KudoZ home » German to English » Esoteric practices

Gibt es "echte" Satanisten?

English translation: Do 'true' Satanists (actually) exist?

16:55 Oct 23, 2009

German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Esoteric practices

German term or phrase: Gibt es "echte" Satanisten?

I realize this is a simple phrase, but it was translated elsewhere for me rather clunkily as "Is there really such a thing as 'true' Satanists"? I'd like to avoid both the plural/singular mismatch there as well as using "thing" to refer to human beings.

Any simple and elegant solutions that maintain the simplicity of the original and sound natural in English? A non-PRO question for sure, but I'm not happy with my solutions. Thanks.

BrettMN Not a translator KudoZ activity Questions: 46 (none open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 32 United States
Local time: 00:57

English translation:Do 'true' Satanists (actually) exist?

Explanation:
Might work.

Selected response from:

Jon Reynolds
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:57

Grading comment

Thanks, Jon!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

Do 'true' Satanists (actually) exist?

Jon Reynolds

Is there such a thing as a 'real' Satanist?

Bianca Marsden

Answers

11 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

Do 'true' Satanists (actually) exist?

Explanation:
Might work.

Jon Reynolds
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:57
Native speaker of:

English

Grading comment

Thanks, Jon!

19 hrs confidence:

Gibt es \"echte\" Satanisten? Is there such a thing as a 'real' Satanist?

Explanation:
If it's the singular/plural mismatch that worries you, I think this works. I also don't think 'thing' is problematic when referring to a human being in a sentence like this one. However, if you really don't like it, then perhaps "Do 'real' Satanists exist?" would do it. My preference would be for my original suggestion, though!

Bianca Marsden
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:57
Native speaker of:

English