Confusing but Fun

Swedish words in italics, English in bold

Body parts

• Vrist in Swedish is one of the words for ankle. But it is pronounced very much like wrist. And wrist, BTW, translates into handlove. Mmmmm, interesting.
• Chin translates to haka.  But the translation of cheek is kind, and this is pronounced chind (click to play on Google Translate).

Food

• Ginger translates to ingefära.
• Inga fara, which when pronounced and heard by me…is a phrase you use to imply no danger as in, sorta excuse me when you accidently hit someone in the face on the  subway (done it).
• Gift means married or poison. No distinction in pronunciation. And of course, gift in English has a very different meaning.

Signs

• Slut means end.
• Fart means many things related to speed
• Farthinder is a speed bump 
• Everywhere you see utfart signs, meaning exit.

Personal Blunders

Ice Cream

As you might have seen in my last post, Stavsunds Gods, I live on a farm. Even in cold climes the ice cream truck operates all year round and tingalings its very loud, come hither familiar tune. One hot summer day I tore out of the house waving my wallet in the air, eager to get a sugar fix. Maybe I would treat myself to both a drumstick and an ice lolly? I pointed to a photo (my Swedish was limited) and was surprised to learn the cost—100 SEK ($15).  For one? No. of course not silly. You have to buy an entire box! And of course I did.

Going Postal

I don’t often send letters or cards any more, but my parents expect it, especially for birthdays. I was so proud of myself when I bought the card and the stamp to send it for my mother’s birthday. It would arrive on time! I wrote her name and address on the front and in the upper left corner I wrote my name and address in smaller letters. Common practice in North America and England.

A few days later I was surprised to receive the card. There was no bill for additional postage and it had been marked with all the postal rubber stamps. I took it to the post office and was informed that…you are supposed to put the return address on the back flap otherwise they consider this the recipient address (Editor’s note: I am not so sure about this, I think it was just human error). And yes. It was sent on to Canada without extra charge, and yes, my mom got it on time, at least I think she did.

Related articles

• Stavsunds Gods (journeyofmixedemotions.com)
• Debunking 5 Myths about the Translation Service Industry (Part 3) (blogthebigword.wordpress.com)