Cool Foreign Words

Will and Guy's Collection of Cool Foreign Words

The English are notoriously bad at learning foreign languages, this is what they do instead - create funny phrases.

• Ten Cool Foreign Words
• What The Cool Foreign Words Were Meant to Say
• Cool Meaning for Ordinary Words
• Clever Yet Cool Phrases

Ten Cool Foreign Words - And Their New Meanings

These funnies were spotted in magazine competition; competitors were asked to change one letter in a foreign phrases and then redefine the sentence.

1. Harley-Vous Francais? - Can you drive a French motorcycle?
2. Haste Cuisine - French fast food.
3. Posh Mortem - Aristocratic deaths .
4. Felix Navidad - My cat has a boat.
5. Merci rien- Thanks for nothing.
6. Quip pro quo - A very fast reply.
7. Veni, Vidi, Vice - I came, I saw, I was naughty.
8. Ich liebe rich - I'd love to have lots of money.
9. Amicus Puriae - A platonic friend.
10. Respondez s'il vous plaid - Only come to the party in a kilt.

What The Cool Foreign Words Were Meant to Say

1. Parlez-vous Francais - Do you speak French?  (Harley as in Harley-Davidson motorbike.)
2. Haute Cuisine - Translates from the French literally as "high cooking" it refers to quality cooking in good restaurants
3. Post Mortem - Latin for autopsy - to examine a body after death
4. Feliz Navidad - Happy Christmas to Spanish speakers worldwide
5. Merci bien - Thank you in French - "rien" the French for nothing
6. Quid pro quo - From the Latin "something for something" - an equal exchange of goods or services
7. Vene, Vedi, Vici - I came, I saw, I conquered - words attributed to Julius Caesar.
8. Ich liebe dich - I love you in German
9. Amicus curiae is a legal Latin phrase, literally translated as "friend of the court".
10. RSVP - Please reply  (Answer in French!)

Neologism Competition - Funny Meaning to Ordinary Words

Every year the Washington Post asks its readers to dream up alternative, yet cool meanings for ordinary words.  Here are examples:

• Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk
• Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
• Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
• Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
• Caterpallor (n.): The colour you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.
• See more funny examples of Neologism

Clever Yet Cool Phrases

• Poultry in motion: A chicken crossing the road
• Acupuncture: A jab well done.
• If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
• When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
• Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead the dough basis.
• See more clever wise words

Footnote:
Please send us your cool foreign words

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