Maybe you’ve heard the story, (or more accurately the myth), of what happened when Chevy tried to sell the Nova in Spanish-speaking countries. The story goes that since “Nova” is very close to the Spanish phrase “No va,” or “Doesn’t go,” nobody bought the car.
In reality, the Nova sold just fine in Spanish-speaking countries. But the underlying point itself is valid, because it turns out there are dozens of products whose names just don’t translate very well in other languages. Here are 15 foods from other countries whose names sound very unfortunate in English.
Bon appetit!
1. I’ll pass.
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2. That’s an interesting flavor choice.
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3. What a lovely mental image.
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4. The only coffee guaranteed to make you sad and unmotivated.
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5. Mmmm, tastes like 2003.
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6. Well, they ARE mammals…
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7. Pardon me?
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8. This one’s “Classic” style, for all the cannibals who respect tradition.
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9. You should definitely see a doctor when it’s this color.
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10. I am twelve years old.
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11. Probably accurate.
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12. C’mon, give it a try! It’s only puke!
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13. Attention: the International Foods aisle is now ages 18+
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14. But I don’t even know her!
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15. And finally, MasterFoods is an Australian company, so there’s no excuse for this one.
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Now I’m wondering if there are any English-language foods that mean something totally different in another language. Tell us in the comments!
h/t: Buzzfeed