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funniest 'English' mistake I've seen


#1  2012-02-01 19:28:26

ExpatEnglishTeacher
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From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 125

funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

I know we've all seen them everywhere in Egypt. Newspapers, advertisements, stores, libraries, Government buildings, schools etc.... The funniest one I've seen; from al-Waseet, "looking for a good looking 'physio the rapist'!!!!

Anyone seen anything else?




 
 
 

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#2  2012-02-02 08:00:30

Armand
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Armand
From: Ile Maurice / Mauritius
Registered: 2011-02-23
Posts: 21606

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

lol




 

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#3  2012-02-03 00:00:29

Reiziger
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Reiziger
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-12-16
Posts: 25

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

I had seen on a menu: fried viagra... I litaraly had to LOL..




 
 
 

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#4  2012-02-04 10:02:29

ExpatEnglishTeacher
Contributor
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 125

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

yeah I've seen that on lots of menu in Egypt, the Viagra sandwich. I think it's a sandwich with shrimp or something, it's at Cookdoor. And if I remember correctly right next to it is the bikini sandwich. Not really an 'English mistake' that I intended but definitely FUNNY




 
 
 

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#5  2012-02-04 22:41:56

Amr Mekawy
Member
Amr Mekawy
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-12-26
Posts: 20

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

I seen a sign more than once actually with "....for Mens" on it




 
 
 
 
 

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#6  2012-02-07 08:54:15

SAMXIII
Guest

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

lol nice topic well the funniest two that i remember seeing are "dont blay with me" and "bad poy" big_smile

#7  2012-02-08 23:26:07

FaReSALandlos
Active member
FaReSALandlos
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-09-21
Posts: 25

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

mobile shop, with the a big sign MB4 and MB3 for sell but this is not very funny i will try to remember funny things, maybe listening to me saying i sbeak london very best will be funny big_smile




 

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#8  2012-02-09 15:26:12

Abdulaziz H.Ghazouly
Member
Abdulaziz H.Ghazouly
From: Gizah
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 24

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

The funniest Egyptian mistake is pronouncing the word "people" as "be-bull" big_smilebig_smilebig_smilebig_smile




 
 
 
 

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#9  2012-02-11 04:39:45

missa.mohie
New member
From: Aswan
Registered: 2012-02-11
Posts: 2

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

funny!




 
 
 

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#10  2012-02-11 10:34:26

ExpatEnglishTeacher
Contributor
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 125

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

just drove by a pick up truck that had written on it... JUMPO




 
 
 

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#11  2012-02-14 19:57:35

me.expat
Member
From: Cairo
Registered: 2012-02-08
Posts: 13

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

yes egyptias do not diffrentient beten letter B and P. So they are always BARKING thei cars :-)




 
 
 

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#12  2012-03-06 22:17:57

unpretentious
New member
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-10-16
Posts: 3

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

In "Bob" sushi restaurant you're gonna find in a menu "volcano crap roll". I was laughing my head off!




 
 
 

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#13  2012-03-07 15:19:52

Reiziger
Active member
Reiziger
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-12-16
Posts: 25

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

unpretentious wrote:

In "Bob" sushi restaurant you're gonna find in a menu "volcano crap roll". I was laughing my head off!

Hahaha nice one!




 
 
 

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#14  2012-03-09 17:22:47

chocolata
Active member
From: Rehab city
Registered: 2011-06-14
Posts: 63

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

takeaway that has chicken carry, and also chucky the toy shop that would scare any kid away lol.




 
 
 

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#15  2012-03-11 11:00:26

Zary
Member
From: Cairo
Registered: 2012-02-16
Posts: 10

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

I like this topic! I went to a clinic in Obour and the sign read: Reciption instead of Reception LOL! I couldn't contain myself it was just too funny!




 
 
 

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#16  2012-03-15 01:45:11

missa.mohie
New member
From: Aswan
Registered: 2012-02-11
Posts: 2

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

unpretentious wrote:

In "Bob" sushi restaurant you're gonna find in a menu "volcano crap roll". I was laughing my head off!

FUNNY!!!!




 
 
 

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#17  2012-03-16 21:46:45

ExpatEnglishTeacher
Contributor
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 125

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

at a certain "American International" school the sign to the principal's office was spelled principle..... not so hilarious except for the fact this was supposed to be a place of education and they couldn't even spell the word correctly!




 
 
 

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#18  2012-03-17 02:52:13

zegazoly
Active member
zegazoly
From: gizah
Registered: 2011-09-18
Posts: 34

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

ExpatEnglishTeacher wrote:

at a certain "American International" school the sign to the principal's office was spelled principle..... not so hilarious except for the fact this was supposed to be a place of education and they couldn't even spell the word correctly!

It is a disaster actually sad




 
 
 
 

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#19  2012-03-18 23:15:34

alimirza
Serial expat
alimirza
Registered: 2010-04-09
Posts: 226

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

Another common mistake in pronunciation

The = Za
That = Zat
B = P




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#20  2012-03-18 23:48:28

Geely
Serial expat
Registered: 2010-05-10
Posts: 395

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

EgyptiOn instead of EgyptiAn

Last edited by Geely (2012-03-18 23:49:54)




 
 
 

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#21  2012-03-19 13:57:22

ExpatEnglishTeacher
Contributor
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 125

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

alimirza wrote:

Another common mistake in pronunciation

The = Za
That = Zat
B = P

Yeah but that's not because of problems with English that's because of you're Egyptian colloquial Arabic. For some reason or another (maybe you guys are afraid of sticking your tongues out) you don't pronounce ث (tha) instead you say a sound more closer to س (sa). So for the average Egyptian he's not used to sticking his tongue out, which is required to pronounce the 'th' sound properly.




 
 
 

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#22  2012-03-19 15:19:11

Abdulaziz H.Ghazouly
Member
Abdulaziz H.Ghazouly
From: Gizah
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 24

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

Perfect analysis Expatenglish teacher smile


ExpatEnglishTeacher wrote:

alimirza wrote:

Another common mistake in pronunciation

The = Za
That = Zat
B = P

Yeah but that's not because of problems with English that's because of you're Egyptian colloquial Arabic. For some reason or another (maybe you guys are afraid of sticking your tongues out) you don't pronounce ث (tha) instead you say a sound more closer to س (sa). So for the average Egyptian he's not used to sticking his tongue out, which is required to pronounce the 'th' sound properly.




 
 
 
 

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#23  2012-03-24 01:02:22

happyguy
Guest

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

hello everyone
ExpatEnglishTeacher! i want to tell u something
i have as american friend , he laughed so much when he saw my name
my name is ahmed  ....... al-waseef
and now u say its so funny , i dont know that is name is funny like that lol big_smile lol

#24  2012-03-24 09:42:08

ExpatEnglishTeacher
Contributor
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 125

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

happyguy wrote:

hello everyone
ExpatEnglishTeacher! i want to tell u something
i have as american friend , he laughed so much when he saw my name
my name is ahmed  ....... al-waseef
and now u say its so funny , i dont know that is name is funny like that lol big_smile lol

I don't get it




 
 
 

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#25  2012-03-24 14:27:02

Reiziger
Active member
Reiziger
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-12-16
Posts: 25

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

He is probally just a very Happyguy....




 
 
 

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#26  2012-04-25 16:54:21

Coodles
New member
Coodles
From: Cairo
Registered: 2012-04-25
Posts: 9

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

Hi guys!

One of the funniest things I have also seen, was a road sign with missing letters.

It said: LOW  PEE  LANE

- It was supposed to be (Low Speed LANE).

It actually makes sense as I see a lot of people pee under road signs and all-over big_smile.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#27  2012-04-25 17:45:05

Marobreen
Guest

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

unpretentious wrote:

In "Bob" sushi restaurant you're gonna find in a menu "volcano crap roll". I was laughing my head off!

have seen this "crab" thing in other place and it made me smile smile

#28  2012-05-06 10:15:41

fawny
Active member
From: hurghada
Registered: 2011-08-02
Posts: 52

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

local bar has a menu that serves most meals with ships (chips)

student just wrote 'i want to go to France to see the Evil tower'!!




 
 
 

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#29  2012-05-08 04:08:16

Geely
Serial expat
Registered: 2010-05-10
Posts: 395

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

loool!




 
 
 

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#30  2012-05-17 04:14:48

sema.sh
Active member
sema.sh
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-06-26
Posts: 62

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

i do believe that my English is poor and i mean really poor .. but i sure know the difference between
THINK
&
Sink smile




 

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#31  2012-05-17 05:05:06

Cenlin
Contributor
Cenlin
From: Cairo
Registered: 2012-05-12
Posts: 185

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/198/4/5/sorry_for_my_poor_english_by_anizravaz-d3y7tm3.jpg


lol, this topic is sooo funny actually. however bad my English is, I'm still laughing big_smile

that's a brilliant idea ExpatEnglishTeacher

But, C'mon man, at least we still able to be understood big_smile
that's even better than being totally unable to pronounce some letters as foreigners do with Arabic lol

if we made a competition about "how fluent you are", Egyptian with poor English would win cool

Last edited by cenlin (2012-05-17 05:14:13)




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#32  2012-05-17 13:54:58

ExpatEnglishTeacher
Contributor
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 125

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

I think yor right. Egyptians would win but some of us foreigners do know Arabic by the way:) however i think There is a difference. The english mistakes that are made are in writing by supposed professional companies not individuals making mistakes during conversation. This topic is just for fun. Actually someone started one for funny Arabic mistakes and I myself have had a lot of those




 
 
 

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#33  2012-05-17 15:12:53

Cenlin
Contributor
Cenlin
From: Cairo
Registered: 2012-05-12
Posts: 185

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

ExpatEnglishTeacher take it easy man, i was only kidding with you, i definitely know how hard is Arabic, and u know, the hidden part is that we're really proud of the one who can only say "Ahlan" u dunno how we love to hear an Arabic word from a foreigner smile




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#34  2012-05-17 18:34:36

JCairo
Member
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-09-19
Posts: 10

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

I agree with Cenlin foreigners tend to be quite arrogant here and make fun of the level of English of some Egyptians while after years they still cannot pronounce one word of Arabic..

But to participate to this topic, as a recruitment professional i receive many emails of persons who are looking for a "jop", or who want to be a "manger".

Concerning my Arabic mistakes, until not so long ago, i was always confusing mazbout and mabsout, asking for a shay mabsout smile




 
 
 

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#35  2012-05-17 19:05:26

Cenlin
Contributor
Cenlin
From: Cairo
Registered: 2012-05-12
Posts: 185

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

JCairo"A happy tea" big_smile
I don't think u faced a problem, i think that the guy could still able to guess what do you mean, u didn't go far away big_smile
gonna tell you something, on Egypt, When we wanna order "Shay Mazbout" i even dunno how to order it on English hmm (tell me plz)big_smile
we say "Shay kham.Sina" which means proper tea with proper sugar.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#36  2012-05-17 20:08:31

ExpatEnglishTeacher
Contributor
From: Cairo
Registered: 2011-11-18
Posts: 125

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

Definitely agree with you guys about ignorant and arrogant foreigners making fun of the fluency of egyptians yet they are guests in Egypt. They should be the ones who try to speak the language of the country.

But again there is a slight difference here. Were not speaking about communication mistakes, im. Speaking about professional mistakes such as an american school writing principle, or an advertisement for physio the rapist. These are suppose to be professional organizations not everyday ordinary locals.

It's a two way road when it comes to Egyptians and foreigners, everyone has their own ridiculous problems.  One thing i noticed about Egyptians is they like to do everything the hard way and one thing i noticed about westerners is they look down on others as if they're automatically better by birth rite.




 
 
 

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#37  2012-05-17 20:34:11

Cenlin
Contributor
Cenlin
From: Cairo
Registered: 2012-05-12
Posts: 185

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

yeah,ExpatEnglishTeacher Gotcha, we're just making some fun wink




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#38  2012-05-20 11:20:56

Mina Samy
New member
From: Cairo
Registered: 2012-05-19
Posts: 8

Re: funniest 'English' mistake I've seen

Nice topic smile

i read once a ( koll me option) for home delivery smile)




 
 
 
 

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