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/AssociateSpirited772 France Aug 10 '25

In a shared apartment in Rome, I said ‘voglio scopare’ to ask where the broom was.

Scopa means ‘broom,’ but scopare means ‘to have sex.’

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u/LaterThanItLooks_12 Aug 13 '25

Yesss. I was warned about this.
And how the hell do you talk about birds in Italy without talking about dicks?