European confusion?

[Soundguy]

For what it's worth.. I'd like to add that common 'lamp' oil her ein the US is parafin.. etc..

Soundguy

 

[California]

I thought that stuff was called 'coal oil'. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I'm beginning to think my terminology is outdated or regional - I learned it from Grandpa who was born in the West in 1875. I think you and Greg are correct in describing modern American usage.

And to the Original Poster: sorry I got this thread so far off track!

 

[pasturesnew]

Thanks Greg,

Maybe I shouldn't have started this! But (as we say) in for a penny, in for a pound .....

To make matters even worse, the French word 'petrol' (equals US kerosene) is the same word we Brits use for gasoline. Even found a hapless Brit broken down on vacation - he ran out fuel, walked to a service station with a jerrycan and (not speaking much French) asked for 'petrol'. They often sell this in addition to auto fuels, so were not too surprised and obliged him. He walked back to his car, poured it in the tank and wondered why it wouldn't start. Which is when I found him - took a while to figure out he had put kerosene in his tank instead of gasoline, which is 'essence' in French. Ho hum.

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ... gasoline, which is 'essence' in French. )</font>
It gets worse as you travel east. In Italy he'd have to ask for benzina - which opens up a whole new can of worms when attempting to translate back to (American) English.

//greg//

 

[thingy]

Well,,got to say it,,,,its not worth much,,,,,,lamp oil is called lamp oil,,,look at the label on a bottle of lamp oil,,,,,it says LAMP OIL,,,it don't say parifin,,etc,,,,,on the bottle,,,got one in the shed,,,,,,across the ocean,,,,is,well,across the ocean,,,we are not over there,we are here,,,we speak american,,,,they use the metric system,,,we don't,,,,they have one kind of queen,,,we have another kind,,,they got a eruo dollar,,we got a picture of george washington on our dollar,,,and on and on,,,,,I bet in china,they got a whole different set of words for lamp oil,,gas,,kerosene,parifin,etc,,,,,,my point,,,over there is not over here,,different countrys,,,over here,parifin is a waxey,white stuff,,used in candles and on the top of jelly jars,and to make screw threads slick,,,,,thats it,,,,,,when you are in a foriegn country,,off course you got to speak their language,,or they don't understand you,,,go down to your local hardware store and ask for some parifin,,,they won't bring back a bottle of lamp oil,,,not here in the good ole u.s.a. anyways,,cause thats not what it called here,,get it.And greg,,,I'm proud to be euro challenged,,I think that was how you described it?? the thing

 

[Mith]

so you saying if i go to france and ask for petrol im gunna get kerosene, if i go to US and ask for petrol, they gunno go 'eh?' And if i ask for gas here, im gunna be asked 'propane or butane?'
man im confused /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
its good that everyone understands beer eh?, aint gunna do my car much good if i need to fill up though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[thingy]

Yeah,,,beer is a much better subject,,,don't know about the rest of them countrys,,as far as what to ask for in the way of gasoline,,but,,,,most americans,,if you say petrol,,,well first think or maybe say,,,where you from,,,,,,but most of us knows what petrol is,,,,,,we just say,,,,,GAS,,,its easier to say and much easier to spell,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hard to tell what word you would have to say in say,,,,,mongolia,,,we havn't covered that yet.... Beer,,,,coors light is my brand,,,drink way to much of it,,I guess??,,,,,addiction verses habit,,,,,,I difinatly got the habit,,,,,,will probably need some before days out,,planning on cutting a couple acres of weeds,,,planning I said,,,if I wait about 4 more hours,,,...... thingy

 

[milkman]

I'm sure enough tellin my age, I can remember mom going to the store and getting a bar of Gulf Wax, and melting it down in some gasoline and mopping it on the linoleum floor to make it shine, it sure is a wonder that the house didn't explode. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[thingy]

Man,,I ain't even heard of that,,,and my mom used to make me gargle with methilolate and water when I had sore throat,,,[by the way,,that works very good,,gargle,not drink],,,can't even buy that good methiolate any mores,,,they made it idiot proof,,,had some chrome in it,,I think?? Bet you all had a shiny smelly linolium kitchen floor??? My mom smoked like a frieght train,,,maybe thats why I never heard of it??I'll have to get my wife to try that,[after me and my daughter and dog go fishing,,,turn my propane space heater on before I leave...thingy

 

[Soundguy]

I remember mercurichrome when I was little.. came in a bottle and had an applicator on it.. good for cuts and scrapes.. burnt like crazy.. but nothing got infected!

Soundguy