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Category Archives: Mistranslations

Symbol for an average

There isn’t one in English. However, German and Dutch speakers sometimes misuse the technical one for “diameter” because the word is the same.

Posted byMike WilkinsonJanuary 25, 2022Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, MistranslationsTags:doorsnee, dunglish, engelsLeave a comment on Symbol for an average

Water monsters

No, we’re not talking Nessie or ichthyosaurs: a water monster in Dutch also has a second, more common and prosaic meaning: a water sample.

Posted byMike WilkinsonJanuary 14, 2022January 14, 2022Posted inAdvanced, Elementary, Mistranslations, Valse vriendenTags:dunglish, engels, monster2 Comments on Water monsters

Security and safety

Dutch authors can be a bit woolly about security (protection against threats) and safety (eliminating risks and hazards), or blur the lines between them.

Posted byMike WilkinsonJanuary 11, 2022Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, MistranslationsTags:dunglish, engels, veiligheidLeave a comment on Security and safety

Insulation and isolation

Both are ‘isolatie’ in Dutch, so it can cause confusion. Especially as there are cases where both get used in English (e.g. electrics).

Posted byMike WilkinsonJanuary 7, 2022Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, MistranslationsTags:dunglish, engels, isolatie2 Comments on Insulation and isolation

Scooters and mopeds

A scooter is usually more of a child’s unpowered toy, whereas a moped has a small internal combustion engine.

Posted byMike WilkinsonNovember 18, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Fake English, MistranslationsTags:dunglish, engels, scooterLeave a comment on Scooters and mopeds

Nicknames

A nickname isn’t a preferred short, alternative or familiar form of the actual name on youur passport. It may be mean and unkind, unrelated to the actual name, or even offensive.

Posted byMike WilkinsonNovember 1, 2021November 11, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Fake English, MistranslationsTags:dunglish, engels, roepnaam1 Comment on Nicknames

As you ought to realise

Realising mostly means comprehending rather than creating something: getting the picture, not painting it.

Posted byMike WilkinsonOctober 3, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, Overused wordsTags:dunglish, engels, realiseren, zich realiserenLeave a comment on As you ought to realise

Biological or organic?

Environmentally-aware agriculture is organic in English, not biological.

Posted byMike WilkinsonSeptember 26, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, MistranslationsTags:biologisch, dunglish, engelsLeave a comment on Biological or organic?

Expertise

Only use this to mean someone’s acquired skill and knowledge in English, not as a term for a valuation or checkup or other professional opinion.

Posted byMike WilkinsonSeptember 11, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Dual meanings, Mistranslations, StyleTags:contra-expertise, dunglish, engels, expertiseLeave a comment on Expertise

Paying attention

An ‘attentie’ in Dutch is a small gift, just a little something to show appreciation. The English word ‘attention’ doesn’t have that meaning.

Posted byMike WilkinsonJune 10, 2021Posted inAdvanced, Mistranslations, Valse vriendenTags:aandacht, attentie, dunglish, engelsLeave a comment on Paying attention

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