Your Arabic Word of the Day: “Zeb”
A high-ranking Pakistani diplomat reportedly cannot be appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia because in Arabic his name translates into a phrase more appropriate for a porn star, referring to the size of male genitals, Foreign Policy reported.
The Arabic translation of Akbar Zeb to “biggest d**k” has overwhelmed Saudi officials who have refused to allow his post there.
Zeb has run into this problem before when Pakistan tried to appoint him as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, where he was rejected for the same reason, according to Foreign Policy. [Fox News, via Foreign Policy]
On the one hand, you can’t say that the man’s name would necessarily be harmful to Pakistan’s image. Just think of the tourist trade! On the other hand, just try to imagine the challenge of introducing this guy at a formal reception, or a state dinner: