Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
vi auguro buon lavoro
English translation:
wishing you success in all your endeavors
Added to glossary by
Elizabeth Lyons
Sep 16, 2005 15:23
18 yrs ago
15 viewers *
Italian term
nathalie
Not a translator
vi auguro buon lavoro
Non-PRO
Italian to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
lecture, formal speech
in a very formal speech (in front of a big audiens) how can you whish "buon lavoro"?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+6
11 mins
Elizabeth Lyons
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Scientist / Linguist
Native in: English (Variants: US, UK) 
Works in: French to English, Italian to English, Portuguese to English, and 2 more.
Selected
success in your endeavors
Another possibility, "wishing you good fortune in all your endeavors" or "wishing you success with your project"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
hirselina
: yes, I wish you success in your endeavours
10 mins
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hirselina, thank you so much : )
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| agree |
Catherine Bolton
: Yes... this is one of those phrases (like "buon appetito") that we just don't use in English. This would work best.
2 hrs
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Thank you cb : )
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| agree |
Mgan
4 hrs
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Thank you as well Mgan : )
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| agree |
CLS Lexi-tech
: Indeed!
9 hrs
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Thanks so much Paola : )
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| agree |
transparx
9 hrs
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Ninogulli, grazie : )
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| agree |
Claire Titchmarsh (X)
3 days 5 hrs
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Hi Claire, thank you!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+6
6 mins
Andrew Fanko
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
Accurate and stylish translations
Native in: English
Works in: Italian to English, French to English, English, and 1 more.
Good luck (with your work)
If the context makes it obvious, i would say just "Good luck" is probably fine - especially if it is at the end of the speech.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jane Gabbutt
3 mins
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thanks jane!
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| agree |
Enza Longo
7 mins
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thanks enza!
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| agree |
transparx
10 hrs
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thanks nino!
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| agree |
Sarah Bergmans
18 hrs
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cheers sarah
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| agree |
Carmen Schultz
: Couldn't it also mean well done or good job (after the fact) when addressing a group as employees (a superior to his subordinates)?
21 hrs
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thanks carmen - you could be right, but from the context i thought it was more a wish for the future than a note of congratulation.
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| agree |
Pnina
1 day 18 hrs
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thanks!
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+1
9 mins
Giusi Pasi
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
Works in field
Italy
Veni, Vidi, Verti!
Native in: Italian
Works in: Italian, English to Italian, German to Italian
I wish you (all) a fruitful work
or along these lines
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jane Gabbutt
: Sounds good but I'd leave out the "a" so: I wish you all fruitful work.
1 min
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| neutral |
Oliver Lawrence
: No one would actually say that in real English, though.
4122 days
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10 mins
Carmen Schultz
Native in English
Accurate & Reliable
Native in: Spanish , English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Nice work! /Well done!/(more formally can say: We Wish you every success in your work!)
Can depend on the context and can range from chatty to formal; a cultural parallel is "Buon appetito"
Re: Buon lavoro!
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You're right. We don't wish each other good work.
I thought you meant in a colloquial sense, for example in a meeting or a class situation, somebody saying to another Good work! Nice work! Well done!, etc
anamangeon
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#6 5th March 2005, 06:52 PM
miri
Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005
Native of: Italy/Italian
Posts: 154
Re: Buon lavoro!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
Originally Posted by mirandolina
It's almost impossible to translate. I don't think English speakers wish each other "buon lavoro".... when I've had to translate it in business letters I've used phrases such as "we wish you every success in your work". But it's not the same at all...
Thank you Mirandolina!
So it is the same as with "Buon appetito". English speakers just do not use these types of wishes. There must be a cultural explanation, but I have no clues
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Note added at 12 mins (2005-09-16 15:36:14 GMT)
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Apart from the luck factor it can also mean "well done" (as in a job well done 0r good job!)
Re: Buon lavoro!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right. We don't wish each other good work.
I thought you meant in a colloquial sense, for example in a meeting or a class situation, somebody saying to another Good work! Nice work! Well done!, etc
anamangeon
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#6 5th March 2005, 06:52 PM
miri
Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005
Native of: Italy/Italian
Posts: 154
Re: Buon lavoro!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
Originally Posted by mirandolina
It's almost impossible to translate. I don't think English speakers wish each other "buon lavoro".... when I've had to translate it in business letters I've used phrases such as "we wish you every success in your work". But it's not the same at all...
Thank you Mirandolina!
So it is the same as with "Buon appetito". English speakers just do not use these types of wishes. There must be a cultural explanation, but I have no clues
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2005-09-16 15:36:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Apart from the luck factor it can also mean "well done" (as in a job well done 0r good job!)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Catherine Bolton
: "Well done" implies that the job is already over. Italians usually say "buon lavoro" before the job has even started!
2 hrs
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Not according to the Italian natives that posted answers on a website of which I copied & pasted some here as examples!It could also mean well done or good job (after the fact) when addressing a group as employees (a superior to his subordinates)!
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| neutral |
Oliver Lawrence
: Agree with Catherine; Italians usually say 'buon lavoro' before you start work, not after you've finished.
4122 days
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Discussion