TranslateMedia translates iconic British 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster

By The Drum Team, Editorial

August 1, 2012 | 3 min read

Global translation agency, TranslateMedia, has unveiled a series of posters interpreting the iconic British ‘Keep Clam and Carry On’ slogan in other languages. Created especially for the Olympic Games, TranslateMedia asked different nations to come up with their own version of the quintessentially British phrase, with some nation’s translations changing the phrase entirely.

In Traditional Chinese, used in Hong Kong and Taiwan, the phrase adds a polite ‘please’: Please keep calm (and we) should persist till the end. The Italians take on the slogan was: “I am Italian and I cannot keep calm.” A more relaxed translation came from the Spanish interpretation: “Keep calm and take a nap,” whereas it looked like the Germans took a chance to poke fun at the Brits interpreting: “To wait and drink tea.”

Brazilian Portuguese

In Brazilian Portuguese, the slogan translates as “Keep calm and keep your head up!”

Simplified Chinese

In Simplified Chinese, i.e. in Mainland China, the slogan reads: “Keep calm, head on straight”

Traditional Chinese used in Hong Kong and Taiwan

In Traditional Chinese, used in Hong Kong and Taiwan, the phrase adds a polite ‘please’: “Please keep calm (and we) should persist till the end”

German

Could the German version be poking fun at the Brits in this translation: “To wait and drink tea”?

Greek

The spirit of Greece is nicely summed up in the phrase: “Relax and look ahead”?

Italian

A favourite, from the Italians: “I am Italian and I cannot keep calm”

Japanese

The Japanese version focuses more on avoiding panic: “Don’t panic, don’t fuss, don’t be flustered”

Spanish

A more relaxed, if not slightly impractical, approach from the Spanish: “Keep calm and take a nap”

In Turkish: “Keep yourself calm, do whatever you have decided to do without paying attention to what others say”

Vietnamese

In Vietnamese, a steadying: “Be calm to face the situation”

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