German Coast Guard - Lost in Translation

[nellie2581]

We are singing. "what are you sinking about?". He confuses "sinking" with thinking. that's a German stereotype, most Germans know the difference. I told my Mom about this video. It would be dangerous if it were real, because of the misunderstanding. No one could save the ship captain.

[GuyPlusStuff]

captain of the ship: We're screwwwed!

[janeplant]

I haven't seen this for over a year and it still makes me laugh out loud. I'm a linguist but in Spanish and French, but I love hearing verbal puns in any language

[AnjaJonesTranslation]

Absolute classic!!

[panhouska]

EPIC



[Schatteneidechse]

Lol XD Not bad

But the best german joke is the one with the "bloody steak" XD

[jeffcoffman]

Seid doch net so verklemmt. Des Video ist doch lustig.

[Calimero5188]

I'm from Germany and this is definitely funny !!!!!! Sad but mostly true ;D

[SmileyGarrish]

Deep and abiding truth: Miscommunication and misunderstanding each other are a plague which has haunted Humankind since the first multiple grunt and utterance.

[Tannz0rz]

@SmileyGarrish HRMMM, YOU DID WHAT TO THE GRMMM HRM?!

[jefferino69]

for you guys who speak fluent german: what does the supervisor say to the guy at the beginning? I can read German okay but when I hear it I can only understand the more simple words.

[lanz0r4tehwin]

@jefferino69 It's nothing interesting, just what the equipment is called, and wishing him luck.

[rurudotorg]

@jefferino69 This is my sector..this is the most imprtant tool for a coast guard and this and this.. survival-radar...clap..

[rurudotorg]

@jefferino69 this is my sector ... this is the most important tool for a coast guard and this and this, too... survival-radar (clap)

[jefferino69]

@rurudotorg

Thanks, that was exactly what I wanted to know :)

[enaidgnuish]

aww poor guy

[nickkok2003]

What are you thinking about LOL

[Pascotam]

I speak both English and German. This video made me laugh several times :) Obviously the 2 Germanic languages are quite different. I would think German is more "original" and English is a borrowed language. Personally I love German more.

[lgmmrm]

@Pascotam both took alot of words from other languages

English even more...

[NikLeroyInNewYork]

I'm a german 14 years old guy and i can speak good and clear spanisch (without german accent), german and english (without german accent too) :D *proud*^^ ;D

(spanish, because i was born there)

[suppchoc]

The song is "Ode an die Freude" the text is by friedrich schiller, the musik i by ludwig van beethoven. The song is used as the europian hymn

[suppchoc]

well - many germans have problems with the english "th" but you know, english poeple have problems with the german "ch"

[The2010North]

Whats the song ?? please tell me i need to know .. :) thanks ...

[maryuriwood07]

I'm an English speaking person and I know Spanish and Portuguese as well. And my husband is German so I have to learn Deutsch too.

[TheProzwer]

hahhahah so best!

" what are you sinking about"? hahah xDDDD

[devrincs]

@terwantom13 that's probably because the Dutch are such fun and don't take themselves too seriously.... Thanks for sharing his info!!

[c0rnelisg]

@devrincs what the hell do u wanna say?

[superpoepvlieg]

@devrincs Haha, true, we don't take ourselves to seriously. Bbut the guy in the commercial is German not Dutch ;)

[kirstieangel13]

This makes me laugh soooo much!!!!

What are you zinking about? lool

[Cenamark2]

Germans are stupid and need to learn english

[kennysc12]

@Cenamark2 So what if you were German and didnt speak English? You dumb ass.

[Miloich]

@Cenamark2

Funny to hear that from an American who can't speak anything else than English cause he is stupid.

[Anubis3200]

@Cenamark2 Oh please don't start it. You english talking people only know one language and that's english. Who is stupid now?

At least that guy in the video has some kind of knwoledge in english while you have non in German and probably in any other language.

However, I won't lie. German people should learn more english, since sometime it is hard to communicate with them. But then again not everyone knows english in my home country so yeh...

[suffocating0silence]

@Anubis3200

What makes you think that because English is our first language, we don't know a second or third? My friend speaks four, and I'm learning German. You're talking about billions and billions of people (both in America and England) so don't start generalizing with 'you people'. That's like saying you Irish are all drunks and you French are all snotty brats...don't insult our knowledge.

[Anubis3200]

@suffocating0silence Because I live in UK for 4 years and I barely met anyone who know more than 1 or 2 languages so I have full right to generize especially when so many english people get suprised when I say that I know 4 languages.

There are exceptions as everywhere else but over all people in England know mostly just english.Welsh people barely even know Welsh! Especially older generation. At least almost all Scotish people know English and Scotish.

And the guy started generizing first.

[suffocating0silence]

@Anubis3200

All over the world, people generally know their native language and English, only because it's mandatory (in many areas) so that they can get by in a world where English is one of the few medium languages connecting two different areas. You may be one of the few exceptions to people who know more than 2 languages when English isn't their first

Also, I'm just curious. Do you know 4 languages, or do you know 4 languages WELL? Some people claim to know Spanish because they can say Hola.

[Anubis3200]

@suffocating0silence If I were to claim languages by those standards, I would probably have a count of like 50 so don't put me that low.

By what you are saying it gives me even more reasons to say that english talking people know only one language because it is their native language.

And no, a lot of countries use 2 languages and english as addition because it is needed. Right now the new generation should know around 3 languages in my country and some know 4 or 5.

[AggroBuLLeT]

@Cenamark2 ACTUALLY english is invented by germans. means u are talking a germanic language. we also invent england and the british race. and btw only 2 white races exist. germanic and slavic. 80% of the white race is germanic. means whole usa are germans too. and also france etc. HELL, you could even say, the world is made in germany. whos stupid now? ur just a subfolder of a BIG german folder. /nerd rage off

[Cyricist001]

@AggroBuLLeT ....its no so much inventing as inheriting. English are Germanic but the Scots, Welsh and Irish are Celtic.France would be a mix of Celtic and Germanic ancestry.The Italians/Spanish etc have Germanic blood but are not Germanic.Not to mention the Greeks.

[AggroBuLLeT]

@Cyricist001 umm but you know, celtic is also just a subfolder of a big germanic folder right? i mean its the same blood, just a little bit different, but that doesnt count as a completly new race.

[Cyricist001]

@AggroBuLLeT Hard to tell, they are both branches of a single Indo-European root, but how they are connected in the core I don't know. They could be a sub-folder of the Germanic's maybe its the reverse, hard to tell.We dont know where and how our ancestors split to form Celts, Germanic's, Slavic's, Greeks and all other European races.Example Jews are not Indo-European the Iranians are, but the Jews are by appearance closer than Iranians, probably adapting to the environment.

[Cyricist001]

@AggroBuLLeT So we can only search for similarities in the language, since appearance can change and religions have the tendency to worship the same things.In other words they can be the same or not, it depends how back in to history you reach :)

[hajmue]

Verfassungsschuetzer i à asshole

[VienneIsAwesome]

LOLOL this is so funny and the music at the end is so funny

[jasmine8297]

nice

[8PeTrol8]

Freude, schöner Götterfunken Tochter aus Elysium :)

[23PowerL]

"Eesh been ine Bearleener."

[AggroBuLLeT]

i wanna see a video, with a american guy, who try to say : eichhörnchen .

[florianwicher]

@AggroBuLLeT or a vid with a american trying to say oachkatzlschwoaf XD

[Elvikowsky]

@florianwicher wie wä's mit Streichholzschächtelchen...

[mutatron]

Yeah, but is eichhörnchen a homophone for another word that means something completely different?

[LuckyCharms2407]

@mutatron It means squirrel... just the ch might sound damn funny I suppose

[Grasginsta]

@mutatron

Yes. If written with "u" instead of "ö" it means having homosexual intercourse.

Just kidding.

It solely means squirrel.

[gunzdstyle]

@AggroBuLLeT hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Kaetze? DAM!

[SlivenBG]

@AggroBuLLeT That's a tough one! I know it means "squirrel" but cannot pronounce it :o)))

[harbief]

@AggroBuLLeT

or streichholzschächtelchen :D

[Dandeagnagnd]

@AggroBuLLeT unicorn?

[samuknight]

@Dandeagnagnd squirrel

[samuknight]

@AggroBuLLeT not so hard just think of arnold swartznegger saying it i'll be EIKKKhUURNtjennn!

[suffocating0silence]

@AggroBuLLeT

We get plenty of people laughing at us for trying to translate an idiomatic sentence from English to German...it's not so much the pronunciation. With how much slang Americans have, I was laughed at everyday until I figured out which phrases they have and don't have. They can handle a little video.

[Marvinknowshowto]

The "th" is a big problem for all germans ^^

[ich737]

thats not sure, just for a few people, most of the Germans are able to speak the th ;)

[florianwicher]

@Marvinknowshowto i can do it (i am austrian but this is -i think- almost the same...) ok some austrians would kill me for saying/writing that...

[jeancajac]

It's hilarious and I'm half German :D

Some of my fellow students are incapable to pronounce "th"

[HesseJamez]

...and I'd love to hear an american guy trying to pronounce "Deutsche Küstenwache" (German coast Guard)once *lol*

[HesseJamez]

Siss is se jerman coast gurd *lol*

At least they are real Germans !

[florianwicher]

@HesseJamez they are only germans who can´t speak english...

[Marvinknowshowto]

xD its really funny

but sry to say it but i think the english of most german people is very good in compare with other nations.

[florianwicher]

@Marvinknowshowto holländer XD just imagine (sony slogan XD)

[entropede]

der hammer!

[alysee75]

Since years my favorite video to make me smile when I'm down!

[plastkasse1]

Im sorry germans, but this is just so...german... It's just so right on! (:

[victorh1414]

Haha funny however most people in Europe know English ;D

[MeggieMiami]

we are sinking!!

wot ar ju sinking abaut?

x'DDD

[tanoranox]

BEST VID EVAR

THANKS MATE XDD

[FrankDerlinger]

Oh Mann!

Dieser Witz ist echt nicht witzig!

(Oh Guy!

This joke isn't so funny)

[devrincs]

Yes, actually it IS very funny. that's why it have 632,000 views, 1144 comments and a perfect 5 Star rating.

Its funny. Get over it.

[Jabberwockee]

'has'

[terwantom1]

@devrincs plus, it actually is used in an English Syllabus for students in Utrecht. :P

[TheStailfish]

@devrincs "it have"??? LEARN ENGLISH!!!!!! xDDD

[pringels1000]

findest?  ich find den geil :D

[krejzliselecta]

@FrankDerlinger Was izn't zo fanni in zhisz yoke?

[entropede]

@FrankDerlinger "Oh Guy"??? LOL, you just proved that this video is funny AND true XD

[haspip]

@FrankDerlinger

Mein Gott, Piefke, verstehst keinen Spaß? (The germans don't have any sense for humor. That's why nobody likes them ;-))

[Mahmudmx]

LOL :D

[dasmysteryman12]

Das ist so lustig! Wunderbar!

[5574974]

Ja! Ich habe es sehr lustig auch gefinden!

[MINDYABIDNESSNIGGA]

i dont get it.

why does he need to improve his english..

[HerPossessions]

Haha!

You need to improve yours too ;x

[aldone]

:D strange, indeed

[van2ash]

LoL

[partygirl209]

i'm guessing he's thinking about sinking!!

[balchoth]

Schade, dass man die Pointe schon nach 20 sekunden vorhersehn kann, aber trotzdem noch lustig! =)

[goaliesue941]

Das ist so Hilarious!

[boerneboernesen]

100 mal gesehen und ich bekomm immer noch jedesmal ein grinsen ins gesicht !! XD

[katheros]

Epic =D

[mastercheff1216]

English are Germans, and im happy with that Germans are awesome :).

[Wrtbrgr87]

LOL!!!! THIS IS SO TRUE!!! Anyone from any language who tries to speak English does the "th" like "s." It's because "th" is a fricative and the closest sound to that is the "s" fricative.

[schusterlehrling]

Sink deep

gewinnt da eine neue Bedeutung.

[lukasr87]

für manche die die pointe nicht verstehen....ist berlitz vl. wirklich die letzte hoffung.

[xtom1973]

what are you sinking about?!

it must be:

WHY are you sinking!!!

[CptHowdy0815]

Schonmal was von 'ner Pointe gehört, Du Depp?

[xtom1973]

lol

treffer! ;)

schau mal was pratchett zu multiplen exclamation marks schreibt.

[mrducklumps1]

If I saw this on TV i would be rolling lol. hilarious!

[sirjohnny1974]

LOL

[Seranov]

fantastic

[poodlepuppify]

I laugh so hard every time I watch this!!! Thanks!!

[eilrede]

lol,,,,very funny commercial

[schackmountain]

epic fail^^

[xMiCHiiRU]

waht are you sinking about?

[demoncrash]

i think he said

"what are you singing about?"

[Smyxz]

he thought he said "thinking" instead of sinking.

so he said "what are u thinking about?"

[shincoleone]

nah, he said "What's are you thinking about"

[SD171]

No....He said what are you thinking about.

[UsedToFly1]

no he means ''what are you thinking about'' but he said ''what are you sinking about''

[SD171]

yeah thats wah I meant but I did not explain it in such detail lol,

[UsedToFly1]

lol

[kangadf]

terrific ad!

[Kashmirrrrrr]

XD .... I am trying to learn German at the moment.. and this was the one thing that made me laugh while trying to study the tough language. :D

[Buffalowdown]

Awesome ad.

[anonymouslolxD]

Das ist Geil!

[macbolan00]

his young face was the picture of innocence.

[xMiCHiiRU]

hello.... .... this is german coast guard ... .... what are you sinking abaaot!

hahaa das ist hilariaous

[mysofil]

Umwerfend.... :D

[Sanaa2k]

Oh god this is just another one of those things that problem in our world. I think it's never gonna solved. Until world becomes one big nation

[internationalantifa]

I agree.

[BobbyGBoulder]

But we are NOT one big nation and never will be, so get over the big old Utopian bullsh*t and get real. We all have different cultures, languages and customs — embrace the differences, and quit trying to homogenize everyting.

Farrrrrrrrrrrrrg!!!

[TuaregD]

With commumism, that would not be utopic, nor bullshit.

[Kytail]

This is my alltime favourite commercial... The effort the guy puts in his response is hilarious... Haha!

[kytanokyle]

and the response is > "we're sinking/thinking about taking a bath :)))))

[tictacluvsff5]

That is so hilarious!

[EternalDementia]

sadly.. it's really like that. most germans can't pronounce "th", i don't know why. it sounds like an "s" most of the time, or like a "d".. or "f". oh but i'm german myself, don't think i was just assuming.

[Gameinggames]

its just laziness. Every german can pronounc the TH if they would just try.

[Landliebelexikon]

Oh, you are so wrong. I know enough people who say "wif, wiss, ve, ze, de, fing, sing", no matter how they try. Btw, I remember, back in my first english class, I wrote "sink" instead of "think" and my teacher wote sth like "glugg, glugg" aside...;)

[BouXIII]

it's because msot people are too lazy to learn the "TH" Pronounciation and don't talk or listen to/with english speaking People.

[bonsaygirl]

TOO LAZY?!

ehm, sorry, but it's nearly impossible to say this "th" for a lot of people like germans, french or italians. i know nobody in my school who can pronounce this properly (teachers included).

try to learn another language. and then, we can talk about laziness.

oh yeah, chuchichäschtli is a nice word...

[BouXIII]

*hust*

i am austrian

i speak good english and i can pronounce the "th" in the right way

and atm i am learning French and Russian,

so don't tell me something about learning languages -.-

and yeah, it is lazyness -.-

[bonsaygirl]

wie schön, dass es in dieser welt immer wieder menschen mit ausgeprägtem selbstbewusstsein gibt... zwischenzeitlich stelle ich mir nur die frage, ob es teilweise nicht ZU ausgeprägt ist.

[BouXIII]

lol, wenn mir 4 englische gäste innerhalb von 1 woche sagen das ich gutes englisch sprech dann stimmts wohl -.-

sag ja nicht das ichs akzentfrei oder perfekt sprech -.-

[Landliebelexikon]

Naja, ich will ja nix sagen, aber es ist auch immer Auslegungssache. Ich glaube, fast alle halbwegs gebildeten Menschen sprechen heutzutage "gut" Englisch, wenn auch nicht perfekt oder akzentfrei. aber bei einer falschen Ausprache des TH handelt es sich um nichts anderes als Akzent.

[BouXIII]

ja, man kann es als Akzent bezeichnen, aber wenn "TH" udn "S" gleich klingt, es aber nicht gleich klingen soll, dann ist es meiner Meinung nach ein Fehler und cih finde es sit auch eine Frage des Respekts und des Verständnisses das man eine Sprache die man lernt und benutzt auch RICHTIG ausspricht

[Landliebelexikon]

Eine Frage: Sprechen deine 4 englischen Gäste akzentfreies Deutsch?

[BouXIII]

ja, eine hat Deutsch gesprochen und das sogar sehr gut, die hat auch 2 Jahre in Österreich gearbeitet ;)

[Landliebelexikon]

hm, naja, dann is klar, war vllt auch ne blöde frage :) ist ja auch irgendwie ansichtssache. ich mein nur, ich sprech selbst nicht so toll englisch aber ich fänds schon arg, wenn daraus jemand schließen sollte, dass ich ihm keinen respekt entgegenbringe... aber hier wird wohl eh keiner den anderen überzeugen *g*

[BouXIII]

hast schon recht, aber ich bleib dabei, das ein großteil derer, die ein "S" anstelle des englischen "TH" sprechen einfach zu faul sind.

weil die können alle lallen und murmeln aber ein einfaches "TH" können die nicht aussprechen? das glaub ich einfach nicht.

[SoneGurke]

@BouXIII

die hat 2 jahre in österreich gearbeitet und kann trotzdem deutsch...alle achtung :D

aber mal im ernst,ohne an deinen englischfähigkeiten zu zweifeln, ne menge engländer sind einfach zu höflich um dich zu korrigieren.

[gagothesith]

1 "studying"

2 "laziness"

[insanelynormall]

HAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

this is hilarious.

[DocAxt]

Ahahaha great! I have to admit that most of us Germans DO sound that way in English. A little embarassing. ;-)

[ShadowWolf202]

ur ugly cause germans are cute

[DocAxt]

Well I can see a contradiction here as I am German which would mean, according to you, that I am both ugly and cute? ;-)

[ShadowWolf202]

I would like to blame my sister for the immaturity of my previous comment (and for the falsehood I am spinning now).

[Purehiphop1]

Great!

[Dosedmonkey]

I could see this being a genuine mistake over a radio, if it wasn't for the fact it was the coast gaurd responding! XD

[shallowlife]

the ship should have responded:

I r teh sinking :D

[marifrance]

*gigglesnort*

That's too cute.

Except it'd suck if those guys "thinking" died. D':

[kiwanaboy]

AHAHAHAHA

[Kenwyne3546]

lol, this is great.

[rafalp30]

I sink it's LOL

[Schogi]

haha so geil. ich finds derb komisch.

what are you sinking *thinking* about<? hahahaha