Will and Guy’s Collection of Cool Foreign Words
The English are notoriously bad at learning foreign languages, this is what they do instead – create funny phrases.
Ten Cool Foreign Words – And Their New Meanings
These funnies were spotted in magazine competition; competitors were asked to change one letter in a foreign phrases and then redefine the sentence.
- Harley-Vous Francais? – Can you drive a French motorcycle?
- Haste Cuisine – French fast food.
- Posh Mortem – Aristocratic deaths.
- Felix Navidad – My cat has a boat.
- Merci rien- Thanks for nothing.
- Quip pro quo – A very fast reply.
- Veni, Vidi, Vice – I came, I saw, I was naughty.
- Ich liebe rich – I’d love to have lots of money.
- Amicus Puriae – A platonic friend.
- Respondez s’il vous plaid – Only come to the party in a kilt.
What The Cool Foreign Words Were Meant to Say
- Parlez-vous Francais – Do you speak French? (Harley as in Harley-Davidson motorbike.)
- Haute Cuisine – Translates from the French literally as “high cooking” it refers to quality cooking in good restaurants
- Post Mortem – Latin for autopsy – to examine a body after death
- Feliz Navidad – Happy Christmas to Spanish speakers worldwide
- Merci bien – Thank you in French – “rien” the French for nothing
- Quid pro quo – From the Latin “something for something” – an equal exchange of goods or services
- Vene, Vedi, Vici – I came, I saw, I conquered – words attributed to Julius Caesar.
- Ich liebe dich – I love you in German
- Amicus curiae is a legal Latin phrase, literally translated as “friend of the court”.
- RSVP – Please reply (Answer in French!)
Neologism Competition – Funny Meaning to Ordinary Words
Every year the Washington Post asks its readers to dream up alternative, yet cool meanings for ordinary words. Here are examples:
- Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk
- Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
- Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
- Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
- Caterpallor (n.): The colour you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you’re eating.
Clever Yet Cool Phrases
- Poultry in motion: A chicken crossing the road
- Acupuncture: A jab well done.
- If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
- When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she’d dye.
- Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead the dough basis.
Proofreading
: Please send us your cool foreign words
