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Glite Dictionary
Engrish translation

Engrish translation

9.1
A wrong or funny use of English on signs and labels
  • noun
  • /ˈɛŋɡrɪʃ trænsˈleɪʃən/
  • Slur
translation icon : [ofensivo] Engrish
  • The hotel's welcome brochure contained an amusing Engrish translation of its services.

Examples

  • This menu features some amusing Engrish translation errors.

  • We spent the evening laughing at the Engrish translation on the instruction manual.

  • She collected photos of signs with Engrish translations from her trip to Japan.

  • I love to see funny Engrish translations in advertisements.

  • During her vacation, she took pictures of signs with Engrish translations that made her laugh.

  • The Engrish translation in the travel guide added a humorous touch to the otherwise serious content.

  • We enjoyed reading the Engrish translations on the packaging, which were full of funny mistakes.

Synonyms

mistranslation
vsEngrish translation
3 5.1

A wrong version of words from one language into another

is a humorous or culturally specific incorrect English rather than a pure accuracy error
translateresque phrase
vsEngrish translation
  • Jargon
9.9

A phrase that sounds like a bad translation and feels unnatural

is a humorous or incorrect use of English rather than simply awkward wording

How Natural

translation
34 3.5
Engrish translation
  • Slur
9.1

Surface Forms

Engrish translation singular
Engrish translations plural

Morphology

Engrish + translation

The phrase is directly compositional: 'Engrish' (slang for incorrect or comically broken English) combined with 'translation' yields the meaning 'a translation into English that is incorrect or amusing.' Although 'Engrish' is slang and culturally specific, the overall sense follows transparently from the two constituents, so a learner who knows both words can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Engrish translation may come from the way some people say English, when they mix up the 'l' and 'r' sounds and it comes out like 'Engrish'. So the name stuck and now it means 'funny or incorrect English in translations'.