There are probably as many language facts as there are languages! It would take us forever to research and compile that information, so we’ve taken the lazy route and put together this much smaller list of 20 interesting language facts instead. Let’s it started!
1. The Italian alphabet has the same letters as the English alphabet, but Continue reading
We all want to sound intelligent speaking another language, but even if you’re pretty familiar with a foreign language, you can still make mistakes. Take for example my friend who grew up with Canadian French as a second language, who, during her first year living abroad in France with her French fiancée, would announce at the end of every family meal, “Je suis plein,” literally, “I am full.” But what she was really announcing to her future in-laws was, “I’m pregnant!” And it’s even a vulgar way to say it (it’s used to talk about pregnant animals)! The future in-laws thought it was so funny they let her “get away with it” for over a year before she got corrected.
So while “Je suis plein,” to mean you’re full is perfectly acceptable to French Canadians, learn to say ” J’ai trop mangé, ” or “Je suis rassasié,” in France instead.
Moral of the story? You can’t always rely on direct translations. But what are even trickier to navigate are false friends.
Spanish and French is an official or national language in the following countries:
Countries where Spanish is an official or national language
Countries where French is an official or national language
Start planning your trip!
Ok, we should just go for a test drive first. But when it comes to casual language learning games, we’re the Lamborghini to the other guy’s Ford (want to buy a Lamborghini? Click here). Chances are you can’t impress your friends with such a luxury car, but you can impress them with your fancy second language vocabulary skills! Starting with our Spanish, French, and English Beta version. Continue reading
