KudoZ home » German to English » Cinema, Film, TV, Drama

halbseidene (Mädchen)

English translation: During my younger years in Germany,

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

22:49 Oct 18, 2004

German to English translations [PRO]
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama

German term or phrase: halbseidene (Mädchen)

From a text on Romy Schneider

Ehedem Backfisch, Jungfräulein, immer lieblich, nett, charmant, kindlich-rührend, spielte sie in ihrem neuen Leben hauptsächlich unglückliche Geschöpfe und *halbseidene* Mädchen.

TIA,
sylvie
(greetings from Toronto)

sylvie malich KudoZ activity Questions: 164 (1 open) (5 closed without grading) Answers: 276 Germany
Local time: 08:00

English translation:During my younger years in Germany,

Explanation:
'halbseiden' among women (and men, too) was understood to be essentially bisexual, yet homoerotically predisposed, nothing else. In the US, they'd call it a 'switchhitter'.

The aforementioned <<demi-monde>>has the same meaning in French and German (Halbwelt), denoting a basically sleazy, decadent life-style while flaunting an aura of respectability and affluence.

Cilian's 'promiscuous' would fit quite well.

Selected response from:

gangels
Local time: 00:00

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

During my younger years in Germany,

gangels

4 +3

demi monde

Annika Neudecker

3 +3

promiscuous

Cilian O'Tuama

2 +1

shadowy figure of a girl

Jonathan MacKerron

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

6 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

halbseidene (Mädchen) promiscuous

Explanation:
based on Collins entries below

halbseiden
(fig) Dame fast;
Aussehen flashy;
(= schwul) gay;
(= zweifelhaft, undurchsichtig) dubious;
halbseidenes Milieu halbseidene Kreise the demi-monde

Cilian O'Tuama
Local time: 08:00
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 18

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

halbseidene (Mädchen) demi monde

Explanation:
"demi monde n. class of person of doubtful reputation on outskirts of society."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 mins (2004-10-18 22:53:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Demimonde

Dem`i`monde´
Noun 1. demimonde - a class of woman not considered respectable because of indiscreet or promiscuous behavior
class, social class, socio-economic class - people having the same social or economic status; \"the working class\"; \"an emerging professional class\"
demimondaine - a woman whose sexual promiscuity places her outside respectable society

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2004-10-18 22:54:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The first definition above is from
http://www.demimonde.co.uk/main.htm

demimonde/demi monde describes exactly the German idea of \"halbseiden\"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2004-10-18 22:56:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Actually, \"women/girls of the demi monde\" would be the correct way to put it.

http://www.google.de/search?q=cache:KjcS6VG7JW4J:www.wwnorto...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2004-10-18 23:04:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

1 Women of the demi-monde, a class in 19th-c France considered to be of doubtful social standing and morality.
2 Young working-class French girls

From: http://www.ciger.be/rops/tech/drawing/croquis.html

Annika Neudecker
Local time: 08:00
Works in field
Native speaker of:

German

44 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

During my younger years in Germany,

gangels
Local time: 00:00
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 16

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

8 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

halbseidene (Mädchen) shadowy figure of a girl

Explanation:
another way to go

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs 45 mins (2004-10-19 07:34:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

unchaste / licentious

Jonathan MacKerron
Local time: 08:00
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 23

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

Overview

Latest translation questions

Ask a translation question

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

halbseidene (Mädchen)

English translation: During my younger years in Germany,

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

Answers

Sign in to your ProZ.com account...

Or create a new account

ProZ.com ideas

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

halbseidene (Mädchen)

English translation: During my younger years in Germany,

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

Answers

Sign in to your ProZ.com account...

Or create a new account

ProZ.com ideas

KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.