Embarrassing, Awkward, Language and Work: Lost in translation

Lost in translation

By ohhhman - 10/04/2009 00:13 - United States

Today, one of the Haitians that works in the kitchen at my restaurant said something to me. Usually I can't understand them and I just smile and laugh, so that's what I did this time. Later, I found out he was trying to tell me his father had passed away. FML

I agree, your life sucks 19 702

You deserved it 58 250

November 11: Memories and smiles
Historical anecdotes with a light touch to commemorate with a respectful smile. More…

Previous FML Next FML

Same thing different taste

By derbyboy - 19/10/2011 05:38 - United Kingdom

Today, at work, I misheard a customer telling me a story. To be polite, I did a slight laugh and nodded my head. She actually told me her mum had died. FML

I agree, your life sucks 27 146

You deserved it 22 096

Good

By fistpumpin4life - 10/10/2010 00:51 - France

Today, at work, I asked a lady how she was doing. When she replied, I didn't understand her, and instead of asking her what she'd said, I just replied with, "Oh, that's good." What she'd said that I didn't understand was that her husband had just died. FML

I agree, your life sucks 10 594

You deserved it 33 420

By Anonymous - 17/02/2010 16:32 - Canada

Today, while serving a rather large party at the restaurant where I work, I mentioned that the soup of the day was "to die for". After the hosts gave me weird looks, it dawned on me that the reason they were wearing all black is because they've just come back from a funeral. FML

I agree, your life sucks 27 891

You deserved it 11 707

By ... - 12/03/2009 18:57 - France

Today, the really hot guy that works in the same building as me came to work after being away for the past two days. I said, "Look who finally decided to come to work!" His response was, "I had a death in the family, thanks." FML

I agree, your life sucks 8 630

You deserved it 27 420

By Jim - 11/01/2012 01:32 - Belgium

Today, I told a co-worker to "lighten up, and stop wearing black all the time, it makes you look depressed." I didn't know his father had died the week before. FML

I agree, your life sucks 11 320

You deserved it 41 806

By perfectlybrokenx - 24/08/2010 04:21 - Canada

Today, while I was on a date, I noticed my ex-boyfriend in the restaurant, and he looked sad. So I walked over to see him and jokingly said, "You look like your mom died or something!" She had. FML

I agree, your life sucks 16 796

You deserved it 52 192

Interpreter blues

By Aleksandar - 25/11/2020 05:01

Today, at the hospital, I had to tell someone he was going to die because I was the only one to speak his language. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 251

You deserved it 66

By KMKWEEN - 16/02/2009 14:37 - United States

Today, I was at work. I work at a grocery store and a woman pulls a cart to me filled with chips, breads, lunch meats, and sodas. I said to her "Looks like you are going to have a fun party" she then looks at me and says "My mother just died, this is for after the funeral. FML

I agree, your life sucks 43 912

You deserved it 10 693

Brain freeze

By Anonymous - 13/06/2024 07:00 - United States

Today, I work at a hospice center. At 3AM, a call just went out to a man's family to come because he was dying. I didn't realize that this man was my old friend's grandpa. When I saw her, I smiled really big and said, "Hey! Great to see you!" Her grandpa was ACTIVELY DYING. Stupid stupid stupid. FML

I agree, your life sucks 491

You deserved it 175

Assumptions part 27674

By dads can’t cook? - 17/03/2021 21:30

Today, I was messaging a new friend when she mentioned her dad was cooking dinner that night. I jokingly texted, “Oh no! I’m sorry!” Turns out her dad is a professional chef. FML

I agree, your life sucks 275

You deserved it 1 197

AMelodyofJuly 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:48

Bummer. Maybe you should try to understand them better or just be honest and say, "I'm sorry but I just can't understand you; I'm so bad with accents."

mf_fml 0

Friday 10 April 2009 9:55

i don't care how many times i gotta look stupid repeatedly going "pardon? pardon?" i still gotta know EXACTLY what someone is trying to tell me.

Comments

Wonka_fml 0

Friday 10 April 2009 22:33

That sucks. You should've asked the Haitian to erase your memory after that so you can forget about looking stupid.

Occam 0

Friday 10 April 2009 22:41

#33, what country do you live in where English is the official language and there are a lot of Hispanics?

brodizzle 0

Friday 10 April 2009 22:53

This reminds me of a time I was chatting with someone sitting next to me on the train, and he was telling me why he was traveling. I wasn't paying attention, and all I heard was "brother", so I said "that's cool", thinking he was visiting his brother. Turns out he said "my brother died so I was going to his funeral". FML

mattmag 0

Friday 10 April 2009 23:23

I've been there. Haitian accents are impossible. Are you from South Florida?

latuka 0

Friday 10 April 2009 23:27

i do the exact same thing man, i just don't have the energy to ask them over and over again what they are saying. esp. Haitians, they have THICK ****** accents. agreed with #4 about it not be ignorant, but very much disagree with #4, with he should learn to speak english better. he probably has the grammar and all fantastically, just the accent is killing it for him. not his fault.

latuka 0

Friday 10 April 2009 23:30

uhh and 53 go to florida/texas/california.

latuka 0

Friday 10 April 2009 23:35

you know, you all might call 15 a heartless dick, but seriously s/he has a point. i mean, im not saying no one cares, but why go around and tell everyone? I've lost many people, but dude, i keep that shit to myself. unless you just want sympathy. in that case, dude seriously, thats just annoying. 18 couldn't have said it any better.