# Do any common American names have unfortunate translations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602 "2014-04-21T12:52:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/61 "2014-04-24T02:44:43Z")
I think Nava is saying that the IPA symbol for a “mid-vowel a” sound is just a lowercase A. This sound does not exist in English. It’s between a typical English “ah” as in “father” and a typical English “ae” as in “fat.” It’s pretty far from the Spanish “e” sound, which is sort of like the English “ay” (as in the typical pronunciation of “Asa”), but without the “ee” at the end (diphthong). Again, this doesn’t exist in English. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/62 "2014-04-24T05:49:35Z")
I’m merely glad there’s no American names with unfortunate connotations in American English (at least, according to my good friends Mike Hunt and Dick Hertz.) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/63 "2014-04-24T06:51:34Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I think Nava is saying that the IPA symbol for a “mid-vowel a” sound is just a lowercase A. This sound does not exist in English. It’s between a typical English “ah” as in “father” and a typical English “ae” as in “fat.” > > It’s pretty far from the Spanish “e” sound, which is sort of like the English “ay” (as in the typical pronunciation of “Asa”), but without the “ee” at the end (diphthong). Again, this doesn’t exist in English. Thank you, remind me to invite you for icecream or something one of these years. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/64 "2014-04-24T13:24:31Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > Ah screw it, here’s a video with the name being said a few times. Yeah … no. To these American ears, that sounds exactly like “dickshit.” I listened for the differences you described, but could not perceive them. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/65 "2014-04-24T14:21:50Z")
If you twist the L, R and N sounds: Aileen - sigh breasts Arlene - dumb breasts Charlene - grab breasts Darleen - hit breasts Doreen - lots of breasts Eileen - easy breasts Faeleen - fat breasts Llene - breasts Maureen - grope breasts Myrene - buy or sell breasts Sabrene - ten breasts ok, breasts just looks weird to me now - i had to check the spelling. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/66 "2014-04-24T14:42:40Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > Yeah … no. To these American ears, that sounds exactly like “dickshit.” I listened for the differences you described, but could not perceive them. To these English ears, too. They might well sound different to Hindi speakers, but they’re hearing sound distinctions that we don’t have in English. We can only differentiate between the sounds our language (and any foreign languages we’re fluent in) differentiate between. Hence the famous Japanese r/l problem - they have one sound that’s in between those two, so for most Japanese speakers, particularly those who were only exposed to English after childhood, they literally don’t hear them as different. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/67 "2014-04-24T16:08:01Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > That IS the phonetic representation, minus the stress if you will, because I don’t know how to mark the stress phonetically officially (I’ve seen all kinds of ways and don’t know what’s the right one). Would /ása/ be better, or do you prefer /'asa/? The two vowels are the same, /a/, and the stress is in the first syllable. > > The fact that often Spanish spellings match phonetic symbols (or, for some consonants, do not match them but have a one-to-one relationship) is both an artifact of the history of the phonetic alphabet and one of the reasons why Spanish dictionaries don’t give phonetic transcriptions (other reasons include dialectal variations and that people aren’t expected to know the phonetic alphabet but are expected to know how to transliterate). > [@JKellyMap](#): > > I think Nava is saying that the IPA symbol for a “mid-vowel a” sound is just a lowercase A. This sound does not exist in English. It’s between a typical English “ah” as in “father” and a typical English “ae” as in “fat.” > > It’s pretty far from the Spanish “e” sound, which is sort of like the English “ay” (as in the typical pronunciation of “Asa”), but without the “ee” at the end (diphthong). Again, this doesn’t exist in English. Misunderstanding then. I had specified that I was using a non-IPA system that is often used when the reading audience is lay–i.e., do not know the IPA. Since I didn’t know you were using the IPA, I thought you were just writing sounds the way you would spell what you say. If you had noted you were referencing IPA, I would have understood perfectly. I get it now. And, more to the point, you probably get now what I meant when I said my son’s English name, Asa /'e sa/, means “that” in Spanish. Whew, huh? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/68 "2014-04-24T16:14:28Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > Yeah … no. To these American ears, that sounds exactly like “dickshit.” I listened for the differences you described, but could not perceive them. Yeah, I’ve got to join the crowd. She’s saying “dickshit.” ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/69 "2014-04-24T16:26:30Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > This is really a problem with the English transliteration being inadequate. In the actual name, the initial ‘d’ sound is pronounced(and written - the Hindi alphabet is phonetic) differently from ‘Dick-shit’, as is the final ‘t’ sound. The ‘d’ in the beginning sounds similar to the initial sound of ‘Thee’(As in thee, thou). I can’t think of a parallel in english for how the final ‘t’ sounds, but the change is exactly the same as happens with the initial ‘d’ sound, if you can imagine that. So, the correct pronunciation would be Thee-xit, with the double e sound of Thee being cut short, and the t in the end being a soft(?) t. > > Ah screw it, here’s a video with the name being said a few times. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aoxn92oKxc](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aoxn92oKxc) > > As for my contribution, the European name Lauda(there’s even an airline named Lauda air) is the impolite word for ‘penis’ in Hindi I think the “d” sounds we’re talking about are frontalized and aspirated, from where the English “d” is articulated. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/70 "2014-04-24T16:41:05Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > If you twist the L, R and N sounds: In what language, **shijinn**? ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/71 "2014-04-24T17:26:28Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Nope, “that one (f)” is _Esa_. _Asa_ is handle. Right. But if one goes by their common English **pronunciations** I can see them being thought of as _gringo_ pronunciations of _casi_ and of _esa_. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/72 "2014-04-24T17:37:27Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > In what language, **shijinn**? oops, that is in Cantonese. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/73 "2014-04-24T17:38:17Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I think Nava is saying that the IPA symbol for a “mid-vowel a” sound is just a lowercase A. This sound does not exist in English. It’s between a typical English “ah” as in “father” and a typical English “ae” as in “fat.” > > It’s pretty far from the Spanish “e” sound, which is sort of like the English “ay” (as in the typical pronunciation of “Asa”), but without the “ee” at the end (diphthong). Again, this doesn’t exist in English. For English speakers I usually render Spanish “e” as “eh.” ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/74 "2014-04-24T20:30:00Z")
Not really that common of a name, but Uma Thurman’s first name means horse in Japanese ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/75 "2014-04-24T20:47:55Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Since I didn’t know you were using the IPA, I thought you were just writing sounds the way you would spell what you say. If you had noted you were referencing IPA, I would have understood perfectly. I get it now. I guess you didn’t read my post. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/76 "2014-04-24T20:48:57Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > It sounds _similar_, but it’s definitely not exact. Like I said(and JKellyMap clarified) the last sound is an unaspirated final stop, and the first is a…something. It’s like the difference between saying village and willage. It’s difficult to pin down(it was for me), until someone explains it to you exactly. No amount of _saying_ the sounds are different makes me hear the sounds differently. I acknowledge that Hindi has different sound formations that are similar but not exact to how we make the D sound, that mouth formation is varying for a given consonant. A few years ago I didn’t understand that very well. But it doesn’t change the fact that I hear “Dickshit”. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/77 "2014-04-24T20:50:43Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > And, more to the point, you probably get now what I meant when I said my son’s English name, Asa /'e sa/, means “that” in Spanish. Whew, huh? 🙂 Like that yes, thank you! It’s the approximations that I don’t get… ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/78 "2014-04-25T01:00:45Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I guess you didn’t read my post. I was suggesting to \*\*Nava \*\*that she identify the IPA. Not to you. Sorry, sir. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/79 "2014-04-25T01:13:20Z")
In Japanese, the name **Gary** sounds like 下痢 (ゲリ) meaning “ **diarrhea** ”. So when the name is put into phonetic katakana, ゲーリ or げイリ(gey-ree) is usually used. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602/80 "2014-04-25T01:20:07Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > No amount of _saying_ the sounds are different makes me hear the sounds differently. I acknowledge that Hindi has different sound formations that are similar but not exact to how we make the D sound, that mouth formation is varying for a given consonant. A few years ago I didn’t understand that very well. But it doesn’t change the fact that I hear “Dickshit”. I’m not contesting that it probably sounds very similar to you. Like I said, I had a hell of a time identifying the difference between village and willage. A friend had to finally slow things down and show me how exactly the mouth had to move to make the different sounds. Once I understood that, I was able to hear the difference. Somewhat 🙂 I’m just pointing out that it’s different. Especially so because Hindi has the exact sounds that would allow a native speaker to say and write Dick-shit. It would be written like this डिकशिट Whereas “Thixit” the name is written as below. Note that both the initial and final consonants are completely different. दिक्शित [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-common-american-names-have-unfortunate-translations/686602.md?page=5)