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International product names – unintended extra information...
The search for product names that work across international markets is a particularly delicate matter…
Chrysler Nova
In Spanish this sounds like ‘no va’ = ‘doesn’t work’. Chrysler had all sorts of unforeseen difficulties trying to win over the Mexican market!
Ford Caliente
Back to Mexico where ‘caliente’ is slang for ‘whore’.
Fiat Uno
The Finns could only shake their heads at drivers of this model. In their language, ‘uno’ means ‘idiot’.
Pain Surprise
This special French bread had English-speaking customers looking very worried.
Roto is the name of a photocopier from Olympia. In Spanish it means ‘broken’.
In China, „Come alive with Pepsi“ – der Slogan von Pepsi Cola - the Pepsi Cola slogan – somehow mutated into the equivalent of ‘Pepsi brings back your dead relatives’.
Advertising slogan for an Elektrolux-vacuum cleaner in the USA:
Nothing sucks like an Electrolux. |
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Incidentally, Arabic texts are read from right to left, which impacts on the layout. Take the example of an advertisement for washing detergent. From right to left it looks as if you start off with the detergent and clean washing, which then leaves the machine looking dirty and soiled! |
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Outside a Hong Kong dress shop:
Ladies have fits upstairs. |
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From a Russian weekly:
There will be an Exhibition of Arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and sculptors. They were executed over the past two years. |
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In a Vienna hotel:
In case of fire do your best to alarm the hotel porter. |
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In an advertisement for a Hong Kong dentist:
Teeth extracted by the latest Methodist. |
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In the window of a Swedish furrier:
Fur coats made for ladies from their own skin. |
From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage, then tootle him with vigor. |
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In an Acapulco hotel:
The manager has personally passed all the water served here. |
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In the office of a Rome doctor:
Specialist in women and other diseases. |
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Detour sign in Japan:
Stop: Drive sideways. |
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At a Budapest zoo.
Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty. |
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From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotel air conditioner:
Cooles and Heates: If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control yourself. |
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In a Copenhagen airline ticket office:
We take your bags and send them in all directions. |
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In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar. |
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In a Bangkok dry cleaner:
Drop your trousers here. |
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In an Asian hotel elevator:
We are sorry, but for the moment you are unbearable. |
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Sign in a hotel:
Please leave your values at the front desk. |
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In a Japanese hotel:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid. |
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In a Zurich hotel:
Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose. |
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Slogan on the back of a jacket:
Vigorous throw up. Go on a journey. |
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Slogan on a sports bag:
A drop of sweat is the precious gift for your guts. |
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Sign in a shop:
Opening hours: tomorrow 9 - 12, afternoon 14 - 18. |
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On the menu of a Polish restaurant:
Salad a firm’s own make; limpid red beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country people’s fashion. |
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In a Belgrade hotel elevator:
To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order. |
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In a Russian Orthodox monastery:
You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried daily except Thursday. |
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