have so much to learn and that's unlikely to ever stop.
Thanks for your comment, Grant. Foreign language learning is definitely a work in progress that never ends. I have learned to accept that and just try to do my best. - CW
Hi Carol, I would love to cross-post your piece on Portugal Calling.
Hi Rui - yes, feel free to cross-post. Obrigada! - CW
Not a mistake I have made (I speak French and it's the same in that language), but just don't ask if any food has "preservativos" in them as "preservativos" is not the the Portuguese word for "preservatives" as you might assume it is but rather the work for "condoms".
Thanks for your comment, Rob. I will definitely be mindful of that! - CW