4 Comments
Jan 29, 2021Liked by Ian Webster

I may have told you this, but the last time we were in France, we forgot my husband's anti-dandruff shampoo.

At most drugstores, everything’s behind the counter, so, as the francophone, I had to ask for it.

Of course, I have no idea how to say “anti-dandruff,” so it came out as:

“Have you the shampoo for those whose heads have snow?”

Thanks, Alliance Française!

Expand full comment
author

I feel like I would have remembered this! It would be funny to compile a list of tortured translations like this. I'm pretty sure I've brought a lot of joy to people across the globe with some pretty weird turns of phrase.

Expand full comment
Jan 29, 2021Liked by Ian Webster

Elephants, too, I’ll wager!

On the list of tortured translations, I’ve always loved David Sedaris’s complaint to his French landlord:

“The toilet, she cries constantly!”

Expand full comment
author

Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day" is my Bible.

Expand full comment