Embarrassing, Awkward, Language Work Lost in translation

Lost in translation

ohhhman - 10/04/2009 00:13 - United States

Today, one of the Haitians that works in the kitchen at my restaurant said something to me. Usually I can't understand them and I just smile and laugh, so that's what I did this time. Later, I found out he was trying to tell me his father had passed away. FML

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The rhythm of the fight
Discover all the best anecdotes from the month of January, with or without snow, with or without you. …

derbyboy - 19/10/2011 05:38 - United Kingdom

Today, at work, I misheard a customer telling me a story. To be polite, I did a slight laugh and nodded my head. She actually told me her mum had died. FML

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Good

fistpumpin4life - 10/10/2010 00:51 - France

Today, at work, I asked a lady how she was doing. When she replied, I didn't understand her, and instead of asking her what she'd said, I just replied with, "Oh, that's good." What she'd said that I didn't understand was that her husband had just died. FML

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Anonymous - 17/02/2010 16:32 - Canada

Today, while serving a rather large party at the restaurant where I work, I mentioned that the soup of the day was "to die for". After the hosts gave me weird looks, it dawned on me that the reason they were wearing all black is because they've just come back from a funeral. FML

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... - 12/03/2009 18:57 - France

Today, the really hot guy that works in the same building as me came to work after being away for the past two days. I said, "Look who finally decided to come to work!" His response was, "I had a death in the family, thanks." FML

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Jim - 11/01/2012 01:32 - Belgium

Today, I told a co-worker to "lighten up, and stop wearing black all the time, it makes you look depressed." I didn't know his father had died the week before. FML

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perfectlybrokenx - 24/08/2010 04:21 - Canada

Today, while I was on a date, I noticed my ex-boyfriend in the restaurant, and he looked sad. So I walked over to see him and jokingly said, "You look like your mom died or something!" She had. FML

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Interpreter blues

Aleksandar - 25/11/2020 05:01

Today, at the hospital, I had to tell someone he was going to die because I was the only one to speak his language. FML

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KMKWEEN - 16/02/2009 14:37 - United States

Today, I was at work. I work at a grocery store and a woman pulls a cart to me filled with chips, breads, lunch meats, and sodas. I said to her "Looks like you are going to have a fun party" she then looks at me and says "My mother just died, this is for after the funeral. FML

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Brain freeze

Anonymous - 13/06/2024 07:00 - United States

Today, I work at a hospice center. At 3AM, a call just went out to a man's family to come because he was dying. I didn't realize that this man was my old friend's grandpa. When I saw her, I smiled really big and said, "Hey! Great to see you!" Her grandpa was ACTIVELY DYING. Stupid stupid stupid. FML

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Assumptions part 27674

dads can’t cook? - 17/03/2021 21:30

Today, I was messaging a new friend when she mentioned her dad was cooking dinner that night. I jokingly texted, “Oh no! I’m sorry!” Turns out her dad is a professional chef. FML

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AMelodyofJuly 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:48

Bummer. Maybe you should try to understand them better or just be honest and say, "I'm sorry but I just can't understand you; I'm so bad with accents."

mf_fml 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:55

i don't care how many times i gotta look stupid repeatedly going "pardon? pardon?" i still gotta know EXACTLY what someone is trying to tell me.

AMelodyofJuly 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:48

Bummer. Maybe you should try to understand them better or just be honest and say, "I'm sorry but I just can't understand you; I'm so bad with accents."

Secret_Fire_King 0

Saturday 16 January 2010 10:39

We've all been there.. But, really.. Can you tell a sad face from a happy face?.. I'll give you a hint: :( = SAD :) = HAPPY Got it? XD ( XD = SUPER-HAPPY)

azhein 0

Sunday 15 August 2010 16:47

I hate when I'm talking to someone and they don't hear me so instead of asking m what I said again they smile and say yeah

potentpotable 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:51

This is soo bad, but I LOLed. You still get a YDI, though.

esseestpercipi 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:51

Ignorant.

Seegtease 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:54

martinmolls 2

Monday 9 July 2012 15:13

thumbs the **** up.

fatcow282 8

Sunday 12 May 2013 21:44

That last part was a little much but i agree with what he said

emilycardona7 18

Tuesday 18 February 2014 15:20

He can't just "learn to speak clearly", that's the way he talks.

teentee401 36

Sunday 24 January 2016 19:41

It's not like he was mumbling...he has an accent.

mf_fml 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:55

i don't care how many times i gotta look stupid repeatedly going "pardon? pardon?" i still gotta know EXACTLY what someone is trying to tell me.

sazarra 14

Wednesday 20 July 2016 8:47

Not exactly practical in a busy kitchen or restaurant environment. But the op definitely should've cared to at least get the general gist of things.

uneekfreak16 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:57

Maybe you should try talking and listening to them instead of smiling and laughing,,, maybe then they will be able to learn to speak English better.

C_Wicked27 0

Friday 10 April 2009 10:05

That brings a whole new meaning to the term 'white devil' lol. But seriously though, I don't see how this could get a YDI, that could happen to anybody who misunderstands a person with a thick accent. Stuff like that happens every day, it's just usually not such an extreme case.

RandomCookie26 0

Friday 10 April 2009 10:05

I agree with number six, try to actually talk to them and they will learn how to speak english better because they are technically learning every word you say.