From the article: Embarrassing Moments
When we begin speaking a foreign language with native speakers, it's inevitable that we will make mistakes. After all, making mistakes is a vital part of learning a language. But sometimes those mistakes can be embarrassing. Here is the place where you can share your misery — and look forward to better times. Share Your Story
Dog days
- One night I came home around 10 p.m. My wife, from Peru, a little frustrated told me to saca el perro al baño. I thought she meant to give the dog a bath. I thought to myself, hmm, that is a strange request. But tired and not wanting to argue, I began to run water in the bathtub at 10 p.m. at night to give the dog a bath. I already had the dog in the bathtub when my wife heard the water running, came into the bathroom, and with a look of total disbelief said in Spanish, "What in the world are you doing?" I told her I was doing as she asked, to give the dog a bath. And in her best broken English said, No, I wanted you to take the dog outside to go to the bathroom!!!! I will never forget it. Doug
- —Grandmother1
Un Rato
- I was in Mexican restaurant in south Texas, seated near the kitchen when I heard a loud "un rato!" I saw the waitress look toward the kitchen assumed someone had seen a rat. I was getting up to leave when the waitress noticed me and quickly explained "un rato" in spanish means "in a while."
- —kevinoneall
Not the Same As Soup
- While on military assignment to Dominican Republic I was explaining to a few elderly well-to-do ladies that I had "sancocha" (a local vegetable soup) for lunch. Unfortunately I stumbled into dangerous territory by mispronouncing "sancocha"... . After a shocked and pregnant moment one of the ladies smiled and asked me sweetly, to the amusement of the others, "¿con pelo o sin pelo? señor."
- —Guest Bill
Remember the Tilde!
- This one wasn't me but I overheard it. It also is not "dinner time conversation" if you know what I mean ... fair warning! When someone was trying to ask how many years someone lived in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, he used "anos" instead of "años."
- —Guest Kevin
Rabbit Flavor, Please
- I was in Seville, Spain, passing by an ice cream shop. It looked tasty, so I thought I'd grab a cone to go. I couldn't think of the word for cone, though. I grabbed at a word in my memory, and ordered "un conejo, por favor." Didn't realize my mistake 'til I looked it up later.
- —Guest Smac
