Ihr Deutsch ist nicht sehr gut!

English translation: Your German is not very good!

01:23 Jun 2, 2002
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
German term or phrase: Ihr Deutsch ist nicht sehr gut!
unknown
James
English translation:Your German is not very good!
Explanation:
native speaker
Selected response from:

Anne-Carine Zimmer
United States
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement. KudoZ.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +15Your German is not very good!
Anne-Carine Zimmer
4 +6Yes, first of all, it means "Your German is not very good!".
Chinoise
4 +3Your German isn't very good!
Kim Metzger
4 +1No offence, but your German really isn't the best!
brute (X)
4Your German is not very good!
Alexander Schleber (X)
4Your/her/their German is not very good
allemande


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +15
Your German is not very good!


Explanation:
native speaker

Anne-Carine Zimmer
United States
PRO pts in pair: 276
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement. KudoZ.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chinoise
24 mins

agree  Cilian O'Tuama: Yes, but could also mean "her German is not very good". Fussy me! :-)
32 mins
  -> yep, in theory, but it is less likely to have an exclamation mark with that one, I'd say

agree  Petra Dr. Schmidt-Sarbutt
3 hrs

agree  Dr.G.MD (X)
3 hrs

agree  Elvira Stoianov
4 hrs

agree  Susan Geiblinger
4 hrs

agree  jerrie
7 hrs

agree  jkjones
10 hrs

agree  Sheila Hardie
10 hrs

agree  Theo Bose
13 hrs

agree  Petra Winter
16 hrs

agree  Jeannie Graham: but "their" and "her" also possible, although I think "your" is more likely, unless context suggests otherwise.
20 hrs

agree  Zareh Darakjian Ph.D.
1 day 34 mins

agree  ninasc (X)
1 day 49 mins

agree  Steffen Walter
1 day 11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Your German isn't very good!


Explanation:
Hope this helps.

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 05:05
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 22192

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chinoise
24 mins

agree  Petra Dr. Schmidt-Sarbutt
3 hrs

agree  Steffen Walter
1 day 11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
Yes, first of all, it means "Your German is not very good!".


Explanation:
But, can it also mean: "Their german is not very good!"?


Danke.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-06-02 03:54:42 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, I know \"Her German is not good.\"(Calian) also works.So, there are three ways to translate this sentence.

Chinoise
Local time: 08:05
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in pair: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Petra Dr. Schmidt-Sarbutt
45 mins
  -> Thanks.

agree  Caro Maucher: you're right, all 3 are possible!
5 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Sheila Hardie
8 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Erika Grzincic-Baumgart M.A.
10 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Steffen Walter
1 day 8 hrs
  -> Thanks.

agree  Agnieszka Hayward (X): with Caro
3 days 21 hrs
  -> Thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Your German is not very good!


Explanation:
That's it.

Alexander Schleber (X)
Belgium
Local time: 12:05
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 2426
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Your/her/their German is not very good


Explanation:
This may be the exact translation, but definitely a faux pas in direct speech. In that case, to preserve etiquette, I would say, "It appears you have fair (or some) knowledge of German."


allemande
United States
Local time: 07:05
PRO pts in pair: 71

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  AmiHH: I agree with your translation line but disagree with changing the meaning of the sentence to "preserve etiquette." If you want to say someone's German is NOT good, you don't tell him or her he or she has "fair knowledge" of the language.
21 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
No offence, but your German really isn't the best!


Explanation:
Phrasing option!

brute (X)
PRO pts in pair: 255

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  allemande
6 days
  -> Thanx, Allemande!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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.

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.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search