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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz & Ellie Forbes

Tesco shoppers in stitches over awkward Welsh translation blunder on store sign

Tesco shoppers were left in stitches after the supermarket put up a sign with a wrongly translated word on it – for which it later apologised.

The popular supermarket chain had put up a sign in a store in Wales pointing customers to where the squash was – but it turns out the word they used was the one for the sports game, not the drink.

The sign for 'sboncen' was put up in Tesco's Swansea store, pointing its customers towards the cordial. However, in Welsh sboncen means the sports game.

The closest translation in Welsh to squash the drink appears to be Diod Ffrwythau, which means fruit drink.

Tesco has since apologised for the blunder (stock image) (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Tesco bosses have since removed the sign and apologised for the blunder – but not before amused customers took a picture of the sign and posted it on social media.

Customer Andy Godden tweeted a picture of the sign saying: "Quality example of its type from Tesco in Swansea.

"Maybe don't use Google for the translations next time."

Another Titter user said: "My wife is Welsh - she just started laughing at this," While a third added: "Sboncen though. Such a good word."

Others couldn't help but poke fun at the supermarket too, with one jokingly asking: "Unless you can play squash under this sign?" While another said: "Sboncen in aisle 8 and tenis bwrdd [table tennis] in aisle 9, no doubt. Nofio [swimming] in the car park."

A spokesperson from Tesco said: "We are sorry for this misunderstanding and are arranging for the sign to be replaced. In the meantime, the sign has been taken down."

It's not the first time someone has made a Welsh translation blunder.

In 2022, a road sign placed by Openreach contractors had people scratching their heads because it meant completely different things in Welsh and English.

The sign said: "Ffordd yma ar gau o'r 11/04/22 i'r 13/04/22 8am to 5pm."

The English translation beneath read: "This road will be closed 26/04/22 to 27/04/22 8am to 5pm" - some two weeks later.

People thought it was hilarious because it gave "different dates for English and Welsh people".

Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk

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