15 Foreign Slang Phrases That Don't Have The Same Meaning In The U.S

By Editorial Staff in Funny On 16th December 2014
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#1 What balls

In Italy, one of the most indispensable slang phrases is "Che palle" (literally translating to "what balls"), whose slang-meaning is "a pain in the ass" or "boring." Tt comes with a hand gesture (pictured below).

#2 Black history

From Korean internet culture, "black history" or "heukyeoksa" is a way of expressing those times you're ashamed of.

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#3 Canada

We're not entirely sure why, but it is apparently a very popular slang expression among Spanish-speaking countries, especially Chile, is to use "en Canadá" to say someone is "in jail."

#4 Apple juice

In Germany, you might hear people say "a saft," which is both a contraction for "apple juice," and a colloquialism for the booty sweat that builds up during a jog.

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#5 Horseradish

In Russia,"хрен" or "hren" is literally the way they refer to horseradishes. As Russian slang, however, it means penis.

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#6 Are you having a giraffe?

The UK loves its rhyming slang, and you've probably already guessed that "are you having a giraffe?" is just a British way of asking if you're "having a laugh."

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#7 To inject Chicken's blood

Forget getting "turnt up," in China "dǎjīxiě" or "to inject chicken's blood" means "getting really excited" or just pumped up.

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#8 It's the milk

Though the meaning of "ser la leche" or "to be the milk" varies regionally, I prefer the Spanish use of the phrase, to describe something that's awesome.

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#9 Hectic

"hectic" is how South Africans describe the "raddest, sickest, and gnarliest" parties .

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#10 What's your color

In most Arabic-speaking countries, people may ask how you are with a variant on "ish lonak" (إشلونك), which literally translates to "what's your color?"

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#11 Piece

In Jordan, "shagfeh" or "piece" is a slang expression describing an "attractive person."

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#12 Costs candy

In France, the finest things "coûter bonbon" or "cost candy," meaning they're really expensive. Why is this an awesome expression worth adopting?

#13 Pistachio

The Turkish word "fıstık" literally translates to "pistachio," but has been adopted in the slang vernacular to mean "a hottie."

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#14 Lay down the pizza

This slang term from Sweden really paints a picture. "Lägga en pizza," or "to lay down a pizza" is how you might tell you friends you "tossed your cookies." Or, more bluntly put, barf.

#15 Growing a cock on your forehead

This Finnish profanity has been around for a bit, but that doesn't make it any less spectacular. "Kyrpä otsassa," or "growing a cock on your forehead" is either for someone who is "extremely arrogant," or for when you're "growing increasingly frustrated/annoyed."