Finnish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature | | Finnish term or phrase: Apina | I need to translate a play in which a woman repeatdly calls her husband "apina". The woman is quite annoyed with her husband...I'd like to ask: is it a "strong" sort of insult or is it sweetish? In other word, is it more like "idiot" or like "silly"?
Also, is it a common way to call your husband/wife in Finnish when you're annoyed with them? |
| ValeValjaNot a translatorKudoZ activityQuestions: 8 (none open) Answers: 0
| | Local time: 21:23
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| | English translation:Ape | Explanation:
Or monkey. I think this is pretty mild. Like calling him a big lunk. Probably not affectionate though.
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Note added at 7 mins (2009-11-06 14:21:38 GMT)
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I can iMagine my wife calling me this once, but the repetition you mention doesn't sound like it is meant to be sweet.
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-11-06 14:36:50 GMT)
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So with th repetition, maybe "hairy brute" is a more appropriate analog.
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Note added at 24 mins (2009-11-06 14:38:08 GMT)
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I was thinking mild compared to an actual curse word. But as noted, this is very unlikely to be a term of endearment. |
| Selected response from:
  Owen Witesman
Local time: 13:23
| Grading comment Thanks everybody! I haven't found a solution yet, since I have to translate it into Italian, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel^^
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Summary of answers provided | | 5 +1 | Ape | |
| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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6 mins confidence:  peer agreement (net): +1 Ape
Explanation:
Or monkey. I think this is pretty mild. Like calling him a big lunk. Probably not affectionate though.
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Note added at 7 mins (2009-11-06 14:21:38 GMT)
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I can iMagine my wife calling me this once, but the repetition you mention doesn't sound like it is meant to be sweet.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2009-11-06 14:36:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
So with th repetition, maybe "hairy brute" is a more appropriate analog.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 mins (2009-11-06 14:38:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I was thinking mild compared to an actual curse word. But as noted, this is very unlikely to be a term of endearment.
| Owen Witesman
Local time: 13:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:  English
PRO pts in category: 8
|
| | Grading comment | Thanks everybody! I haven't found a solution yet, since I have to translate it into Italian, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel^^ |
|
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