We hosted an exchange student from Spain. His English was good if you spoke clearly and avoided slang expressions.

On a hike to a mountain swimming hole, I told my son to warn him about the poison ivy we knew grew in the area.

The exchange approached me looking worried and asked, "What is that plant that will make you crazy and kill you?"

I asked my son, "What did you tell him?"

My son replied "I said if he messed with those plants he would itch like crazy and wish he was dead!"

Close enough.

Classic from the movie Speed Zone




Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Os1QiglVQ

My ex's stepfather worked all over the world as a petroleum geologist. In Norway, after my MIL gave one of his local coworkers a lift someplace, the guy told him "I rode your wife. She is very nice."

A Romanian colleague asked me if I would "Bring it here the hammer."

In the Southwest it was pretty common to hear Spanglish. And the pronouncing of words with some creativity.

Calling a chain a "shain" was one. Saying Chevrolet using "Chev" instead of "Shev" the other that sticks out.

I gave a humorous speech at our Toastmasters club using all the silly words we Texans use. The words and phrases were like "fixin to"' "yont to", "aight" and such. One club member asked me to repeat the talk for a club made up of women from all over the world whose husbands were involved in the petroleum industry.
With a couple of dozen words and phrases printed on cards, I explained that by using our favorite truncated words we were saving time and doing our part to reduce global warming.
Everyone seemed to enjoy and understand my silly little presentation except one little lady who was taking notes while I spoke. When I was finished, she came up to me and with a heavy accent said, "I am from Russia and I have two teenage daughters. I am so glad you speaks with us today. Now, I know what my daughters are saying."

quote:

Originally posted by shovelhead:

Calling a chain a "shain" was one. Saying Chevrolet using "Chev" instead of "Shev" the other that sticks out.

Jeys.

quote:

Originally posted by oilpatch29:
A Romanian colleague asked me if I would "Bring it here the hammer."

Reminds me of some of the Quebecois to English translation funnies we get to hear in northern New England. My favorite is "Throw me down the staircase my shoes".

Skidoos are made by Bombardier in Quebec. A sticker with this wording was next to the shift lever on several of our sleds at work, "Stop completely the vehicle before using reverse gear".