Day 12: False Friends Number Three and Four
Two more editions of the False Friends series, in which we uncover the unsettling differences and similarities between Swedish and English.
False Friends Number Three LEG: In English, this is a limb located below the hip, which helps one to ambulate. In Swedish, it's short for "legitimation," which is the word for "identification," as in I.D. So when you go to the liquor store, they ask to see your "leg." (The Swedish word for "leg" is "ben," which also means "bone.") BED: In English, this is a piece of furniture upon which one rests or sleeps. In Swedish, it means "pray." The first time I saw "bed" in Swedish was in the title of the song "Bed För Mig" by Avner. I knew a little Swedish at the time, and thought it was Svengelska, but, no, it means "Pray for Me." (The Swedish word for "bed" is "säng.")False Friends Number FourBARN: This false friendship turns "barn burning" into a much more sinister phrase. In English, a "barn" is a building used for storing hay, grain, livestock, etc. In Swedish, it means "children." (The Swedish word for "barn" is lada.)DOG: I learned about this one while reading Swedish subtitles on an English DVD. In English, a "dog" is a domesticated canid. In Swedish, it means "died." (The Swedish word for "dog" is "hund.")
And there's more! Coming soon.
