It’s about that time again. It’s the time for us to show you some of the worst translation errors that we’ve seen – and as a translation agency, trust us when we say that we have seen the worst of the worst.
(If you run a business and need your material translated, please contact Bubbles Translation Services today so that you don’t end up on a list like this.)
1 – Who wouldn’t feel welcomed by this?
This sign has a certain delicious irony to it, but it is truly awful.
Can you spot the one word that’s spelled correctly?
Let’s also not pay attention to the picture of someone in a wheelchair going down stairs…
2 – Incontinence
This one’s almost perfect – until they start talking about incontinence.
At least they try to be polite about your lack of bladder control.
3 – How the hell do I wash this thing?
- Hand can be used – so do I need to wash this by hand, or can I use the machine, too?
- Bleach is not available – yes it is… it’s right here next to the washing machine. But do we use it on the garment?
- Ironing temperature – can you please be a little bit more specific?
- Can not be dry cleaning – This is okay (considering!), pretty self-explanatory… translated horribly, but we get the point.
- Dry fly – ?
Either way, we won’t be buying this garment, whatever it may be… that’s for sure.
4 – That poor business owner…
Translation errors on signs and flyers are sometimes understandable – but on your storefront signage? This is where direct translations simply don’t work – any professional translation service would flag this up to Mr. Anus.
This kind of sign always make us wonder if these businesses are profitable… and if the owner even knows that their sign has such a strange connotation.
5 – Pets only
We’re glad they specified. All of their meat comes with added guilt thrown in!
6 – Reduce travel costs via theft
Sick of taking cheap flights to save money? Sick of not being able to spend as much as you’d like on holiday?
It’s easy – just “take luggage of a foreigner”. You’ll save big when you sell their stuff on eBay, and there might even be some cash inside for you to take, too. No charge!
7 – But I really have to go…
Isn’t it annoying when you really have to go to the toilet… but the bathroom is for old men only?
8 – It’s happening right now
This sign is confusing but well intentioned. It’s clear that they mean building work, but it isn’t helped by the fact that there’s a big red X through a certain region of a man’s body…
9 – Down on your luck?
We’re completely bemused by this one. It looks like a sign outside a religious establishment, but it’s hardly motivational. Maybe that’s the strategy?
10 – A particular type of parking space
If you’re not “getting off” while you park, leave.
Again – a terrible connotation delivered perfectly innocently by the poor translation of a drop-off point sign.
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There you have it – 10 of the worst translation mistakes that we’ve seen recently. Stay tuned for more to come, and you can check out our other posts on translation errors here and here.
Business owners, please contact Bubbles today for flawless translations. You’ll avoid being the laughing stock of the internet with your translation mistakes, and you’ll have a perfect brand image for whichever countries you choose to expand into.
