'Fat little cabbage' and 'my little poopsie': Bizarre terms of endearment from around the world revealed

  • Infographic reveals quirky compliments from around the world in English
  • Little insects, breadcrumbs, microbes and cabbage are terms of affection
  • Don't be offended if you're called fat in Spain or 'my little poopsie' in Italy   

Nothing says you love someone like calling them fat, a little insect or wishing a mouse would eat them.

But these baffling compliments are direct English translations of expressions that in their respective countries are terms of endearment.

A new infographic has revealed some of the quirkier turns of phrases from Europe and Asia for wooing a holiday fling or impressing a foreign friend next time you're overseas.

Hungarian word Bogarkam translates as my little insect or bug. Although mon petit chou means my little cabbage there is also a pastry with a similar name, which could sweeten the comparison somewhat

Spanish term 'gordo' means fat but is also an affectionate pet name for a loved one. The German term 'zaubermaus' is most appropriate when describing your wife or daughter rather than an older person

From Hungary to France, Direct Travel has rounded up some of the world's most unusual terms of affection.

While the origins of some, such as the Chinese expression that translates as 'diving fish, swooping geese' are rooted in ancient stories others are just diminutive objects and creatures and are therefore considered adorable in their home countries.

Diving fish, swooping geese is a way to say that someone is so breathtakingly beautiful that the fish would forget to swim and the birds would forget to fly if they glanced at you. In effect you are a stunning, if not deadly, beauty.

The Japanese expression that translates as 'egg with eyes' is also a reference to an attractive person, notable for their oval-shaped face.

This Chinese expression (left) is a way to call someone beautiful based on ancient stories of beauties so breath-taking that when fish glanced at them they forgot to swim and when birds saw them they forgot to fly. In Poland you'll receive a warm response if you call someone breadcrumb (right)

Calling someone an egg with eyes is remarking on their oval-shaped face, a sign of beauty in Japan (left). The Persian phrase on the right is connected to someone being so cute they look edible

Food and affection come hand in hand in many cultures with compliments including 'breadcrumb' and 'my little cabbage' commonplace in Poland and France respectively.

The Persian expression 'may a mouse eat you' is based on the same sentiment as in English where people say a baby is so cute they could eat them.

Lastly, some attributes considered negative in some cultures were positive in another time and social climate. As such visitors to Spain should not take offence if a local calls them fat.

The Italian compliment on the right and Dutch on the left are baffling but said in their home destination are considered affectionate


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