"life is sweet"

Hungarian translation: szép az élet

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:life is sweet
Hungarian translation:szép az élet
Entered by: Ildiko Santana

16:54 Nov 11, 2010
English to Hungarian translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Journalism
English term or phrase: "life is sweet"
In an interview for a Christian newspaper, the journalist asks the subject - a paraplegic athlete - if he ever considered 'ending it all' ! The answer is.........
"It crossed my mind a time or two in the beginning, but then, as they say, 'life is sweet'."
Do I literally translate this, or is there an Hungarian phrase which captures the same sentiment/belief, as in English this is a well-known saying for people hanging onto life, or the survival instinct. Hmm, I don't want to miss-quote the interviewee.
amanda solymosi
Hungary
Local time: 06:08
az élet szép / szép az élet
Explanation:
I do not know of a particular phrase in Hungarian that uses the word "édes" (sweet) but more common to say "Szép az élet" or "Az élet szép". When we hear "Édes élet" (life is sweet) we tend to think of Fellini's classic film, "La Dolce Vita". If this works in your context, I don't see why not use it. However, "sweet life" comes up mostly in advertisements, i.e. "édes élet cukorbetegeknek" - promoting artificial sweeteners - "sweet life with diabetes"... I would go with the more common "szép az élet" or "az élet szép" versions instead.

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Note added at 35 mins (2010-11-11 17:30:41 GMT)
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I have to correct myself, I was a little sloppy above; of course there are numerous phrases in Hungarian with 'édes' (sweet), just not when referring to *life*..
Selected response from:

Ildiko Santana
United States
Local time: 22:08
Grading comment
az élet szép
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +8az élet szép / szép az élet
Ildiko Santana


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
az élet szép / szép az élet


Explanation:
I do not know of a particular phrase in Hungarian that uses the word "édes" (sweet) but more common to say "Szép az élet" or "Az élet szép". When we hear "Édes élet" (life is sweet) we tend to think of Fellini's classic film, "La Dolce Vita". If this works in your context, I don't see why not use it. However, "sweet life" comes up mostly in advertisements, i.e. "édes élet cukorbetegeknek" - promoting artificial sweeteners - "sweet life with diabetes"... I would go with the more common "szép az élet" or "az élet szép" versions instead.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2010-11-11 17:30:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I have to correct myself, I was a little sloppy above; of course there are numerous phrases in Hungarian with 'édes' (sweet), just not when referring to *life*..

Ildiko Santana
United States
Local time: 22:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
az élet szép
Notes to answerer
Asker: thanks, no I definitely didn't want to use the word 'édes'


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kata Koncz: Szerintem is ennyi, szép az élet...
16 mins
  -> Köszönöm, Kata. Kétszeresen is egyetértünk -- valóban szép az élet. :)

agree  Judith Kiraly
45 mins
  -> Köszönöm

agree  Katalin K.: az élet szép
1 hr
  -> Köszönöm

agree  ValtBt
12 hrs
  -> Köszönöm

agree  kathiv
16 hrs
  -> Köszönöm

agree  Klára Kalamár: ...és élni érdemes (teszik még hozzá mifelénk :-))
23 hrs
  -> Köszönöm

agree  hollowman2
2 days 14 hrs
  -> Köszönöm

agree  Iosif JUHASZ
3 days 3 hrs
  -> Köszönöm
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