If you read our blog the other week on funny UK place names and thought the UK was quirky, mainland Europe takes it to a whole new level.
Most of these names are perfectly innocent in their native languages, but when translated or read by an English speaker, they range from the unfortunate to the surreal.
1. The “Lost in Translation” Classics
These are names that mean something completely normal locally but sound… different to us.
- Middelfart, Denmark: Before you laugh, it simply means “Middle Way” or “Middle Passage” in Old Danish. It sits right in the middle of a shipping lane.
- Condom, France: A lovely town in Gascony. The name has nothing to do with protection; it likely comes from the Gaulish words condate-on (confluence of rivers).
- Wankdorf, Switzerland: Home to a major football stadium in Bern. In German, “dorf” means village, but “Wank” has… other connotations in English.
- Hell, Norway: It actually freezes over quite often! In Norwegian, hell means “luck” or “success,” but that doesn’t stop tourists from taking photos by the “Hell Gods-Expedition” sign at the train station.
2. The Truly Bizarre (Literally Translated)
Some European place names are just as weird in their own language as they are in English.
- Lederhose, Germany: Yes, there is a town named “Leather Trousers.” * Kissing and Petting, Germany: These are two real Bavarian villages. If you drive a bit further across the border into Austria, you’ll find Fugging (which famously changed its name from Fucking in 2021 because tourists kept stealing the signs).
- Poo, Spain: Specifically, Playa de Poo. It’s a stunningly beautiful beach, but the name is hard for English-speaking families to say with a straight face.
- Sexbierum, Netherlands: It sounds like a weekend itinerary (Sex, Beer, Rum), but it actually comes from Sixtisberen, meaning “Houses of Sixtus.”
3. The “Unpleasant” Ones
- Rottenegg, Austria: Named after a ruined castle (rotten meaning ruined/decayed), not a smelly breakfast.
- Unterstinkenbrunn, Austria: This literally translates to “Lower Stinking Well.” Its neighbor is, predictably, Oberstinkenbrunn (Upper Stinking Well).
- Linsengericht, Germany: This town is literally named “Lentil Dish.” It refers to a historical court of law, but today it just sounds like a menu item.
The “Hall of Fame” Map
| Country | Place Name | Literal/English Meaning |
| Italy | Bastardo | Exactly what it sounds like (named after an old inn). |
| Poland | Złe Mięso | “Bad Meat” (legend says it was an old battle site). |
| Finland | Lemu | “Bad Smell.” |
| Slovakia | Horny Bar | Means “Upper Bar” (referring to the landscape). |
| Hungary | Bugyi | “Panties.” |
