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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Think headlights.

Or rather, try not to think headlights while you're telling her she has beautiful eyes. If not, you might not see the right cross before it connects.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Headlights?

No, I confused ojos with hoyos.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

sarliz · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Jalisco

I heard a great story about a friend of a friend who had just moved to Chicago from Mexico, and was out exploring the city for the first time when he got lost. He called his cousin for help, who asked him where he was. He checked the street signs and reported: "I'm at the corner of Damen and One Way."

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

I was teaching the Maroon 5 song "Sunday Morning" when my student asked me for a translation of "rest your bones". Proud of my newly learned Spanish, I quickly replied "decansar sus heuvos" instead of "huesos"

gordogringo · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 159 Location: Tijuana

I told my girlfriends mother that I was very embarzado of my espanol. She told me she was not sure how this was possible.

wildnfree · Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 134

I was ordering a burger in a fast-food joint in Barcelona...I was pointing to burger picture the highest up on the poster, and said what I thought was "I want the burger on the top". It was only after everyone stopped laughing I realized I had actually said: " I want the burger to climax" . (El Cima or something)

chola · Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:37 am Post subject: language bloopers

I knew of this guy who was a carpenter. When someone asked him, in Spanish, what he did, he replied "Soy carpendejo!". Wow. That's quite an accomplishment! Embarassed

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

One of my foreign teachers was trying to explain to a parent why his daughter needed to repeat the course. He wanted to say that he had no problems with the girl's behavior and actually enjoyed having her in his class. However, when he told the father "Me gusta tu hija, ...." it almost got ugly. I had to explain to the proud parent of a 9 year old girl just exactly what the teacher was trying to tell him.

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

I made a similar mistake my second day in Mexico. After I met my friend's brother at a fiesta, I told my friend in front of his family, "me gusta tu hermano"
I didn't understand when everyone cried "ooooooooo!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Yeah, you have to be careful using the verb 'to like' (gustar) in Mexico. Good lesson there for the newbies.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Many mistakes are due to perceived double meaning. E.g, technically there is nothing wrong with your Spanish if you ask in a shop "�tiene huevos?"... but you don't!
One of my first mistakes was to refer to my mother-in-law, speaking to my wife and in front of m-i-l, as "tu madre". Again, I think "your mother" is better than than "your mom"... but you don't

AjarnErnes · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 71 Location: Mexico City, Mexico

I once was ordering a BBQ steak taco and asked for "Dos tacos de bistek al cabron" The little old lady behind the counter looked shocked and a bit upset with me. I often get my "B" and "R" mixed up.

oooppss!

ajarnernest

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

It is advisable not to show off your French by saying "C'est la vie". It sounds like "S�, la vi" and has double meaning in Spanish. Work it out!!