Have you ever found yourself so fed up with politics and everything about it that you find yourself unable to express yourself? If so, you may wish to borrow a word from […]
Are You Suffering from Politikerleden?
When the French Have a Problem, it’s REALLY a Problem
When Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell said the famous line, “Houston, we have a problem,” the words triggered alarm throughout NASA and around the world. If Apollo 13 had been manned by […]
Don’t Judge a Product by its Name
In marketing, deciding product’s name is the first big step to letting the world know why it needs that particular item. Unfortunately, the language barrier sometimes presents its own obstacles and sends […]
A Word for the Next Time You Drive
Have you ever been at a loss for words because of the bad driving skills of another motorist? The Germans have come to the rescue with deppenfahrerbeaugung. It literally translates as “moron […]
Back When Tigers Used to Smoke
English fairy tales traditionally start with the words “Once upon a time,” but Korean stories start with, “Back when tigers used to smoke.” source
Meet the Moon Diamond Cat
The Siamese cat originated in Siam — modern day Thailand. In the Thai language, that most-easily recognizable breed is known by another name: Wichien Maat. It translates as “Moon Diamond.”
Did One Wrong Word Cause the Hiroshima Bombing?
Readers of Commonplace will not be surprised to learn that one little mistranslation from one language to another can be embarrassing. Whether it is one misplaced letter when cheering General Douglas MacArthur, an incompetent […]
Don’t be a Flipperförälder
We’ve all seen them. They tend to show up at supermarkets, airports, and movie theaters, and they make life miserable for everyone else. I’m speaking, of course, of the parents who do […]
Rhymes With Orange
It is commonly said that no word in the English language rhymes with orange. This amuses the people in Wales who live near the hill named Blorenge.
Learn This Word Before Your Next Visit to a Pet Store
Have you ever been at a loss to describe your feelings when you see an utterly adorable kitten or a supremely-cuddly puppy? If you lived in the Philippines, you wouldn’t struggle. In […]
Do You Confess to Being a Macroverbumsciolist?
If you were accused of being a macroverbumsciolist, how would you plead? If you answered without knowing what the word means, you probably should have pleaded guilty. A macroverbumsciolist is a person […]
The Dragon that Almost Ended the Lord of the Rings
English is a language of exceptions, with few concrete rules. When it comes to adjectives, however, there is a very specific hierarchy most English speakers know, instinctively, must be followed to avoid utter confusion. […]
English is Hard, But Can Be Understood Through Tough Thorough Thought Though
Although English is not the hardest language to master (see this post for ten languages that are even harder), it frequently presents problems, even for its native speakers. Consider the problem with […]
If You Know Your Latin at Vatican ATM’s, Dominus Providebit
The Vatican Bank (officially known as the Institute for the Works of Religion) is the only bank in the world that allows the user to select “Latin” as the language of choice. […]
Fartkontrol: Don’t Speed By This Warning
The next time you are in Denmark and see a traffic sign that says, “Fartkontrol”, don’t be so quick to hold your nose and snicker. It actually is warning you that the […]
