Just recently I was in a conversation with a number of UK mainlanders and we had a debate over what “tories” meant, apparently disproportionately ordinarily it refers to a political party and it’s not usual to use it as short for “territories” as I’ve used it (according to how the debate ended, it was half and half between them). And once again I’m reminded of how people feel to look back at their usage of a word/phrase over the years and cringe.

More tragically, me and a friend were embarrassed once upon realizing everyone was confusing “encephalitis” with “hydrocephalus” when talking to someone about their kid with hydrocephalus. Awkward because encephalitis is caused by HIV.

  • Saigonauticon@voltage.vnEnglish
    33·
    11 months ago

    Oh in English – I used to say renumerate (numerate a second time) instead of remunerate (pay someone for a thing).

    • Scrollone@feddit.it
      13·
      11 months ago

      Me too!! I’m Italian and I used to say “renumerare” instead of “remunerare”.

      If you’re curious, the verb comes from Latin “munus” = service/duty/tax

      • Saigonauticon@voltage.vnEnglish
        4·
        11 months ago

        Yup, that makes sense!

        I’ve cornered the market on Latin-Vietnamese cross-language humor though. Stay off my turf :P

    • Teodomo@lemmy.world
      2·
      11 months ago

      I’ve never had this problem in English nor Spanish but you made me realize those two words are very similar in Spanish too (reenumerar, remunerar)