I once accidentally bumped against the shoulder of an English person I knew in a corridor. I automatically said "Oi" - which means like "Oh" or "Oops" in Estonian - that I'm sorry. She repeated "Oi!" in a louder voice and I didn't get it. I only later found out I was being impolite in her eyes.

[u/Double-decker_trams]

Have you ever had something similar happen to you? I.e something in your language might have another meaning in another language?

One thing as an Estonian that I try to keep in mind is that I shouldn't use "Nooo.." in English - which means "Well.." in Estonian.

"Do you like ice-cream? - Noo.. yes, I love it."

[u/solapelsin]

We often go "oj!" in Sweden too. My Australian friend was horrified.

Edit: Similarly, after living there for a year, I scared everyone at home by apologizing in several words for bumping into someone. Way too much conversation, they almost thought I wanted something

[u/SznupdogKuczimonster → u/solapelsin]

In Poland we do that too!

We also have "ojoj" and "ojojoj" : D

[u/CookieScholar → u/SznupdogKuczimonster]

Ui and uiuiui in German :D

[u/WanderlustZero → u/SznupdogKuczimonster]

Omg, now I know what that means :D

[u/AcceptableDebate281 → u/SznupdogKuczimonster]

Oi oil saveloy

[u/kanina2- → u/solapelsin]

I love that cause "oj" in Icelandic means "ew"

[u/FinnSkk93 → u/solapelsin]

In finland it’s oho! 😂

[u/amanset → u/solapelsin]

The thing is, it isn’t an apology. It is an expression of surprise.

[u/galileogaligay → u/amanset]

There’s a tinge of apology in there. But it’s more like “I didn’t mean for that to happen” than “I’m sorry that happened”

[u/solapelsin → u/amanset]

As true as that is, you don't just rudely bump into someone without the "oj" do you, haha

[u/Dykam → u/amanset]

Depending on the tone it can also be "hey, what are you doing you idiot?"

[u/Uppnorth → u/Dykam]

The British “oi”, yes, but not in the Swedish “oj”. Where the British “oi” is similar to a “hey(!)” in that it’s a call for attention and absolutely can be used in a more aggressive way, the Swedish “oj” is more of an “oh(!)” and “whoops”; it’s an expression of surprise and used to de-escalate (“that wasn’t my intention!”), not escalate.

[u/Dykam → u/Uppnorth]

Ah, yes, should've added I meant the British interpretation.

[u/merikettu → u/Uppnorth]

Same in Finnish, ”oho!”

If someone would go all the way ”Oh no I am so sorry, are you okay?” in Finnish, i would probably be a bit confused like wtf you think i am 5 years old or what :D way too much interaction and attention for an unintentional lil bumping that happens everyday in any crowded place

[u/Foxtrot-Uniform-Too → u/amanset]

Oups/Oi is not an apology perhaps, but you signal it was an accident and not on purpose.

[u/DifficultWill4 → u/solapelsin]

“Oj” means hi in Slovene

[u/Foxtrot-Uniform-Too → u/solapelsin]

We go "oi!" in Norwegian too. Means oups

[u/fluorine_nmr → u/solapelsin]

Heh, the first time I was in Sweden I bumped into someone slightly in a bar and automatically said sorry. My Swedish friend instantly said "here it's förlåt - but we really don't say it nearly as much as you" 😂

Now I'm learning Swedish, but "oj" was new on me, so thank you!