Nov 6, 2009 14:13
14 yrs ago
Finnish term
Not a translator
Apina
Homework / test
Finnish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
I need to translate a play in which a woman repeatdly calls her husband "apina". The woman is quite annoyed with her husband...I'd like to ask: is it a "strong" sort of insult or is it sweetish? In other word, is it more like "idiot" or like "silly"?
Also, is it a common way to call your husband/wife in Finnish when you're annoyed with them?
Also, is it a common way to call your husband/wife in Finnish when you're annoyed with them?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +1 | Ape |
Owen Witesman
|
Proposed translations
+1
6 mins
Owen Witesman
Native in English
Specializes in field
Real English // Oikea englanti
Native in: English
Works in: Finnish to English, Estonian to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
Ape
Or monkey. I think this is pretty mild. Like calling him a big lunk. Probably not affectionate though.
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Note added at 7 mins (2009-11-06 14:21:38 GMT)
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I can iMagine my wife calling me this once, but the repetition you mention doesn't sound like it is meant to be sweet.
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-11-06 14:36:50 GMT)
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So with th repetition, maybe "hairy brute" is a more appropriate analog.
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Note added at 24 mins (2009-11-06 14:38:08 GMT)
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I was thinking mild compared to an actual curse word. But as noted, this is very unlikely to be a term of endearment.
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Note added at 7 mins (2009-11-06 14:21:38 GMT)
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I can iMagine my wife calling me this once, but the repetition you mention doesn't sound like it is meant to be sweet.
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-11-06 14:36:50 GMT)
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So with th repetition, maybe "hairy brute" is a more appropriate analog.
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Note added at 24 mins (2009-11-06 14:38:08 GMT)
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I was thinking mild compared to an actual curse word. But as noted, this is very unlikely to be a term of endearment.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks everybody! I haven't found a solution yet, since I have to translate it into Italian, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel^^"
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