Re: Chacun sa route

08:47 Nov 24, 2001

French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary

French term or phrase: Re: Chacun sa route

Following on from the "To each his own" vs "Each to his own" debate, I've just discovered that some people use "Each to their own" or "To each their own". I suppose that this is more politically correct. Just wanted to add fuel to the fire. :o)

Derek Johnson KudoZ activity Questions: 94 (3 open) Answers: 27 United Kingdom
Local time: 16:03

Summary of answers provided

5 +1

Totally agree with the politcally correct route you are indicating Derek

Angela Arnone

To each his due

Francesco Barbuto

Each one its road, each one its way

SCOALB (X)

"To each his/their own" is a weak translation

Dave Simons

Everyone has their own path to follow

Mary Rathle (X)

tooeechisone

d0menic0

5 -2

"His" not "their"

Gemmstone

Answers

22 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -2

"His" not "their"

Explanation:
Since "each" is singular, one should use a singluar possessive pronoun. Unless the group about which one is speaking is known to be exclusively female, then one should use "his". Being politically correct is no excuse for using poor grammar. ;-)

Gemmstone
United States
Local time: 11:03

1 hr confidence:

To each his due

Explanation:
No doubt about it, definitely. This is a proverb!

Reference: http://spazioweb.inwind.it/francdescobarbuto

Francesco Barbuto
Local time: 17:03
Native speaker of:

Italian
PRO pts in pair: 8

1 hr confidence:

Each one its road, each one its way

Explanation:
Best regards,
SCOALB

SCOALB (X)
PRO pts in pair: 20

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

Totally agree with the politcally correct route you are indicating Derek

Explanation:
I no longer translate "mankind" or things like that unless it's absolutely clear that it rally was a member of the masculine gender....make for some mental acrobatics but it's good for one's soul....

Ciao
Angela

Angela Arnone
Local time: 17:03
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 24

3 hrs confidence:

tooeechisone

Explanation:
Native speakers use "to each his own" as a merely phonetic expression that sounds a certain way and which people are used to hearing in response to an odd piece of news about someone's usually peculiar tastes. I don't even think gender is an issue; it's like "what's his name" (wutsisname) and "whatchamacallit".

For example:

Statement: "Wilberforce likes to spread some chicken blood around the area before he starts chanting."

Response: "tooeechisone"

Gertrude: "I like cumquats."

Josehine: "tooeechisone"

Statement: "The Dauberts just bought a new Twingo."

Response: "tooeechisone"

d0menic0
United States
Local time: 11:03
PRO pts in pair: 9

19 hrs confidence:

"To each his/their own" is a weak translation

Explanation:
If the original was "à chacun le sien" I would have agreed, but the English language is rich enough not to have to condense ten French idioms into one English idiom.
We have a perfect "Chacun sa route" in English: "You go your way, I'll go mine."

Dave Simons
Local time: 16:03
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 35

263 days confidence:

Everyone has their own path to follow

Explanation:
I think that's more the point of this particular phrase.

Mary Rathle (X)

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.

Return to KudoZ list

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:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations