Lost in translation
08.05
How’d you like to be the guy on that poster? Before you answer, note that the name “Putzmeister” is a good example of why naming firms check for unfortunate translations or connotations when creating names for clients with international exposure.
I stopped at a red light behind a Putzmeister truck awhile back on my way to work, and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. For those of you who don’t dabble in Yiddish, a putz is an idiot. Well…worse than an idiot, really. For a more accurate definition, check out Urban Dictionary. The Putzmeister website claims it’s German for “plaster master,” but Urban Dictionary (and anyone who speaks a little Yiddish, I would think) would translate it as master of something quite different.
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Toyota Motors has a car called the “Venza”, which my Dad laughingly told me would be pronounced “benza” in Japanese, and translates to “toilet seat”. Surprising from a Japanese company! I would assume this model is called something different in Japan.