نصراني ونص

English translation: Christian to the bone

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Arabic term or phrase:	نصراني ونص
English translation:	Christian to the bone
Entered by:	Khalid Idris

23:08 Apr 26, 2015

Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Other

Arabic term or phrase: نصراني ونص

"كانوا يصرحون أنه نصراني ونص"
واضح أنها شطيمة ولكن كيف نترجمها؟
وشكرا!

Itzea Goikolea Amiano KudoZ activity Questions: 25 (1 open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 19 Spain
Local time: 00:02

Christian to the bone

Explanation:
Christian to the bone

Selected response from:

Khalid Idris
Egypt
Local time: 00:02

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +5

Christian to the bone

Khalid Idris

5 +3

absofreakinlutely christian

Muhammad Said

4 +1

I do mean Nasrani

Saleh Dardeer

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

Christian to the bone

Explanation:
Christian to the bone

Khalid Idris
Egypt
Local time: 00:02
Native speaker of:

Arabic,

English
PRO pts in category: 8

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

absofreakinlutely christian

Explanation:
absofreakinlutely christian

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Note added at 5 mins (2015-04-26 23:13:25 GMT)
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The word 'ونص' is used to show confirmation in a colloquial variety of language. That is why I tended to use an English equivalent to maintain the same tone.

Muhammad Said
Egypt
Local time: 00:02
Native speaker of:

Arabic
PRO pts in category: 40

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you so much for your suggestion :) I think it's a very good option, although it unfortunately does not fit the context in this case. Thanks a lot!

9 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

I do mean Nasrani

Explanation:
The word نصراني is the used term in the Quran and Sunnah and even pre-Islamic Arabs to refer to the followers of Nasraniyyah (Christianity in its different creeds). It is an attribution to the village of ناصرة Nazareth.

From the viewpoint of some Muslim scholars such as here (http://islamqa.info/ar/111878) it is preferred to use the word Nasara (plural of nasrani) to refer to Christians for mainly two reasons:
- All Quranic and Sunnah text do not name them Christians (مسيحيين singular مسيحي), rather the word Nasara and its derivatives are used

- مسيحي (literally Christian) is an attribution to the true followers of the Christ who believe that he was a prophet and Messenger who received and conveyed revelation sent him from the One Almighty God who has neither son nor wife or any partners.

So, Muslims see that they are the true followers of Jesus the Christ because it is a must on each Muslim to believe in all previous Holy Books and Prophets.

However, not all Muslims say this word having all these arguments in mind. For example, when I visited some villages in the countryside of Egypt the word is used normally to refer to Christians...even there is a village called عزبة النصارى

For some Christians, they do not like the word Nasrani and prefer the word Maseehi to emphasize on their true belief in the Christ according to their beliefs.

Based on your note that it is said in the context of insulting, I assume that a christian objected being called a Nasrani. Then, the person who said the word reaffirmed it again saying: "I do mean Nasrani"
ونص is used for confirmation either in positive or negative expressions

HTH

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Note added at 1 day7 hrs (2015-04-28 06:48:14 GMT)
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Based on your addendum, it could be a harsh insult if that person was a Muslim that people gave him such an epithet because of his weak stand in the negotiation. He was too mild with the Spaniards to be described as a christian more than Christians (Spaniards).

If he was a Christian, then it could be an insult that he was not an honest delegate in negotiations who betrayed the trust. So, he was a christian to the bone. Regardless of his citizenship and position, he gave preference to his brethren in religion who were about to fight his country. The proverb says what is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh

HTH

Saleh Dardeer
Native speaker of:

Arabic
PRO pts in category: 84

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks so much for your lenghthy and useful explanation!

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نصراني ونص

English translation: Christian to the bone

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نصراني ونص

English translation: Christian to the bone

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