So many English t-shirts seen in Poland! During a recent visit to the mall, I spotted more than 50 t-shirts sporting English phrases and only two with Polish words. A lot of people here speak English, but I have to wonder about some of the t-shirt designers. When we’re out and about, it’s not unusual to see a shirt that makes us do a double-take and say to each other, “that makes no sense! who’s writing this stuff?” The wearer doesn’t seem to know or care. Take a look at the English T-shirts seen in Poland.
What are Poles saying about themselves when they sport English t-shirts? I’m well traveled, a cosmopolitan citizen of the world? The shirt was free with a pair of shoes?
I may be overly sensitive about this. We have daughters that will not wear anything (except maybe to sleep in) that has the name of a school on it unless they were a student there. The same applies for foreign cities, if they haven’t been, they’re not wearing it. Gone are the days when we can pick up a t-shirt on our travels as a gift for them.
Here’s what I found (worn by adults) on a recent trip to the mall for groceries and a cup of tea. Yes, this makes me the crazy American lady who pulls out her phone to take notes while shopping. They’re unusual, but tame compared to some:
- Heart Breaker
- Good Waves
- HS DSGN: Check This Out
- Super Star
- Extreme Hobby
- Surf Camp
- I love trash (Oscar the Grouch)
- Extreme Quality
- Bambi
- Digital Freak
- Just Do It
- Run
- O’Neill Santa Cruz: Original Surf Shop
- Where?
- Open Road
- I love you
- Cliff Diver: Major Seaport
- If your not fast, We’re not friends
- Crosshatch
- Angry Birds
- Get It
- Cool
- Extreme Hobby: Outlaw
- Whatever?
- Maverick Poker Guns
- Party Bliss Life
- Speed Hunter
- My favorite memories: You. . .
- Summer Fun
- Drum and Bass
- Space Invaders
- NY: New You
- Private Lessons
- Dreamer
- Hong Kong
- Perfume of me
- Everlast
- Super Denim Company
- Hot Summer High
- Your smile is . . .
- Miami
- Ocean Pacific
- Havana, Cuba
- Life on Heart: Jeans
- Smile: I wish you luck
- Boston Police
- NO! YES! NO!
- ON OFF
- Yo!
- French Alps Adventure
- The Elements of Style
- Today’s Menu (lobster)
- Talk to the PAW (Garfield)
We have a family run convenience store in our neighborhood. I’ll never forget the day Ed and his brother popped over for something. The son was working that day and wearing a t-shirt from a western Pennsylvania school. Ed’s brother said, “where’d you get the shirt? That’s where I’m from!” It turns out the t-shirt was from a second hand store. There must have been someone from PA traveling through in need of a few zloty or lightening their load.
What the craziest thing you’ve seen on the t-shirt?
P.S. — We’re off on a road trip through Germany, Belgium, and France. Those posts are coming soon, but in the meantime, stop by on Tuesday for a beet cupcake recipe. How’s that for a Polish American combination?
An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com, she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.
Jean
Most of those t-shirts make no sense. Some are downright weird.
polishhousewife
These are tame compared to some!
Kasia
I have been noticing the same thing. I have commented on this to Michael several times. Today, when we were walking through Galeria Malta I asked my brother what percentage of people understand the writing on their shirts. He thought 10% or less, and that most people like the design, and the color of a shirt, and they don’t pay attention to the text. Scary! I only remember one, worn by a young woman: “taste me”:(
polishhousewife
10%? Hmm, kind of like English song lyrics! 😉
Joey
Ah great post, my wife and I always laugh about these shirts, because so many don’t make any sense at all. It reminds me of the people getting the Japanese tattoos in the states that think they mean faith or love, but in reality probably don’t mean anything at all 🙂
polishhousewife
LOL. Right, Joey, it would pay to do your research for something as permanent as a tattoo.
Edi
I’ve observed a similar phenomenon while living in China. On top of garments with text that made no sense, they had a bunch of “not-so-perfect-knockoffs” with all kinds of misspelled words/brand names: Pucci, Grada,etc.;) I think I devoted a post or two to that on my blog.
Most of these T-shirts that you see in PL are probably made in China (Asia) and a lot of “designs” are probably the “masterpieces” of random factory owners or workers – who don’t speak English.
polishhousewife
I think you’re right, Edi. I’ve heard something to the effect that it’s not how the Polish speak English, but how the Chinese speak English. 😉