This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer
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Italian to English translations [PRO]
Slang / Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately the suggestions were too varied and inevitably (given the nature of the term) lacking in documentary support for me to choose a best answer. Thanks again. | | Italian term or phrase: Gondone | Appears a couple of times in a series of emails featuring quite a few colloquial terms and expletives. Have previously raised query in another forum and determined that it is probably a Genovese usage, it literally means "condom" (like "goldone") and it might be used as a friendly epithet for someone who has done a stupid thing or someone who is sly, sneaky or cunning.
Sentence for context:
"Gondone gli hai parlato tu ????? Non dirmi di no .." As the text is badly punctuated throughout, it may be that there should be a "!" after the term "gondone"
For further context the e-mail in question is forwarding a report about a situation that would not have pleased the writer of the email.
Can anyone suggest a good term in English that captures the register of the source? I may just put "Idiot" but that certainly doesn't follow the "cunning" suggestion.
Thanks. |
| ma1ciusKudoZ activityQuestions: 3 (none open) ( 1 closed without grading) Answers: 0
| Local time: 04:54
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28 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): +2 dickhead/asshole
Explanation:
Your description of the term is perfect. Mr. Goldoni was the name of a manufacturer of condoms. Well, the envelope means the content...
This might be a simple synonym of No.5 or, more specifically, refer to No.4, but I am note sure of English use, in Italian it would work
5. Cazzo! (KAHTZ-soh)
cazzo
This is the other question I’d get from the occasional (bolder) students – “How do you say ‘fuck’ in Italian?” This is the answer – “cazzo” – although it literally is a colorful term for “penis” (see below), and this one you do hear.
4. Testa di cazzo! (TES-tah dee KAHTZ-soh)
Testa di cazzo
Sometimes translating things literally is what makes these swear words amusing to me – but sometimes it works out quite well, and that’s the case with this little gem. Instead of calling someone a “dickhead,” in Italian you’d call them a “head of dick,” or a “testa di cazzo.” Which, really, is the same thing, right? This is also a general way of calling someone an “asshole,” but the Italian “testa di cazzo” has a bit more spice and so isn’t language you’ll want to use in polite company. “Cazzo” has lots of uses in Italian, like “culo” (see #3).
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Note added at 36 mins (2010-08-04 16:28:26 GMT)
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http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dickhead
Reference: http://www.italylogue.com/about-italy/italian-swear-words-je...
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38 mins confidence:
58 mins confidence: You jerk
Explanation:
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-08-04 16:52:28 GMT)
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also
You motherfucker
if you need something "stronger"
It also depends on whether the translation is addressed to UK or US readers
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15 hrs confidence: Pillock
Explanation:
Oh, you pillock, tell me you didn't... etc. etc.
NB. Pillock is UK Eng, I don't know if a US reader would get the nuances of "idiot" plus "moron".
| Colin Ryan
Local time: 05:54
Native speaker of: English
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4 mins confidence: You bastard, tell me you didn't tell him
Explanation:
or you didn'rt tell her. It's not my cup of tea so hope it helps
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Note added at 21 hrs (2010-08-05 13:23:18 GMT)
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Gondone gli hai parlato tu ????? Non dirmi di no .." are you the one that told him - this is what I means. Mine has been out into slang to make it a bit more natural. Everyone has their own opinion of course
| | | Notes to answerer
Asker: Aside from the merits of "you bastard", I think you've got the second part of the sentence the wrong way round. I think it's "have you spoken to him? Don't tell me you haven't!"
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| Changes made by editors |
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| Aug 11, 2010 - Changes made by ma1cius: | | Field (write-in) | (none) => Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately the suggestions were too varied and inevitably (given the nature of the term) lacking in documentary support for me to choose a best answer. Thanks again. |
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The translation workplace 
