English can be a tricky language to master. Things can get particularly bizarre for translators if they not only lack the required skill set but also if the language they’re translating from has a very different logic underpinning it. It can result in some truly hilarious and nonsensical mess-ups.
Today, Bored Panda is looking at some of the most epic translation fails, as shared on the ‘Engrish’ website that’s been active since 1996, as well as the popular ‘Engrish’ subreddit that’s been running since 2008. Keep scrolling for a good dose of humor and a reminder that even though everyone makes mistakes in life, some of them are much funnier than others.
Just keep in mind that the point here is to enjoy the unintentional humor, not to make fun of non-native English speakers.
#1 Oh No
Image credits: urnangay420blazeit
#2 I Blame The Roosters…
Image credits: J.R.
#3 It’s Stranger Than Fiction
Image credits: Jaume Ros.
The word ‘Engrish’ is a slang term that describes poorly translated, inaccurate, ungrammatical, and nonsensical use of the English language by people who aren’t native speakers.
The term is mainly linked to translations done in Asian countries such as Japan and China. Originally, the term ‘Engrish’ appeared in the 1940s, referring to mispronounced English.
#4 Thank Goodness I’m Stuck In The Past…
Image credits: E.D.
#5 Taken From R/Memes
Image credits: NopeURGay
#6 And Yet We Keep Selling Them…
Image credits: Tom G
Broadly speaking, ‘Engrish’ mistakes can most often be found on items of clothing that have random and nonsensical English words or phrases for the sake of fashion, as well as on signs, menus, and advertisements.
There’s a lot of unintentional humor to be found here for anyone who’s either a native or near-native-level English speaker or knows the language even semi-decently. That being said, nobody’s poking fun at the translators themselves, just their funny translations.
#7 Now I’m Hungry
Image credits: Joseph T.
#8 An Exit Is Not Recommended…
Image credits: Marten M.
#9 1-7
Image credits: reddit.com
Region-specific synonyms for ‘Engrish’ include ‘Japanglish’ (‘Japanese English’) and ‘Chinglish’ (‘Chinese English’); however, they can have negative connotations.
One of the reasons why translating text from Asian languages into English is so difficult is because there are linguistic differences in terms of phonology, lexicon, syntax, and discourse.
#10 Rude And Unreasonable Chicken
Image credits: reddit.com
#11 I Love All The Neaputs Gang…
Image credits: Matt Ka
#12 Hi, I’m The Shelf For Hand Warmer N04…
Image credits: Trish L
Meanwhile, other reasons for wildly weird mistranslations include issues with dictionaries, outdated or poor translation software, and incorrect English textbooks.
Other potential factors include poor English language education, misspellings, as well as simply sloppy translation work on the employee’s part.
#13 Whatever Bro…
Image credits: Rob Gray
#14 I’m Running Out Of Places Where I Can Dumb
Image credits: Glenn Havinoviski
#15 404 Barber Not Found
Image credits: Sarah Z.
You’re going to run into a lot of issues if you’re translating a text without any input from professional translators or editors with a native English background.
You’ll also have a hard time if you translate text word-for-word without considering things like context, connotation, culture, idioms, metaphors, humor, etc.
#16 From My Brother In China
Image credits: Aishas_Star
#17 I Knew They Were In Cahoots…
Image credits: Roger S
#18 Better Than Zoloft!
Image credits: Daniel Clark
To put it simply, quality translations don’t happen in a bubble. They require intimate knowledge of another country’s culture, media, people, and society. There’s also the question of the type of education frameworks, tools, and support offered in countries to help people learn other languages.
Having access to awesome textbooks and being given the opportunity not only to consume foreign media but also to travel abroad and immerse yourself in the culture firsthand can be game-changers.
#19 We Share Everything…
Image credits: Loki.
#20 Don’t Drank And Drive…
Image credits: Zapman
#21 Please Random At Home…
Image credits: Beau LeBlanc.
The ‘Engrish’ website—which calls itself “The Original Engrish Site”—has been running for nearly three decades (!!!), having been founded in 1996. The curators continue posting funny translation fails on their site and social media pages to this very day.
You can send in photos of any weird translations that you’ve come across, too. Just make sure to surf the site a bit to make sure you’re not sending in pics that have been featured before.
#22 It Comes Out The Way It Went In…
Image credits: Phil Cigan
#23 The Fish Suck Anyway…
Image credits: Rasmus Mortensen
#24 What About The Vampires
Image credits: Josh Curphy
Meanwhile, the ‘Engrish’ subreddit, which was founded in late September 2008, currently boasts a whopping 811k members (wittily referred to as ‘Grammar Police’).
According to the moderators keeping the community running smoothly, their goal is to showcase funny and baffling misuses of English, including translation errors, cultural misunderstandings, and “just plain bad grammar.”
#25 I Love This Image
Image credits: DoubleSpook_
#26 It’s Like A Fireman Came In Your Mouth!
Image credits: Joshdawson9999
#27 Nice Try, China
Image credits: Seller6969
Which of the poor translations that we’ve featured here today made you laugh and cringe the hardest, dear Pandas?
Do we have any contract or freelance translators reading this today? If so, have you ever made any bizarre and unintentionally ridiculous translation fails before that you’re still embarrassed about? What do you think lies at the core of truly great translation work? We’d love to hear from you. Tell us all about your experiences in the comments below!
#28 Tey Stolle Our Stuf!
Image credits: UH-OH-STINKYYYY
#29 When The Engrish Is Actually Truthful
Image credits: reddit.com
#30 Wait Wha
Image credits: SDeltaE
#31 Why
Image credits: BossRaeg
#32 To Punish And Enslave
Image credits: EdenSteinberg
#33 When R/Technicallythetruth Meets R/Engrish
Image credits: laptopkek
#34 We’re Dog People…
Image credits: Seth Williams
#35 One Day A Year He’s Not So Bad…
Image credits: JR.
#36 Your Safety Is My Danger…
Image credits: Warren R.
#37 This Is Gonna Hurt Me, Fido, More That It Hurts You…
Image credits: Klavs Ejsing
#38 Then Say Someone Made You Do It…
Image credits: Yangyang
#39 If The Flames Don’t Get Ya, The Explosions Will…
Image credits: Nick Cunningham
#40 Very Wholesome Engrish
Image credits: lulala112
#41 Bobson Dugnutt
Image credits: MadDestoryer666
#42 University Of Potato Ice
Image credits: Smiling_longhair6870
#43 This Message On My Monitor
Image credits: XD-3CH0
#44 Ah Yes The Infamous Internet Hole
Image credits: reddit.com
#45 Found On Amazon
Image credits: _NeonLines
#46 Just Five More Minutes, Mom
Image credits: reddit.com
#47 Peepi
Image credits: notsciguy
#48 No Is Not An Option
Image credits: reddit.com
#49 Turns Out Us British Can’t Speak English Either
Image credits: Doctor_Derpless
#50 I Think I Speak For All Gows When I Say Snooze It
Image credits: Thomas Westbrook
#51 Employee Complaints Are Down
Image credits: Dennis S
#52 They Wrote This Too Tast…
Image credits: Stephan Stewart
#53 No Injuries Without Permission…
Image credits: Janet J.
#54 Please, Don’t Anger The Pillow…
Image credits: Manu
#55 Grow Hands In Designated Areas Only
Image credits: Michael Morefield
#56 Because A Whole Child Would Be Insane…
Image credits: Boris V.
#57 Choose Your Fighter
Image credits: SystemOfaPawn
#58 So It Would Seem
Image credits: UchihaDivergent
#59 D O N O T F O O D
Image credits: FoltyCZ
#60 Your Accident Is Important To Us…
Image credits: Steve Platt
#61 I Am Trash Man
Image credits: Responsible-Golf9770
