Okay, it’s one of those names that mean pretty much nothing in the native tongue, but sometimes when heard by someone who speaks another language, sounds a little bit strange, or sometimes offensive!
Some examples that I’ve featured here previously include:
- Bong Coffee
- Prawn Star
- Vergina Beer
- The town of Black Butt
- The Man Ho Restaurant
- Sea Min Drink
- Shat al Arab Street
- Batman bin Suparman
- Anil Weener
But that’s okay. I’m sure we’ve all said something that sounds innocent to us, but means something a bit odd to someone else.
For example, kiss her in English sounds like kissa in Swedish, which means piss. Lull in English (i.e. a downturn) sounds like lul in Dutch, which means male genitals. And cookie in English, sounds like koki in Hungarian, which means small penis.
So today, this funny travel photo continues this theme, which is the name of a cafe and bakery shop in Malaysia….
Fook Yuen!
Say it out loud and you’ll figure out what I mean!
Just like the Fook Yew Hotel, also in Malaysia, it sounds like you’re saying a swear word (see my comprehensive lists of British Slang or Australian Slang), but in reality, you’re just in a ‘fragrant garden’. Something quite nice and peaceful.
So while the Malaysian locals are probably enjoying some great food and coffee, us English speakers are having a little giggle, but it wouldn’t stop me from dining there if it was a good establishment!
So, I mean this in the nicest possible way, Fook Yuen and have a good time!