When you’re globalizing a brand, it’s dependably a smart thought to check whether your name, logo, or slogan implies something else in the areas where you’re extending. Here are the 20 most exceedingly terrible cases that disregarded this vital showcasing step:
Braniff International interpreted a motto touting its finely upholstered seats “Fly in Leather” into Spanish as “Fly Naked.”
Clairol propelled a hair curler called “Fog Stick” in Germany despite the fact that “fog” is German slang for compost.
Coca-Cola’s image name, when initially showcased in China, was now and then deciphered as “Nibble The Wax Tadpole.”
Colgate propelled toothpaste in France named “Sign” without understanding that it’s additionally the name of a French explicit magazine.
Coors interpreted its trademark, “Turn It Loose,” into Spanish, where it is an everyday term for having the runs.
Electrolux at one time promoted its vacuum cleaners in the U.S. with the slogan: “Nothing sucks like an Electrolux.”
Passage botched when advertising the Pinto in Brazil on the grounds that the term in Brazilian Portuguese signifies “minor male privates.”
Plain Perdue’s slogan, “It takes an intense man to make a delicate chicken,” got converted into Spanish as “It takes a sexually invigorated man to make a chicken friendly.”
Gerber promoted child sustenance in Africa with an adorable infant on the name without realizing that, in Ethiopia, for instance, items for the most part have pictures on the mark of what’s inside since numerous buyers can’t read.
Ikea items were advertised in Thailand with Swedish names that in the Thai dialect signify “sex” and “getting to third base.”
KFC made Chinese purchasers somewhat fearful when “finger licking great” was interpreted as “eat your fingers off.”
Mercedes-Benz entered the Chinese market under the brand name “Bensi,” which signifies “hurry to pass on.”
Nike needed to review a huge number of items when an adornment planned to look like fire on the back of the shoes took after the Arabic word for Allah.
Panasonic propelled a Web-prepared PC with a Woody Woodpecker subject utilizing the motto “Touch Woody: The Internet Pecker.”
Parker Pen, when venturing into Mexico, mistranslated “It won’t spill in your pocket and humiliate you” into “It won’t spill in your pocket and make you pregnant.”
Paxam, an Iranian buyer products organization, markets clothing cleanser utilizing the Farsi word for “snow,” bringing about bundles named “Barf Soap.”
Pepsi’s trademark “Pepsi Brings You Back to Life” was appeared in China as “Pepsi Brings You Back from the Grave.”
Puffs showcased its tissues under that brand name in Germany despite the fact that “puff” is German slang for a whorehouse.
The American Dairy Association imitated its “Got Milk?” battle in Spanish-talking nations where it was converted into “Would you say you are Lactating?”
Vicks brought its hack drops into the German market without understanding that the German articulation of “v” is “f” making “Vicks” slang for sex.
BTW, you may have seen that the most popular interpretation bungle – Chevy “Nova” converted into Spanish as “Won’t Go”- – isn’t on the rundown. It’s a urban myth.
