Euro-English: The New Dialect of Brussels
English is the undisputed lingua franca of the European Union, but without the UK to police the grammar, it is evolving into a unique dialect known as Euro-English. From "discussing…
Tag: false friends
The βΖβ Factor: How Azerbaijani Differs from Turkish
While Turkish and Azerbaijani are mutually intelligible linguistic cousins, they are far from identical. This deep dive explores the defining features of Azerbaijaniβfrom the ubiquitous "schwa" (Ι) sound to the…
Billion vs. Milliard: The Long Scale Confusion
When is a billion not a billion? This article explores the linguistic tug-of-war between the "Short Scale" (used in the US and UK) and the "Long Scale" (used in Continental…
Why “Mama” Means Father: The Georgian Baby Talk Reversal
In almost every language on Earth, the sound /m/ is universally associated with "mother" due to the biological mechanics of nursing. However, the Georgian language defies this rule completely, where…
Can Slavic Speakers Understand Each Other?
Can a Pole successfully order a beer in Slovakia? We explore the fascinating world of Slavic mutual intelligibility, testing the limits of understanding between languages like Ukrainian, Serbian, Czech, and…
20 German Verbs That Look Like English, But Aren’t
Be careful! Many German verbs look just like English ones but have wildly different meanings, leading to hilarious and embarrassing mistakes. This guide to 20 common 'false friends' will save…
Lost in Translation in Galicia
Ever tried to say you're 'close' in Galicia and ended up implying you're 'tight'? This post explores the hilarious and heartwarming linguistic tripwires between Galician, Spanish, and Portuguese. Discover how…
Canali on Mars: The 19th-Century Mistranslation That Invented a World
This post explores how Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli's 1877 description of "canali" (channels) on Mars was translated into English as "canals," implying intelligent design. This seemingly minor linguistic slip, amplified…
Navigating False Friends in Spanish for English Speakers
As a native English speaker, you may often find yourself at ease with a number of Spanish words due to their striking resemblance to their...