Google is the default translator in the world. It provides free translation to any language but some times auto-translate fails. Google Translate app does a perfect job, it sometimes fails though. It fails because it doesn’t understand the emotions and intentions in words. It relies only on the technical translation of words.
What happens when Google Translator fails?
Failure of Google Translator results in miscommunication, confusion, and translation humor. Sometimes it could lead to embarrassment. Translation requires a good understanding of the world languages or at least the language you want to translate. If you don’t understand a language, it’s better to ask a human to help instead of relying on Google Translate.
Here’re some epic auto-translate fails that will make you laugh and think twice before relying on machine translation
1. Slip And Fall Message
A Chinese message to all who often meet slip-and-fall accidents was translated as “slip and fall carefully” in English. Also, the signboard was placed on a cliff. But this translation humor has a serious message for the visitors.
2. Facebook Celebrated Earthquake
In 2018, Indonesia suffered a severe earthquake that many people posted on their Facebook statuses with the caption “Selamat”. Facebook translated the Indonesian word into “to survive”, “be safe” or “congratulations” and added balloons and confetti to posts related to the earthquake. Later it regretted the translation failure.
3. Rejuvenating Skin Serum For Business
Funny errors like this can happen anywhere and anytime. Everyone knows that hyaluronic acid serum boosts skin complexion but some French beauty influencers translated “hydrate, lift, and firm” to “lift, hydrate, and business”. So, for French gurus beauty is business as usual as they even didn’t notice the error.
4. Swedish Medical Translation
Always use a medically verified for translating medical queries. For example, someone translated “Do you gag easily” into Swedish as “Do you bend easily”. Google Translate indeed helps doctors communicate with their patients but sometimes it results in epic translation humor just like in this case.
5. Israeli Signboard About Potholes
In Jerusalem, visitors notice a signboard warning drivers and pedestrians about potholes on the road. Also, the Israeli message was translated into English as “ignorance on the road” for non-Israeli people. I will call it the best 2024 international fail because the message was clear to all but in a humorous manner.
6. Restaurant Translation
Continuing with my search for funny errors, I stumbled upon a restaurant’s message to one of its valuable customers. The original message “enjoy your meal” was translated to “good appetite” in English. For any foodie, a good appetite sounds confusing and offensive. It means eating too much and any customer can feel offended.
7. Don’t Disturb The Grass
This message is a classic example of auto-translate fails. It reads “Don’t disturb the grass, it is sound asleep and dreaming”. I don’t know what the original message was but I found the auto-translated work. Also, it started a series of hilarious memes in China. Here the grass is treated like a kid.
8. You Are Dangerous In Japan
Language mishaps can happen in any country and result in utter confusion as happened in Japan where an office worker put a signboard alerting others to avoid using a specific area but it translated into “Because you are dangerous you must not enter”. But the good thing is the message was well received by the co-workers.
meet slip-and-fall accidents was translated as “slip and fall carefully” in English. Also, the signboard was placed on a cliff. But this translation humor has a serious message for the visitors.
9. Spanish Police For Litter
How would you explain the message “Please don’t throw litter on the floor and call the police”? It is the Spanish translation of a message for people who often throw litter on the floor. They are warned of police action. But it resulted in translation humor.
10. IKEA Bahrain Marketing
”Create your perfect night’s sleep” was the marketing message of the IKEA Bahrain store. I kept it in the list of language mishaps because the original message was different. Also, the IKEA marketing team acknowledged their fault and corrected the error.
Conclusion
Funny errors will keep happening until people learn to use the auto-translate apps. If you get a weird translation by your auto-translator, you should immediately approach a local to help. It is better to leave the job of translation to humans than face embarrassment.