History Main / YouAreTheTranslatedForeignWord

* Pops up a few times in ''Franchise/MassEffect''. Ardat-Yakshi, or 'demon of the night winds', is a term for [[spoiler: asari with a rare genetic defect that makes them kill their partners during sex]]. Also, Thane affectionately calls female Shepard "siha" past a certain point in their interaction. He only reveals it's meaning if he is romanced: it means [[spoiler:one of the warrior-angels of the drell goddess Arashu]].

* This is becoming increasingly averted in translated anime/manga in general, with much of its audience preferring to learn the original Japanese term rather than a simple yet not-quite-accurate English counterpart. This is often done with a glossary or a single translation extract when the word is first shown. Can result in unfortunate [[WallOfText walls of text]] however when a fan translator insists on expressing ''every'' concept as accurately as possible and sometimes even when there is no reason at all not to translate the term. A parody has Light from ''Manga/DeathNote'' state: "All according to keikaku*! ''*keikaku means plan''".

*** Somewhat justified, as for the majority of the story, "Kyuubi" was treated as the fox's actual name.

* Parodied in the film ''DraculaDeadAndLovingIt'':

* ''AngelsAndDemons'': the main character, and others, constantly use Italian and Latin terms, then translates them for the benefit of the audience. [[AsYouKnow Every other character would already know what it means.]]
* Discussed (with perhaps a side of mild parody) in ''Mickey Blue Eyes'' when Michael and Gina banter about the name of her father's restaurant: The La Trattoria. [[spoiler:[[BrickJoke The film ends]] with a title reading THE THE END.]]
* In ''{{Film/Beowulf}}'', as Grendel's Mother approaches the eponymous hero, she says "Beowulf. Bee wolf. Bear." Considering that she's supposed to be speaking in Old English, she really just said "Beowulf" three times in a row.

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' does this very well. Characters will speak in English, with Italian words and phrases sprinkled in every once in a while. Instead of the characters translating it for you, the subtitles will give you the Italian words, the English translation will appear in parenthesis right next to it. If you have subtitles turned off, these words and phrases will not be translated (though they are never of vital importance).

* This is becoming increasingly averted in translated anime/manga in general, with much of its audience preferring to learn the original Japanese term rather than a simple yet not-quite-accurate English counterpart. This is often done with a glossary or a single translation extract when the word is first shown. Can result in unfortunate [[WallOfText walls of text]] however when a fan translator insists on expressing ''every'' concept as accurately as possible and sometimes even when there is no reason at all not to translate the term. A parody has Light from ''DeathNote'' state: "All according to keikaku*! ''*keikaku means plan''".

** Paarthurnax does this '''a lot''', throwing dragon words into a conversation you can otherwise understand.

* SamuraiJack has the "The Evil, Aku" as his enemy. Aku literally means "Evil".

See also the [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Department of]] [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Redundancy Department]].

* In the ''StargateSG1'' episode "The Nox", [[BigBad Apophis]] has Teal'c at BoomStick point, having just killed the rest of SG-1. ([[DeathIsCheap They're resurrected later.]]) Teal'c stands defiant.

* Used in ''Finnikin of the Rock'' to make the most obvious ProphecyTwist in history. The entire prophecy is translated from the ancient tongue with the exception of a single word. Everyone assumes that in this context it means "King", even though they make it painfully clear it can also mean "Warrior". Guess which one the prophet meant.

* TamoraPierce does this sometimes with her made-up words. "Lady Sandry is ''saati'' -- a true friend." "She thinks you're a ''yerui'' -- a hungry ghost-devil." Et cetera.

This is because, while a word may be translated simply, in this case as "sandwich", it doesn't necessarily mean "sandwich" in the way you are used to. Continuing the example, in Spain, while "bocadillo" does mean "sandwich", it's referring to a sandwich more similar to, but not necessarily the exact same thing as, what an American would call a "sub", "hoagie", "grinder", "hero", or whatever your local variation of the word is. In the end, 'bocadillo' can easily mean "snack", and apply in a wide variety of contexts, except there are some areas where "snack" is used to represent something more specific or entirely different from " a small portion of food eaten between meals" and there are some areas where "bocadillo" is also used to represent something completely different from even FOOD, such as a thin canvas or a simplified version of certain phrases made by an actor or a speech bubble in comics, or even where it is used to mean food, but more like a sweet than anything with bread or meat in it. [[note]]Other words for 'sandwich' are emparedado, which is a balm cake (sort of like a soft burger bun) style sandwich and sándwich, or just sandwich, your typical sliced-loaf option.[[/note]]

This is because, while a word may be translated simply, in this case as "sandwich", it doesn't necessarily mean "sandwich" in the way you are used to. Continuing the example, in Spain, while "bocadillo" does mean "sandwich", it's referring to a sandwich more similar to, but not necessarily the exact same thing as, what an American would call a "sub", "hoagie", "grinder", "hero", or whatever your local variation of the word is. In the end, 'bocadillo' can easily mean "snack", and apply in a wide variety of contexts, except there are some areas where "snack" is used to represent something more specific or entirely different from " a small portion of food eaten between meals" and there are some areas where "bocadillo" is also used to represent something completely different from even FOOD, such as a thin canvas or a simplified version of certain phrases made by an actor or a speech bubble in comics, or even where it is used to mean food, but more like a sweet than anything with bread or meat in it.

* ''NoroiTheCurse''. Noroi is Japanese for... curse.

** "Ravioli" is a Tuscan dialect word for "little turnips," so saying "raviolis" is akin to saying "little turnipses," which is only acceptable if you're [[LordOfTheRings Smeagol.]]

* ''KushielsLegacy'': Phedre is ''lypiphera'', the pain-bearer, among other things. The first trilogy ''really'' likes to play language games.

* In the ''StargateSG1'' episode "The Nox", Apophis has Teal'c at gunpoint, having just killed the rest of SG-1. ([[DeathIsCheap They're resurrected later.]]) Teal'c stands defiant.

* The Sahara Desert is essentially, "The The Great Desert Desert," since "sahara" is Arabic for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahara_Desert "the great desert."]]

** Paarthurnax does this '''a lot:''' throwing dragon words into a conversation you can otherwise understand.

** Higurashi no Naku Koro ni got this treatment too, its manga being released under the name, "Higurashi: When They Cry" as homage to both the original title and the anime's more Americanized title, ''When They Cry'' (although this example is less redundant than most since 'higurashi' means 'cicada(s)').