A German, an American, and a Frenchman are having
lunch. They are taking turns complimenting the
beauty of each other's languages. The American says "I love the delicacy of
French! Like your word for butterfly: "papillon". The word "papillon" is so delicate - just like a butterfly!" The Frenchman answers "And I love the playfulness of English: like "butterfly"! It sounds just like a butterfly if you change the letters around: "flutter-by". Such a beautiful word.
There's a
long pause while the American and the Frenchman give the German some side-eye. And the German finally says "Und vot ist wrong mit 'Schmetterling'?"