Thanks for the bag...but I wanted a spoon
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
March 24, 2020 12:33pm CST
A woman I know bought a gift for a friend. Her friend had written that she wanted a "pastaske" The woman read it as "pas-taske" (= a passport bag) and she thought that her friend wanted a small bag for her passport. She bought a nice bag for her friend and gave it to her on her birthday.
When her friend opened the gift she looked surprised and didn't say anything at first. The woman thought that her friend didn't like the color or the design or something like that, but that wasn't the reason why she was surprised. She had asked for a "pasta-ske" (=a pasta spoon) 
Did you ever misunderstand a word in your local language?
Did you ever misunderstand a word in your local language?8 people like this
8 responses
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
24 Mar 20
There are words that mean completely different things, it all depends on the context. So, if is only the word, confusions can be made.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Mar 20
Yes, that can be confusing. Some Danish words are used in more than one way. For instance is someone says "blad" they might be talking about a leaf, but it also possible that they are talking about a magazine. The word is written and pronounced the same way so we have to look at the context. Do you have the same type of words in Romanian? (words that mean more than one thing)
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Mar 20
@rappeter13 That is interesting. We have the same thing. In English pear and light bulb are two different words, but in Danish we use the same word (paere) That could lead to some funny situations. A Dane who isn't good at English might ask for a pear for his lamp
1 person likes this
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
25 Mar 20
@Porcospino I am Hungarian, so I prefer to talk the Hungarian language. For example, the word "levél" can mean leaf or a mail you get. "Körte" can mean pear or light bulb. "Szív" can mean heart, but also the verb to suck.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Mar 20
I had forgotten that word, but I did learn it many years ago in my French lessons. I guess it would be better to write pas taske and pasta ske if we want to avoid that kind of misunderstandings
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
24 Mar 20
@Porcospino Well, I would prefer a watermelon to a passport bag
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Mar 20
@topffer Me too. A passport bag isn't very useful at the moment
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (94747)
• Marion, Ohio
24 Mar 20
With English it is very easy to do.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Mar 20
Yes, that is true. In Danish some words are used in more than one way. A word like "blad" means leaf and magazine and we have to look at the context when we see that word.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Mar 20
I laughed when she told me the story. It is the same word - but two very different things. I once misunderstood a Danish sentence. The words were: "Dyr doer". It means "animals die "or "an expensive door" I thought they were talking about animals, but it was an article about a door!
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Mar 20
Yes, sometimes words mean more than one thing, and it can be confusing if we only see the written word and don't know the context.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Mar 20
Yes I understand that the friend was surprised and confused when she received the bag. When they found out what had happened they both laughed.
I understand that the friend was surprised and confused when she received the bag. When they found out what had happened they both laughed.1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
25 Mar 20
Yes, and sometimes it leads to funny situations. I laughed when that woman told me the "pastaske" story.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Mar 20
Yes, they both found it funny, I also laughed when I heard it.
1 person likes this
