# Terms in one language that reference another nationality? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392 "2010-07-20T21:11:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/81 "2010-08-15T00:49:16Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Oh, by the way – in Quebec, a hot dog with meat sauce is _un michigan_. Not sure why. Likely due to the prevalence of [Coney dogs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island_hot_dog) in the Detroit area. ---
**Author:** ![Intelligently\_Designed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intelligently_designed/32/20957_2.png) [@Intelligently\_Designed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intelligently_Designed)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/82 "2010-08-15T19:07:35Z")
In French slang, human ears are sometimes referred to as “les portugaises”, probably because of their resemblance with Portuguese oysters. In Quebec, a “poutine italienne” is a poutine (fries, cheese curds and sauce) where the traditional brown gravy is replaced by spaghetti sauce (Bolognese). An “auberge espagnole” refers to old-time hostels in Spain where you could sleep but had to bring your own meal. It refers to something, an idea vague enough that everybody can understand it differently. Putting off something “aux calendes grecques” means indefinitely, since the Greeks did not have calends (first day of the month) in their, ahem, calendar, unlike the Romans. A “nuit américaine” is a cinematographic technique used to simulate a night scene. “Tresses françaises” are French braids. “Caramel écossais” is butterscotch. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/83 "2010-08-15T21:12:14Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > [QUOTE=Aji de Gallina] > > - The monkey wrench is “Llave inglesa” Ah, same here in France : clé anglaise. […]. [/QUOTE] In Danish it is called a “svensknøgle”, i.e. a “Swedish key”. I wonder why people felt that that particular tool needed a nationality (and - it appears - a foreign one). ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/84 "2010-08-15T22:21:30Z")
> [@Intelligently\_Designed](#): > > A “nuit américaine” is a cinematographic technique used to simulate a night scene. Oh, this reminds me of the “quart d’heure américain” - in old timey dance clubs, back when women sat along the walls and guys came up to them to ask them for the privilege of a dance, the “american quarter hour” was a short period of time (a couple songs, mostly slow dances) usually towards the end of the evening and announced by the DJ, during which it was the gals’ turn to ask. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/85 "2010-08-16T09:56:18Z")
Oranges in Urdu are called “Maltas”; as in the little med island. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/86 "2010-08-16T10:47:38Z")
In Hebrew, Kumquats are called “Chinese oranges”. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/87 "2010-08-16T16:11:10Z")
> [@Panurge](#): > > In Danish it is called a “svensknøgle”, i.e. a “Swedish key”. I wonder why people felt that that particular tool needed a nationality (and - it appears - a foreign one). Probably because it’s a Swedish invention. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/88 "2010-08-16T17:07:15Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > In Hebrew, Kumquats are called “Chinese oranges”. That’s funny, as the etymology of several Germanic words (through the same root I’m sure) for Orange is “Chinese apple”. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/89 "2010-08-16T17:13:45Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > > [@Panurge](#): > > > > In Danish it is called a “svensknøgle”, i.e. a “Swedish key”. I wonder why people felt that that particular tool needed a nationality (and - it appears - a foreign one). > > Probably because it’s a Swedish invention. Site? Wikipedia says that a [swede invented the plumber wrench](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumber_wrench) is that what you’re thinking of, or are you just guessing? ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/90 "2010-08-16T17:24:06Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Wikipedia says that a [swede invented the plumber wrench](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumber_wrench) is that what you’re thinking of, or are you just guessing? Nope, I was thinking of an [adjustable spanner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_spanner) as this is what **Panurge** was referring to (and I know that a monkey wrench is something different). ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/91 "2010-08-16T17:53:47Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > > [@naita](#): > > > > Wikipedia says that a [swede invented the plumber wrench](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumber_wrench) is that what you’re thinking of, or are you just guessing? > > Nope, I was thinking of an [adjustable spanner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_spanner) as this is what **Panurge** was referring to (and I know that a monkey wrench is something different). Ah, I didn’t know they’d segued into shifter spanners. Ignorance fought. Don’t know how common the Danish term is, but the Norwegian equivalent is rare enough that I’ve never heard it and the few hits on line could be from Danish infiltrators. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/92 "2010-08-17T17:11:07Z")
> [@naita](#): > > > [@Floater](#): > > > > Nope, I was thinking of an [adjustable spanner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_spanner) as this is what **Panurge** was referring to (and I know that a monkey wrench is something different). > > Ah, I didn’t know they’d segued into shifter spanners. Ignorance fought. Don’t know how common the Danish term is, but the Norwegian equivalent is rare enough that I’ve never heard it and the few hits on line could be from Danish infiltrators. Ignorance fought here as well. Thanks. Can’t believe how long I’ve thought that a monkey wrench and a “svensknøgle” was the same thing. Whoops. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/93 "2010-08-17T17:27:26Z")
In Spanish, chopsticks are “palitos chinos” (Chinese sticks) Indian ink is “tinta china”. In Peru we say “he smokes like a bankrupt Chinese man”. Having your meat served “rare” is called “a la inglesa” (the English way") A slice of pineapple makes any dish “Hawaiian”. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/94 "2010-08-17T20:12:13Z")
One additional German term: _Amerikaner_ (American) = [black and white cookie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_white_cookie). ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/95 "2010-08-18T03:02:05Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > A slice of pineapple makes any dish “Hawaiian”. I’ve heard of Hawaiian pizza, which has pineapple on it. Is that a common name in many countries? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/96 "2010-08-18T04:38:28Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > > [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > > > A slice of pineapple makes any dish “Hawaiian”. > > I’ve heard of Hawaiian pizza, which has pineapple on it. Is that a common name in many countries? Hawaiian pizzas and burgers definitely present over here. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/97 "2010-08-18T07:34:48Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > > [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > > > A slice of pineapple makes any dish “Hawaiian”. > > I’ve heard of Hawaiian pizza, which has pineapple on it. Is that a common name in many countries? Definitely in Germany - [Toast Hawaii](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toast_Hawaii), the stereotypical 1950s/1960s dish. Also Pizza Hawaii, and in general ‘A slice of pineapple makes any dish “Hawaiian”’ also applies to Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/98 "2010-08-18T09:49:10Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > > [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > > > A slice of pineapple makes any dish “Hawaiian”. > > I’ve heard of Hawaiian pizza, which has pineapple on it. Is that a common name in many countries? I’m in Seville. The cafeteria at work calls anything with pineapple on it “Hawaiian”, to the point where people are joking that if they ever have pineapple for dessert they’ll call it Hawaiian and if they ever toss pineapple bits into the gazpacho it will be Hawaiian. Pasta salad with pineapple? Hawaiian salad. Bits of pineapple among the salad’s bars ingredients? Hawaiian salad bar. Fruit salad is macedonia de frutas (another country reference) but it becomes macedonia hawayana (and geography gets a headache) if one of the ingredients is pineapple. A square of something vaguely resembling pizza base, with something vaguely resembling cheese, bits of pineapple and ham? Hawaiian toast. Even the sweet-and-sour chicken gets called Hawaiian chicken if it has pineapple (what it never has is any “sour” in it, they ladle in the sweet to the point of unrecognizability). ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/99 "2010-08-18T12:47:58Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > > [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > > > A slice of pineapple makes any dish “Hawaiian”. > > I’ve heard of Hawaiian pizza, which has pineapple on it. Is that a common name in many countries? Yes in Hong Kong, which means pizza with ham and pineapple. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392/100 "2010-08-18T12:56:33Z")
> [@Waffle\_Decider](#): > > > [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > > > I’ve heard of Hawaiian pizza, which has pineapple on it. Is that a common name in many countries? > > Yes in Hong Kong, which means pizza with ham and pineapple. And in Sweden. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-in-one-language-that-reference-another-nationality/547392.md?page=6)