https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/environment-ecology/1526296-eaux-souterraines.html
This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Environment & Ecology

eaux souterraines

English translation: groundwater

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:eaux souterraines
English translation:groundwater
Entered by: Fiona Paterson

10:55 Sep 1, 2006
French to English translations [PRO]
Environment & Ecology / General text about water
French term or phrase: eaux souterraines
I'm translating a text aimed at a general readership on water management. The sentence is:

[En France] 99 % des eaux de surface et près de 60 % des eaux souterraines sont contaminées.

My problem is that I have found too many translations: le Grand dic lists ground water, subterraenean water, underground water, subsurface water and subsoil water as possibilities. Does it matter which I use? Thank you!!!
Fiona Paterson
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:43
groundwaters, ground-waters, phreatic waters
Explanation:
*
Selected response from:

Francis MARC
Lithuania
Local time: 14:43
Grading comment
Thank you very much everyone for "groundwater", and the useful explanation! Much appreciated!!!
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +13groundwaters, ground-waters, phreatic waters
Francis MARC
4underground aquifers
Ben Gaia


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +13
groundwaters, ground-waters, phreatic waters


Explanation:
*

Francis MARC
Lithuania
Local time: 14:43
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 14
Grading comment
Thank you very much everyone for "groundwater", and the useful explanation! Much appreciated!!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  MoiraB: except I'd use groundwater in the singular
1 min
agree  suezen: groundwater
2 mins
agree  Aisha Maniar: groundwater
12 mins
agree  Leny Vargas: groundwater
13 mins
agree  Mark Nathan: groundwater
21 mins
agree  Cristina Pereira: groundwater
38 mins
agree  Bourth (X): Groundwater
1 hr
agree  Joshua Wolfe: Groundwater in the singular. Also, having translated gov regs. on this, I have never seen phreatic waters.
1 hr
agree  df49f (X): groundwater au SINGULIER (même si le français emploie le pluriel dans ce domaine) - nappe phréatique est utilisé en français mais pas phreatic waters en anglais - easily found in many dicos...
7 hrs
  -> voir les hits de sites scientifiques sur Internet pour "phreatic waters"
agree  Cervin: groundwater
8 hrs
agree  writeaway: groundwater
1 day 8 hrs
agree  Rachel Fell: groundwater
1 day 11 hrs
agree  Alain BERTRAND: groundwater
1 day 19 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
underground aquifers


Explanation:
more accurate perhaps

Ben Gaia
New Zealand
Local time: 23:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  df49f (X): sur-traduction not more accurate: ceci serait l'équivalent de nappes phréatiques//water table=nappe phréatique aussi (eaux superficielles/surface water vs. eaux souterraines/ground water)// see refs in asker box for NZ usage of groundwater... :))
13 hrs
  -> Encore une fois l'anglais de la Nouvelle Zélande est differente des autres anglais...the intent was to differentiate from surface water. Here we say "water table" for "groundwater".
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.

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