Samsung was also widely mocked after the launch of its Galaxy Note 7

'Seven' and a slang word for penis are only differentiated by tone

Apple's 'This is 7' slogan for its new iPhone 7 has a rather unfortunate translation in Hong Kong.

Smartphone users have been mocking the technology firm's latest marketing line because it sounds just like 'This is penis' in Cantonese.

China is one of Apple's biggest markets, but the translations for its new slogan differ drastically across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

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Apple boss Tim Cook introduces the iPhone 7 during an Apple special event in San Francisco

While mainlanders and Taiwanese people predominantly speak Mandarin, Hong Kong dwellers typically converse in Cantonese, which is why the comical translation only affects them.

Many Cantonese speakers in Hong Kong took to social media to mock the x-rated gaffe, reports Quartz.

'The slogan "7, is here" in China is the best. They got so many "7"s,' said one Facebook user.

‘Why didn’t people say anything during the launch of Windows 7?’ queried another.

‘How about iPhone 7 Plus? More "7"s?' suggested another user on the social network.

The iPhone 7 slogan as it appears on Apple's site in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong (l-r)

WHY SEVEN SOUNDS LIKE PENIS IN CANTONESE The Cantonese language uses subtly different tones to differentiate between words. The Cantonese pronunciation of 'seven' (七) uses a 'cat1' tone, according to the Chinese Character Database of Chinese University of Hong Kong. The number ‘seven’ is a common euphemism of a Cantonese profanity word referring to penis, which only differs slightly in the tone. Number ‘seven’ is widely deployed in local politics. A common example is the Hong Kong’s Chief Executive CY Leung who is nicknamed as ‘689’ after being elected to his post with just 689 votes from an election committee - regrettably missing a ‘seven’. Advertisement

The two spoken dialects are vastly different, and also make use of different characters.

While the translated slogans are inoffensive in Mandarin, in Cantonese, 'seven' is pronounced as 'chat' which also happens to be a slang word for penis.

The Cantonese language uses subtly different tones to differentiate between words.

The Cantonese pronunciation of ‘seven’(七) uses a 'cat1' tone, according to the Chinese Character Database of Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The number 'seven' is a common euphemism for 'penis', which only differs slightly in the tone.

The number ‘seven’ is widely used in local politics to make fun of politicians.

Apple marleting chief Phil Schiller talks through the new iPhone 7 at Apple's launch event

A common example is the Hong Kong’s Chief Executive CY Leung who is nicknamed as ‘689’ after being elected to his post with just 689 votes from an election committee - regrettably missing a ‘seven’.

Earlier this year, Korean technoloy firm Samsung faced similar mockery in Hong Kong following the launch of its Galaxy Note 7.

Cantonese speakers joked that 'Note 7' sounds like 'a stick of penis', reports Quartz.