2009/04/27

豚インフルエンザ は英語で何と言うの?

豚インフルエンザ has many governments on red alert. Over 80 people have died in Mexico and scores of others in the U.S., New Zealand, France have fallen ill. Did you know that 豚インフルエンザ translated into English is the swine flu? Swine is used instead of pig, which is an interesting choice I thought because swine is an old-fashioned word describing the animal and not the first image (animal) that comes to mind when most native speakers hear this word.

Swine is often used to describe a person whom you consider to be extremely unpleasant and unkind.You filthy swine! Her ex-husband sounds like a real swine. This word has a very strong meaning and should be used only if you are absolutely furious.

You might have heard swine used in the expression to cast pearls before a swine.
It means to offer something valuable or good to someone who does not know its value.
(豚に真珠)

The singular and the plural form are spelled the same way. (1 swine, 2 swine)
See my earlier deer, sheep, fish blog entry for more examples.




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