#language mistakes

[yellow-lemon-lime]

I went to the store yesterday, to buy some vinegar to make mayonnaise.

I asked the nearest worker "Anteeks, oletko etikka?"

She showed me where it was. I paid for my groceries. I went out of the store. I realized what I had just said

[splitter-pine]

Typical Mistakes When Speaking Norwegian

Part 1/?

Note: A lot of native Norwegians also make these mistakes unfortunately!

Da / Når

These words both mean when, but they are used in different situations. Da is used when you are talking about something that has happened in the past. For instance: “Da jeg var liten likte jeg å leke med dukker.” (”When I was little/young I liked to play with dolls”). Når is used when talking about something that happens regularly and/or will happen in the future. For instance: “Når jeg går til skolen velger jeg alltid snarveien.” (”When I walk to school I always choose the shortcut.”) or “Når vi drar på stranda skal jeg bruke den nye badedrakten min” (”When we go to the beach I’ll use my new bathing suit”). 

The golden rule is:

Den gang da, hver gang når.

[how-to-portuguese]

I bent the frame of my glasses (while in Portugal), and so I went to an optometrist and tried to explain the problem and said “isso dói a minha ovelha” and now I want to die

[manousyren]

My most embarrassing memory is when I was in Spain with our year, and we (my roommates and I) were discussing our hobbies with our host. 

I was excited to tell her I played the clarinet, and in an orchestra too! Only for her to be very weirded out. 

One of the other girls knew what was going on, fortunately. You see, in Spanish, the word for Orchestra is very close to the word orgy. So, I basically said; “I play in an orgy!” all happy and innocent. 

I will never say ‘Orchestra’ again.

[cloip]

my girlfriend is also a nonnative German speaker (she’s in Germany while I wait for my visa approval, so we’re in a long-distance relationship right now), and someone asked about her Fernbeziehung (long-distance relationship).

she thought he was talking about friends who watch TV (Fernseher) together (Beziehung), and replied: “oh, which one?”

[soyioblog]

Sometimes, I’ll practice speaking in Spanish with my customers.

Customer: ¿Estás casada? (Are you married?)

Me, seven hours into an 8-hour shift: Si, estoy muy cansada. (Yes, I’m very tired.)

Listening is definitely a skill that I need to practice more.

[geekgirles]

Please, attention, my dear Spanish/Portuguese/Italian-speakers.

This might be the silliest thing ever but it really makes me wonder about English-speakers' educational system:

Are you tired of seeing, or have you ever seen an English-speaker assume Italian is Spanish or Portuguese, or Spanish is Portuguese or Italian and such?

Because I have and I'm a bit tired of it, honestly.

[lady-beaumont]

I just looked up Marcus' last name, because I wanted to mention him in a post and I realised how much it annoys me. He should not be named Marcus von Groot if he's Dutch. Marcus already isn't a very Dutch name, but I also wouldn't be surprised if a Dutch person was called Marcus. I've never met or heard of anyone with Groot as their last name, but at least that's a Dutch word (it means big). But Dutch uses van, not von! His name should be Marcus van Groot!!