I am currently working in Germany after three years of studying here. In the beginning, my German vocabulary wasn't that extensive, so whenever I didnt know how to say a word in German, I always said the English word with the German pronunciation. It's a style of speaking that the Germans themselves use quite often. Not only is it considered hip in some circles, but English words have become a major part of German vocabulary, particularly when it comes to computers and high-tech. My strategy, in short, usually worked wonderfully.

But not always. I was at a friend's home and we were having dinner together with his parents and grandparents. I come from Trinidad and, among other questions, my friend's parents asked me what kind of snacks I like to eat at home. Immediately I began to yap away about red mango and salt mango and all those other yummy salted, sweet, peppered, and dried fruits -- collectively called "preservatives" in Trinidad. The only problem was, I didnt know how to say preservatives in German. So I used my standard strategy: English word, German pronunciation.

It was, to say the least, a bad idea. My perhaps five minute monologue went something like this: "Ich liebe praeservativ!! Ich mag rote und gruen und alles schmeckt sehr gut!!" (I love preservatives!! I like red and green and they all taste so good!!). Oddly, though, my German hosts, normally so interested in my homeland, got suddenly very, very quiet.

Turns out, Preservativ in German means condom.