https://www.proz.com/kudoz/english-to-spanish/art-literary/168249-doesnt-speak-lightly.html
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doesn't speak lightly

Spanish translation: no habla por hablar

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:doesn't speak lightly
Spanish translation:no habla por hablar
Entered by: Bill Greendyk

19:16 Mar 20, 2002
English to Spanish translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary / Song lyrics
English term or phrase: doesn't speak lightly
"When he speaks, he doesn't speak lightly."

These are song lyrics. In many cases in music, one simply has to modify accordingly, with more 'poetic license' than textual translations. However, here I really would like to maintain all of the meaning here. It's a religious song, and the one speaking is God. When he speaks, he doesn't speak lightly. That's the end of the verse right there. How can I translate this in and still maintain the meter? "A la ligera,"? Doesn't really fit, but, if that's all there would be...... Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Bill Greendyk
United States
Local time: 00:37
No habla por hablar
Explanation:
No dice las cosas por decir

No habla a la ligera

No dice las cosas a la ligera

Unas cuantas opciones :)
Selected response from:

Elena Vazquez Fernandez
Spain
Local time: 05:37
Grading comment
Thanks for the overwhelming diversity in your suggestions. "No habla por hablar," says it all AND fits precisely to the metrical requirements of the song. Thanks, José, and everybody else! WG
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4No habla por hablar
Elena Vazquez Fernandez
4 +2No habla a la ligera
Bertha S. Deffenbaugh
4 +1lo habla a la ligera
Bertha S. Deffenbaugh
4con ligereza
Fernando Muela Sopeña
4no habla sin sentido
elenali
4'no habla a tontas y a locas'
mgonzalez (X)
4No llevan sus palabras ligereza
Youssef Rafiq de Cándido
3cuando habla, no habla sin pensar
Isabel Peralta


  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
lo habla a la ligera


Explanation:
BSD

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Note added at 2002-03-20 19:20:49 (GMT)
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Wrong spelling. Should read NO habla a la ligera. :)

Bertha S. Deffenbaugh
United States
Local time: 21:37
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 743

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Diego V (X)
0 min
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
No habla a la ligera


Explanation:
That's what I meant.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-03-20 19:19:55 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...and I don\'t see any other possibility. Sorry.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-03-20 19:25:44 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: No habla con ligereza

Bertha S. Deffenbaugh
United States
Local time: 21:37
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 743

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  mgonzalez (X)
3 mins
agree  Claudia Iglesias
3 mins
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
No habla por hablar


Explanation:
No dice las cosas por decir

No habla a la ligera

No dice las cosas a la ligera

Unas cuantas opciones :)

Elena Vazquez Fernandez
Spain
Local time: 05:37
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 221
Grading comment
Thanks for the overwhelming diversity in your suggestions. "No habla por hablar," says it all AND fits precisely to the metrical requirements of the song. Thanks, José, and everybody else! WG

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Andrea Bullrich: no habla por hablar es muy bueno :-)
1 min
  -> Qué amable! Gracias
agree  Isabel Peralta: Me gusta mas que la mia!
1 min
  -> Me estoy sonrojando :-) Gracias!
agree  mgonzalez (X)
2 mins
  -> Thanx ;-)
agree  Claudia Iglesias
3 mins
  -> Graciñas!
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
cuando habla, no habla sin pensar


Explanation:
Well, it is an option... "a la ligera" fits for me as well,so maybe I am not that much of a songwriter!

Good luck!

Isabel Peralta
Spain
Local time: 06:37
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 37
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
con ligereza


Explanation:
Muy parecido a tu propuesta, William, pero me suena mejor, me parece más poético.
La ligereza es el "hecho o dicho irreflexivo".
¡Suerte!


    Diccionario del espa�ol actual. Manuel Seco
Fernando Muela Sopeña
Spain
Local time: 06:37
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 922
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
no habla sin sentido


Explanation:
no habla con ligerezas

elenali
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 17
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
'no habla a tontas y a locas'


Explanation:
HTH.

mgonzalez (X)
PRO pts in pair: 100
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
No llevan sus palabras ligereza


Explanation:
Si es un verso, yo le daría un airecillo así

Youssef Rafiq de Cándido
Spain
Local time: 06:37
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 73
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