Danish Lego Racer lost in translation

by Scott Jon Siegel { Feb 28th 2008 at 1:00AM }

What could possibly be blurred out of a seemingly innocent screenshot? Nothing controversial, if you're reading it in the right language. Pictured is the Danish version of LEGO Racers, as seen on Insert Credit. A certain, misogynistic word appears when players successfully complete a race. Bizarre Danish sense of humor? Or perhaps the work of a vengeful coder?

As it turns out, neither. The word, coincidentally, means "finish" or "end" in Danish, making the above image perfectly acceptable in its intended tongue, but humorously inappropriate for English speakers. Check out the uncensored, vaguely NSFW image after the break, and enjoy the giggles at the expense of a foreign language.

Tags: high-voltage, humor, language, lego, lego-racers, vulgarity

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ahsayuni @ Feb 28th 2008 2:12AM

hehe (double post)

Kenofthedead @ Feb 28th 2008 1:10AM

I don't know, some LEGO-people are....

Prufrock @ Feb 28th 2008 2:00AM

Lego-people don't exist.

Gehodra @ Feb 28th 2008 2:26AM

You don't exist.

ssuk @ Feb 28th 2008 6:21AM

You cannot be found.

Edguy @ Feb 28th 2008 1:16AM

Do I sense shenanigans? OMG. 3

Well, I guess it is kinda funny after the buildup.

2rben @ Feb 28th 2008 7:22AM

"OMG. 3" is also perfectly reasonable in Danish, it's short for "Omgange" which in English would be rounds/laps of the racetrack.

idiot @ Feb 28th 2008 1:19AM

i GOL'd

CB @ Feb 28th 2008 1:22AM

According to this translator, it's true: http://tinyurl.com/2stnf6

Phillip @ Feb 28th 2008 8:47AM

Did you know you can donate one or all of your vital organs to Aperture Science Self Esteem Fund for Girls? It's true!

MysticX @ Feb 28th 2008 1:23AM

The word Slut means Finish in Danish :).

Prufrock @ Feb 28th 2008 1:59AM

Oh, whew, well, that's a relief. Thanks for clearing that one up.

Gehodra @ Feb 28th 2008 2:30AM

Coincidently, slut also means 'danish' in Finnish.

FOXHOUND @ Feb 28th 2008 8:16AM

Thankfully, we got this information prior to the SUMMER OLYMPICS. Now, I can cheer on my country's female track athletes by calling them SLUT when they finish. ;]

Okänd @ Feb 28th 2008 4:33PM

In swedish it means end.

Monkeydog @ Feb 28th 2008 1:44AM

There Will Be Blood must be oh so much more funnier in Danish.

NvM @ Feb 28th 2008 3:54PM

Jeg drik jeres milkshake!

fester @ Feb 28th 2008 1:58AM

I'm getting sick and tired of Lego this and Lego that; I'd sooner see MARCUS and DOM walking down the fashion runway hand in hand in lavender tights and big woodies......hey! wait a minute!... lol

pB @ Feb 28th 2008 2:01AM

Holy crap Lego Racers was an awesome game. I'm tempted to pick up the Danish version and re-play it (Rocket Racer you're going down, again).

Evan @ Feb 28th 2008 10:12AM

You can just change the language in the settings menu.

J @ Feb 28th 2008 11:42AM

Yeah.. you know, I had to wait in line for hours when this came out because of all the people there to buy Halo3 ;)

neonez @ Feb 28th 2008 2:15AM

That was an amazing game. building you're own car was just pure awesome. Notice also the exclamatory innitialism in the upper right.

Just_a_guy @ Feb 28th 2008 2:25AM

so after the end of this article, i have slut reading? LOL!

ThornedVenom (Patapornographer) @ Feb 28th 2008 3:43AM

Next stop: Lego GTA.

Xiel @ Feb 28th 2008 4:23AM

Why's there a kiwi bird on the censored sign? :/

Scott Jon Siegel @ Feb 28th 2008 7:30AM

There's nothing offensive implied by the kiwi on the censored bar; it's merely a self-referential joke, referring to the same censor bar used in an earlier post:

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/todays-most-vulgar-videos-jam-sessions-instant-rockstar/

I thought it might be funny to re-use the same graphic out of context. Guess I was wrong. :/

Stevo @ Feb 28th 2008 5:16AM

Why the FUCK HAVE YOU GOT A KIWI on your freakin censored symbol. I heavily offended. Take it the fuck off. That is all.

renoraines @ Feb 28th 2008 5:51AM

I am not offended, just disappointed, and confused

Rollins @ Feb 28th 2008 11:49AM

Forgive my ignorance, but why is the bird so offensive?

Unless I'm missing some blatant sarcasm.

Radnom @ Feb 29th 2008 3:49PM

it's Australia who does all the game banning... not so much us New Zealanders... should be a little platypus or something up there.

Feigr @ Feb 28th 2008 6:11AM

Slut also means end or finish in Swedish.

TheFreak @ Feb 28th 2008 6:50AM

APPROACHING SOUND BARRIER!

mr mobius @ Feb 28th 2008 7:12AM

You had to just get there before me damn you.

Was going to ask if this game had a sound barrier.

Terdod @ Feb 28th 2008 6:53AM

Slut means end or finnish in all nordic languages, namely swedish, danish, norwegian and finnish.

Lucky @ Feb 28th 2008 9:01AM

No it doesn't. Primarily because Finnish isn't a Nordic language.

Egon Pax @ Feb 28th 2008 8:43AM

That's good stuff right there.

cduran01 @ Feb 28th 2008 9:35AM

Wow....wonder how many english words are similar to that in other languages

Farseer (GDI) @ Feb 28th 2008 12:34PM

Actually, while talking about Danish, the word we use for "speed" is translated as "fart" in Danish. So, I guess that one can "fart to the slut" then?

Evan @ Feb 28th 2008 10:12AM

For some reason that game was more fun when you changed the language. Probably because of the wacky font.

corgster @ Feb 28th 2008 12:38PM

While the spelling may resemble a derivative of "loose women", the pronunciation diverges between the two languages. If I am correct (the word is the same in Swedish, which I speak/read) the 'u' is pronounced like the 'oo' in boot.

Technicalities aside, I had a funny experience watching a Danish film where it flashed "Slut" at the end. It was very fitting because an adulturous women was just taken away by the police (old silent film named Afgrunden aka The Abyss). Also, in Stockholm the end of the line on a train is the "Slutstation" which also can make an anglo-speaker laugh.