30 Best and worst Google Translate fails that will make you cringe forever
Google Translate is a great tool when you need to know a simple word or phrase. However, it's definitely not without its flaws and can lead to some hilarious misunderstandings.
Here are some of the best and worst translation fails on the internet. Prepare to cringe.
1. Genetic code is Somalian??
"Do you want to translate this DNA sequence from Somali to English?" #googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/3Lz59Ph7c1
— Zannah Salter (@Zannah_Du) April 25, 2017
Apparently DNA sequence is Somalian, at least according to Google Translate anyway.
2. It's the thought that counts
Happy St. Patrick's Day? #GoogleTranslateFail pic.twitter.com/ISvVd5T5VD
— John Eastwood (@JohnAEastwood) March 16, 2018
It doesn't matter which major holiday you're celebrating. All that matters is that you're celebrating.
3. Does the supermarket sell dung?
I hope this is a #GoogleTranslateFail. #Japan pic.twitter.com/Xipj6KVO9L
— Sarah Carol 🎙️ サラ•キャロル (@SarahCarolVO) March 6, 2018
Maybe cow dung is a rare delicacy, and we're all missing out. Or maybe this is just a particularly bad Google Translate failure.
4. Nothing like a delicious clothes sandwich
Sounds like a #GoogleTranslateFail. I'm having flashbacks to some of the signs I saw in China. pic.twitter.com/gmsTl6h3wf
— Martin McAlinden (@dr_urbanus) January 18, 2018
Google Translate has some pretty wild ideas when it comes to cuisine. A clothes sandwich is probably one of the more tame suggestions on this list.
5. Birthday fail
I laughed so hard at this #GoogleTranslateFail pic.twitter.com/8gWYQHzCGl
— Michelle Helou (@itsmichellelb) February 1, 2020
I won't trust Google Translate to throw me a party.
6. Very helpful, thanks Google
Google Translate fail of the day: Numbers. #googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/2zdHgdoPA9
— HanyuTranslation (@HanyuTranslator) November 14, 2017
This makes perfect sense. A flawless translation.
7. Speckled wood butterfly = forest trout?
I'm learning Scottish #Gaelic, so I often test my understanding with Gaelic Twitter. However Google Translate cannot be trusted to help! It translated speckled wood butterfly as "forest trout" 🤣🤣🤣#GoogleTranslateFail
— J. Noel (@Travel2Bond) July 28, 2019
(I got the rest right, though!) https://t.co/ikYmcxZ6nS pic.twitter.com/DQmV2m8ZCX
Can't translate butterfly, serious fail.
8. Seems a little off-topic, but ok
Yeah, that's some good cake. BTW did you burn someone? #GoogleTranslateFail #ProDropLanguage pic.twitter.com/apUojyRB4W
— Alexander Tamara Steward (@Xandyballz) September 9, 2017
You know when you eat a really good cake, and the only explanation is that the chef must have burnt someone? No?
9. Is it worth it?
Using google translate to translate my German, and then having to translate google translate 🙄 figures 😆#googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/3OopGrxx4F
— Katie Archbold (@KatieArchbold22) August 20, 2017
When you have to re-translate Google's translations, it sometimes feels like learning a new language would be easier and less time-consuming.
10. Beware of zebras
Wild roving clans of zebras, a very real threat to museums worldwide #googletranslatefail (the actual word here was sebraklanner, beetles) pic.twitter.com/cL2lkIjmnY
— Dr. Hanneke Farstad Meijer (@DrHanneke) July 5, 2017
There's probably nothing to worry about when it comes to zebra clans. But you can never be too sure...
11. Genetic translation
"Do you want to translate this DNA sequence from Somali to English?" #googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/3Lz59Ph7c1
— Zannah Salter (@Zannah_Du) April 25, 2017
Who knew we had the technology to translate DNA into other languages? Wait, we don't? Oh, never mind.
12. Billy Irish
Billy Irish 🤣🤣🤣. Thank you online translator for the consistan laughs. #BillyElish #BillyIrish #GoogleTranslateFail pic.twitter.com/I8odOO6mDN
— 🤘🦊 Lee-Metal 🦊🤘 (@GeneraLee1988) July 3, 2019
Billy Eilish, more like Billy Irish says Google.
13. Israel's leading tourist
"leading tourist Aflktziit"! :-) #googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/Yr176SETlU
— Arik Fraimovich (@arikfr) June 3, 2015
Google Translate thinks this app is Israel's leading tourist.
14. Cookie recipe gone wrong?
Apparently I need mosquito nipples for this cookie recipe from a friend in #slovakia #googletranslatefail #translatefail #groundcloves pic.twitter.com/j85DmwLHwF
— Sáša Woodruff (@trowelandfork) November 26, 2018
This tweet spaks for itself. speaks
15. Google, what are you doing?
These sentences have totally different meanings. German output means "however we hope to help with your travel plans". #GoogleTranslateFail pic.twitter.com/qNgRISKlHq
— Stephen Forrest (@saphorr) December 7, 2016
These two things aren't remotely the same. Sometimes it feels like Google is trolling all of us.
16. The mermaids are here for your safety
The mermaids are there for everyone's safety. Please don't ignore them. :p #googletranslatefail LOL pic.twitter.com/tNce6c5fIC
— The Stress Free Spanish Teacher (she/her/ella) (@stressfreespani) November 10, 2016
Life would be a lot cooler if we had mermaids looking out for us. Just saying.
17. Charlotte did what?!
Why yes, I will have the Charlotte screwed back scented fishing. Yum! #googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/XkvnAUjyDM
— Grant Ingersoll (@gsingers) July 26, 2016
No matter how you feel about Charlotte and the things she does, this seems like an inappropriate way to talk about it.
18. Municipal goverment? Cat?
#GoogleTranslateFail
— Les Floyd (@Lesism) September 1, 2017
"the cat has just made a tattoo of his lover on his back"
not
"municipal government has done the tattoo on the girl" https://t.co/5vmvFJSLAA
Municipal government has done the tattoo on the girl? Are you serious Google?
19. Is it a good day or a bad day?
@googletranslate: has #Brexit confused you? #googletranslatefail #confoogle pic.twitter.com/5RJ6wkhE1J
— Monica Verma (@MonTalksCyber) June 29, 2016
Google seems to be arguing with itself. The English side is pretty sure it's a bad day for Europe, but the German side thinks it's a good day. Somehow this doesn't seem like an accurate translation.
20. The laugh of a calf is delicious
Not sure what to order. I may skip the beef annus. But the laugh of calf, maybe. #googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/AVBrZqVf5Y
— Mikey Likes (@mliebow) May 21, 2016
Would you eat beef with a calf-loving knife? No? How about calf-loving to five bowls of cereal?
21. Nothing better than a drunk cat
Asked our waitress to translate what dim sum we just ordered... #GoogleTranslateFail 😹🍻 pic.twitter.com/SepIjFC2rM
— liz (@liznlbee) April 23, 2016
Even if the dumplings aren't great, at least the cat is having a good time.
22. When in Rome
👉 #Aroma: #traducción del español al inglés según #Google #ToRome 😁 ¡Pruébalo! #Error #Fail #googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/TeRV29IDUN
— Sergio E. Tapia P. (@ChechoTapia) February 29, 2016
Going to Rome would be lovely, but it probably isn't the answer you're looking for.
23. Are you a cannibal?
So Google is cannibal apparently :D #lol #googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/2uUO5TnerY
— MichelleVallu (@LoyalCAMitchie) February 28, 2016
Google seems to be hinting at some pretty dark things with this one. Are you OK, Google?
24. A delicious glass of pigeonholes
Mike enjoyed his Pigeonholes of Devil last night #googletranslate #googletranslatefail 😂 #casillerodeldiablo pic.twitter.com/ujGsJGaBIu
— Jo Stevens (@jostevens1709) January 1, 2016
Looks like Google has been drinking too. At least you'll always have a drinking buddy!
25. Guess that tune
In Google translate, 'lalalala' translates to Bjork, the famous Icelandic singer?! #GoogleTranslateFail pic.twitter.com/yJCeBKz6FG
— We Are Linguistica (@LinguisticaUK) October 13, 2015
While it's cute that Google thought you were trying to guess a song, its suggestion of Björk was wrong in so many ways.
26. Sweet dreams, tiny grass
#googletranslatefail.
— Cowbridge MFL (@cowbridgemfl) November 2, 2014
Be frugal with google! See more on our blog! pic.twitter.com/TbnYlSz7Vp
Honestly, this just sounds so much cuter than "Keep Off The Grass". Every sign should be replaced with this one.
27. Is there a goat in your budget?
#googletranslatefails #oversættelsesfejl pic.twitter.com/SNNoGHBD1Q
— EgoLibris (@egolibris) May 17, 2017
It's unwise to purchase a goat if there wasn't a goat in your budget. At least that's the message we think Google is trying to convey.
28. Wow, a female cat is apparently a bird now.
Come to our Zoo, see the many fine animals like The Red Kangaroo, Indian Elephant, A Horse or Female Cat#Googletranslatefail pic.twitter.com/rK8qV5hdJQ
— Worthintendo (@Worthintendo) March 16, 2017
Female cat and lumpy fish?
29. But did you enjoy the tea?
We got some great feedback from cafés here in Ireland but this one from Finland is our fave 😂👌...#googletranslatefails #matchalatte pic.twitter.com/UlnPldBAeH
— Koyu Matcha GreenTea (@KoyuMatcha) January 18, 2017
Is this a good review? A bad one? It's impossible to know for sure.
30. Asking the tough questions
#googletranslatefail always cheer my work day up pic.twitter.com/Iw9WJDck82
— Sarah Senior (@SS55SNR) March 30, 2018
The political climate of 2018 can be intense, but this is insane.