I love funny signs from around the world. It is yet another way to peek into a different culture and learn something about the local population.
Many of these signs reveal a biting sense of humor. Others attempt to provide helpful information to foreigners in broken English often resulting in funny and awkward translations.
Some signs might surprise and instruct as well as amuse. For example, did you know toilets around the world came in all different designs?
Large portions of the world are unfamiliar with flush toilets and don’t now how to use them because they are accustomed to perfectly functional squat toilets.
Therefore, someone encountering a flush toilet for the first time may require as much instruction as someone using a sophisticated Japanese toilet.
Helpful signs offering toilet use instruction are not unusual around the world.
Some of the best funny signs from around the world revolve around rest-rooms; sophomoric humor, yes, but still funny.
Others include odd menu translations, bizarre admonitions and confusing warnings. Attempts at humor, especially by local authorities trying hard to get a point across are especially comical.
I’ve collected samples of funny signs from around the world donated by frequent travelers. From Cuba to Japan, Australia to New Zealand, These funny signs from around the world are guaranteed to make you smile.
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China
Seen in a Beijing street. No fighting! No kidding!
If you’re planning on staying in Beijing, we recommend using Booking.com to locate the perfect hotel.
Sometimes you can get a good deal on a combo pack in China; a beer and a local chick.
Some signs in China are very polite
Japan
Japan is famous for its sophisticated toilets and funny bathroom signs.
The country is a treasure trove of funny signs.
Is this really a thing in Japan that there are so many signs warning against toilet peeping? This almost looks like a sign saying “If you WANT a guy peeping over your bathroom stall you should come here.”
Here is one sign which really surprised us in Tokyo metro. It states, that explosives like ammunition and dynamite are allowed on board.
In other words, you cannot have MULTIPLE sticks of dynamite or LOTS of poisons and weapons in the metro, but a few of these…well…OK.
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Myanmar
Found on the back of a bathroom door in front of the toilet in Yangoon, Myanmar.
Ireland
Leprechauns are REAL! They can be seen all over Ireland.
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Taipei, Taiwan
These are some of the funny signs you see in Taipei, Taiwan.
This sign has no existential angst. Where else would you be?
Please reserve toilet for non-dumping activities.
This is a tough one. You don’t know if its sexist… or what?
Beware the English interfacing gangsters!
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Sri Lanka
Self explanatory in Sri Lanka. There were many missionaries in the country during its colonial times.
Namibia
This was taken in the deserts of Namibia where most of the the area is sand. …Duh…
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All of these places on the directional signs really exist. Imagine giving your address as “The Garden of Eden.”
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New Zealand
Now here is a photo that, when taken just at the right moment, made a silly statement. Auckland, New Zealand.
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Taichung, Taiwan
This sign is at Rainbow Village on the outskirts of Taichung, Taiwan and is drawn in the same style as the rest of the art in the village. It’s right under a mango tree, which I guess often catches people unaware with its falling mangoes!
OMG! The mangoes are coming, the mangoes are coming. Watch out!
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South Korea
We had waited until late afternoon to visit the very popular Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, South Korea. As we were strolling around and admiring the pretty architecture we saw this sign outside a drink shop which was now closed. I do wonder what peach lice tea would have tasted like!?
These are some of many examples of bad spelling in English and weird translating in Korean.
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Mexico
In Mexico, the repercussions of ignoring city directives against urinating in public are a bit extreme.
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SINGAPORE
In Singapore you will find that there are a lot of rules and that durian is a popular fruit (despite the smell)!
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Australia
Here is a sign in my local park in New Farm, Brisbane, Australia. It is quite near the city’s most popular theater and entertainment complex, The Powerhouse ( a converted power station) so there a few theatrical type signs in the area.
I’ve walked past it thousands of times and it still makes me smile.
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Guadeloupe
Outside a bar in Point a Pitre, Guadeloupe, this restaurant requires a strict dress code.
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Cuba
Slovenia
Luxembourg
This picture was taken inside a women’s bathroom stall at an office in Luxembourg.
The office where the picture was taken is multi-national and not all nationalities know to brush the toilet bowl after a poo if marks are left.
Iceland
Turkey
Vietnam
Austria
Indonesia
United States
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2 Responses
Hello! thank you again for this new post about signs around the world, but next time do not forget to add sing for the camels when visiting Desert.
Waiting for your visit to Morocco after this pandemic
Send it to me and I will include it. Thank you for commenting. I hope it made you laugh.