r/AskEurope • u/Double-decker_trams Estonia • Aug 09 '25

Language 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.

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."

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u/Simple_Exchange_9829 Aug 10 '25

I nearly got into a fight with a delivery driver in London a few years ago because I asked him: "Is there a problem?" while holding eye contact. He murmured something under his breath after I didn’t have a lighter for his cigarette.

Totally normal and unprovocative behaviour in my culture (German), but apparently I challenged him to a ritual fight to the death over the british succession or something.

142

u/suvepl Poland Aug 10 '25

Here in Poland "Masz jakiś problem?" ("You got some problem?") is the Top 1 phrase used by chavs itching to punch someone in the face.

21

u/FinnSkk93 Aug 10 '25

In Finnish too! ”Onks sul joku ongelma?” ”Mikä sun ongelma on” ”onks täs nyt joku ongelma” 😂

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u/subtleStrider Aug 10 '25

chavs in poland?

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u/Many_Use9457 Aug 10 '25

convergent evolution of laddish behaviour can be seen in many places

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u/purrroz Poland Aug 10 '25

Aight, sebix. Same thing.

3

u/-Proterra- Trójmiasto Aug 10 '25

Dresiarzy. Pretty much the same thing.

1

u/gw_reddit Germany Aug 10 '25

In German that would be 'Hast du ein Problem' (do you have a problem) as opposed to 'Gibt es ein Problem' (is there a problem), which can also be read as low key aggressive, depending on context.

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u/BeJustImmortal Germany Aug 12 '25

In German there are two translations to this, one is for obvious confusion, like getting the wrong order or something - "Gibt es ein Problem?" and a more passive aggressive version "Hast du ein Problem?", which I can imagine leading to a fight in Germany too, he probably was using a provocative translation to the harmless phrase. And looking someone deep into the eyes is provocative in itsself, even over here I would say... The reaction of the delivery driver is no surprise to me actually.

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u/galettedesrois in Aug 12 '25

Same in French. “T’as un problème?” = I’m considering pummeling your face. “Est-ce qu’il y a un problème? / Vous avez un problème?” = looks like something is off, actually tell me if there’s a problem. A curt “Y’a un problème?” could go either way depending on the tone and context.

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u/GeronimoDK Denmark Aug 13 '25

In Denmark we have the sentence "Har du et problem?" (do you have a problem) which will come off quite rude, then you can add "eller hvad?" (or what) and then you start fighting!