I have heard that huge international companies such as IKEA keep databases of ‘taboo’ word for their product names. A word that may be okay in one language/culture, is often not okay in another. The word Pitt in Swedish is a slang term for penis. A early language exercise of mine at Arlanda International Airport was derailed when I was training their staff in public service announcements. In the days when they still called latecomers for flights, my fictitious latecomer was called Mr Pitt, causing the staff I was training to collapse in heaps of giggles.
Conversely, names like Fanny, Titti and Jerker are fairly common in Sweden, although less common nowadays as people opt for more international names like Eric, and Amelia.
I know it’s short for Shampoo but I still reacted
The Honda Fitta was hastily renamed in 2001 when the Nordic meaning of the word (c**t) became known. Even in Spain and Italy, there were “dirty words” that were close to Fitta in pronunciation.
And sometimes slang or culture happens to change the original meaning of your message
And, thanks to Wikipedia, here are some more
fascinating — and laugh aloud 🙂