Translation Confusion

Not all the appropriate language are positive. Some positive language can be intentionally obscene to foreign language. Verbal language is just similar to gesture. For example, inverted V-sign in US mean "two" in American sign language. But in UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, inverted V-sign is equivalent to US middle finger. Also, a-ok gesture is not offensive in US. But in France, a-ok mean "you're worthless." The marketing name, slogan, title, and movie character name can have different meaning in foreign language. Some of language is unintentionally insulting in translation. Here well known example from brand name, model name, quote, title, and etc.

Chevrolet Nova sell well in the United States. In Hispanic countries, Chevy Nova didn't sell well because Nova really mean "it doesn't go." Simply I say, Chevrolet No-go. Vauxhall Nova, British version of Opel Corsa A, also has similar problem with translation in Spain. Therefore, Opel kept name "Corsa."  In 1993, Vauxhall Nova was renamed Corsa.

Mitsubishi Pajero, SUV model, was named after Pampas Cat, Leopardus pajeros. In USA and Spanish speaking countries, "Pajero" was renamed "Montero", Spanish meaning for mountain hunter. Pajero is vulgar slang for wanker. Just called Pajero the wanker wagon or wankermobile.

Other Japanese car manufacturer made similar situation in translation issue. Mazda LaPuta, a Mazda version of Suzuki Kei, is named came from flying island in Gulliver's Travels, but LaPuta is only sale in Asia. LaPuta in Spanish is really mean "the whore." Nissan Moco, a Nissan version of Suzuki MR Wagon , is also only sale in Asia. Moco is really mean "snot/booger" in Spanish. Honda Fit was called "Fitta." Honda Fit is only in Japan, China, Asia, and USA. In Europe, Fit was renamed "Jazz" because "Fitta" is refer to female genital in Norwegian and Swedish. So, Honda simply called "Fit" instead of "Fitta." Toyota MR-2 didn't go well in France because pronunciation in French was sounded like "merde." Merde is mean "crap" in French. 

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was originally planned to be called Silver Mist. In German, "mist" is really mean "manure." Rolls-Royce model is just simply "Silver Shadow" instead.

The worst car of all time, Ford Pinto, didn't go well in Brazil. In Brazilian Portuguese, "pinto" is vulgar slang for "male genital", but pinto is named after a pinto horse. 

Ikea model GutVik bed for kid was an issue in Germany. Because GutVik is translated as "Good F-Bomb." GutVik in Sweden is a name of very small town. Ikea also have problem with Fartfull workbench and Jerker computer table. 

Nokia Lumia made poor sell in Spain. Nokia Lumia realize they learned to late. Lumia is mean "to prostitute" in Spanish.

Tokyo base Sega is shorten name for "service game", but is refer to "male masturbation" in Italian.

  

Clairol "Mist Stick" didn't sold well in Germany. Similar to Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, "mist" is really mean "manure."

In 1983, Coors created a mascot called BeerWolf for Halloween season. BeerWolf's catchphrase is "Turn it loose!" When it was advertised in Spain, it was lost in translation when it come as "Suffer from diarrhea."

In China, Coca-Cola was named "Ke-Kou-Ke-La", but it was translated as "bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with wax." It was renamed to "Ko-Kou-Ko-Le", roughly translated as "happiness in the mouth." Also, KFC slogan "finger-lickin good" translated in Chinese as "eat your finger off." In Taiwan, translation of Pepsi's slogan, "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation", into "Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead."
  

When Pope John Paul II visited in Miami, Florida in September 1987, enterprising man attempted properly translated "I see the Pope" in Spanish. He put "la papa" instead of "el papa"; so, it  translated as "I see the potato." Enterprising man founded himself a subject of public ridicule. 

Parker Pen slogan is "It won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you." However, company made mistake when company made an advertisement in Mexico. Company thought "embarazar" mean embarrass in Spanish, but it translated into "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."

  

US English and British English both have same word, but different meaning and accidentally rude. For example, Mario Party 8 didn't sell well in UK because Kamek, Mario Party's character, say "spastic." Spastic in American English mean clumsiness. But in Britain, spastic refer to cerebral palsy. In UK version, spastic was changed into "erratic." In US English, "faggot" is refer to "homosexual man" while UK English is refer to kind of meatball from Britain. 

You finally realize naming brand and creating slogan are not easy to introduce to international. So, beware of translation confusion.