Work: Today, I was instructed by my boss to welcome the 2 new foreign...

By Salaryman - 15/02/2009 06:21 - Philippines

Today, I was instructed by my boss to welcome the 2 new foreign business partners since I am the only one who could speak their language. When they arrived I greeted them in their language. One of them scratched his head and asked his companion in plain and clear English, "What did he say?" FML

I agree, your life sucks 38 724

You deserved it 4 983

Labour Day: Rest or Disaster?
Find out how a day off can turn into a series of hilarious, unexpected events. More…

Previous FML Next FML

Same thing different taste

By Claudine - 30/06/2015 06:18 - Belgium - Liège

Today, my boss is on the phone with a Russian customer, who keeps saying, "Speak Russian please!" My boss asks me to translate, as he hired me for my knowledge of Russian. He says something, I translate in Russian, then the customer says, "Speak English please!" FML

I agree, your life sucks 26 349

You deserved it 2 083

Brain melt

By Anonymous - 03/03/2010 02:37 - United States

Today, I was talking to my best friend about a cute guy that girls are afraid to even speak to, so I then decided to march right up to him and say hello. When he smiled at me, I stood there with my mouth wide open, but I made non-coherent words. He asked me if I was a foreign exchange student. FML

I agree, your life sucks 10 112

You deserved it 29 681

Communication Breakdown

By rosie - 08/03/2021 13:59

Today, I was unable to communicate with a customer who only spoke French. As a result, my boss called me a "monolingual idiot." I speak Spanish, German, and Japanese. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 112

You deserved it 69

By Anonymous - 04/01/2012 03:30 - Canada

Today, as an important meeting with clients was drawing to a close, we all stood up and they bid their farewells. My response was to blurt out, "Hello!" FML

I agree, your life sucks 22 626

You deserved it 7 828

By grammarnazi-forareason - 03/07/2013 06:48 - Sweden - Stockholm

Today, I had the questionable honor of explaining the difference between "your" and "you're" to my boss, and very diplomatically make her see why her poor grasp of language could affect our credibility as a communication agency. I'm Swedish, and English is my third language. She's American. FML

I agree, your life sucks 57 629

You deserved it 3 753

By ChickenBallsPlease - 28/01/2014 11:16 - United Kingdom - King's Lynn

Today, I was eating at a Chinese restaurant, when I stopped the waitress to tell her that even though I am of Chinese heritage, I can't understand a word of Chinese. After an awkward silence, she told me she was actually speaking English. FML

I agree, your life sucks 43 576

You deserved it 16 642

By Anonymous - 19/03/2009 05:17 - United States

Today, I got a phone call, and the person on the other line started speaking French. I assumed it was my friend since we usually speak French with each other, so I said in French "What do you want, asshole?". It wasn't my friend. It was a representative for the exchange program I'm applying for. FML

I agree, your life sucks 18 016

You deserved it 97 466

What word was it?

By BigBall - 09/09/2023 20:00 - United States - Los Angeles

Today, a tourist from an English-as-second-language country taught me a new word. In English. FML

I agree, your life sucks 142

You deserved it 684

By NoJob - 24/09/2016 06:41 - United Kingdom - Middlesbrough

Today, I had my first interview. Everything was going well until I made him repeat his name numerous times, as I couldn't understand what he was saying due to his thick accent. FML

I agree, your life sucks 11 027

You deserved it 1 256

By language barriers - 12/02/2009 07:07 - United States

Today, I was at the airport trying to help a man get to the right terminal. When he finished he turned to tell me "Don't worry, your English is pretty good, considering you're not American". English is my only language. FML

I agree, your life sucks 34 226

You deserved it 5 209

brodizzle 0

Saturday 21 February 2009 13:21

Haha, in Canada for a school trip I spent a good 15 minutes getting up the nerve to order something in a mall in french, and when I did, I got a "Would you like ketchup with that?" in English.

Malik_fml 0

Sunday 15 February 2009 17:28

Oh man, this is one of the best FMLs I've read in a week. Hilarious.

Comments

Malik_fml 0

Sunday 15 February 2009 17:28

Oh man, this is one of the best FMLs I've read in a week. Hilarious.

AliceSaysFYL 0

Sunday 4 July 2010 12:34

How is this an FML?

Imdead 0

Sunday 15 February 2009 22:23

That's awkward! haha.

ZING_MASTER 0

Monday 16 February 2009 0:31

RACIST.

meemz 0

Monday 16 February 2009 2:15

ahahaha. great. something to be afraid of in the future x.x''

brodizzle 0

Saturday 21 February 2009 13:21

Haha, in Canada for a school trip I spent a good 15 minutes getting up the nerve to order something in a mall in french, and when I did, I got a "Would you like ketchup with that?" in English.

nicesprites 4

Saturday 12 February 2011 9:40

you're an idiot. most people can't speak French in Canada.

ThatGenericGuy 6

Friday 5 August 2011 2:00

You, sir, must live under a rock.

EvilLilCupcake 10

Saturday 10 September 2011 8:28

Your an idiot ALOT of canadiens speak French! Dumbass

VeganVampyre 26

Saturday 22 October 2011 5:14

Actually, 20, most of us can speak at least some basic French because French classes are mandatory in school from at least grade 3 to grade 10, if not longer.

brend5033 4

Tuesday 1 November 2011 4:12

The majority of people in Canada speak English, even if they are fluent in French. However most people know a basis of both languages so there really is no need to worry about something as simple as ordering.

slipmaster 6

Saturday 14 April 2012 4:31

grades4-9 in ontario!

Kng21 0

Friday 14 September 2012 22:37

Umm.....Canadiens speak English

ChakatBlackstar 29

Friday 18 October 2013 18:10

#20 Most Canadians know some french, especially in Quebec if I'm not mistaken.

Dynosaur_dollie 38

Friday 13 February 2015 17:59

#24 they are not mandatory in Alberta. I can't speak a single word of French and don't actually know anyone who can. I had the option to take French in grade 8 though.