Igy fizet Lengyelország!

English translation: It's the least Poland can do!/ Just Poland repaying you! / Just Poland expressing her gratitude!

08:47 Jun 25, 2008
Hungarian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History / World War II Polish-Hungarian History
Hungarian term or phrase: Igy fizet Lengyelország!
In Polish this is:"Tak płaci Polska!"
It is what Henryk Sławik whispered to József Antall Sr., when they (two anti-Nazi "collaborators") were being driven by the Gestapo in a truck from their interrogation back to prison. Antall wanted to thank Sławik for saving his life. Sławik, who had been tortured but did not betray Antall, knew that he was going to die, but did not tell Antall. He only said: Igy fizet Lengyelország! Earlier, by working together, they had managed to save the lives of thousands of Polish refugees, including Jews, and to organize the passage of Polish soldiers to the armed forces in the West.
An exhaustive English translation of the Polish phrase would be something like, "This is Poland paying back her debts," or "This is how Poland pays back her debts," but I feel that's too long. The original phrase is only three words long. Would something like "This is Poland paying back!" sound appropriate in this context? Or, any other suggestions? How would any of you translate what this man said, being half-conscious and knowing what awaits him?
Joanna Kwiatowska
Poland
Local time: 12:19
English translation:It's the least Poland can do!/ Just Poland repaying you! / Just Poland expressing her gratitude!
Explanation:
Sorry about the three options. The first one is the most natural to my ear: any English speaker would understand this means that Poland is repaying a debt, and doing the proper thing in the circumstances.

The other two are more literal translations, perhaps too much so, but still usable. The last one might be a little longer than you want, but I think it works well in fact.

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Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:00:43 GMT)
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Zsuzsanna makes some excellent observations. In light of these, I would consider:

"Poland is grateful to you."
"This is how Poland discharges her debt to you."
"Poland is indebted to you."

And let the context do the rest.

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Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:02:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"This is Poland's way of paying you back."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:14:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Zsuzsanna is also right about "repaying" being better than "paying back."
Selected response from:

Jim Tucker (X)
United States
Grading comment
Thanks! Overall, this answer was most helpful. I was looking for some insight into the meaning of the Hungarian version of the phrase, but, I guess -- same as in Polish -- there is no straightforward answer. So I have decided to go with: "Poland pays her debt to you," which, even if not literal, I think says it all.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3It's the least Poland can do!/ Just Poland repaying you! / Just Poland expressing her gratitude!
Jim Tucker (X)
5This is Poland's payback!
JANOS SAMU
4 +1That's Poland's gratitude!
Katarina Peters
4This is the reward from Poland!
szilard


  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
This is Poland's payback!


Explanation:
This is what covers both the meaning and the style of the Polish original. The Hungarian version is not very accurate in style. Henryk Sławik might have been speaking Hungarian, but the Polish suggests something more than just "fizet". It is meant to be for some favor, and that's why I am using payback in English.

JANOS SAMU
United States
Local time: 04:19
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jim Tucker (X): Great expression, and tempting, though there are too many possible interpretations of this. "Payback" generally means "revenge" - and "this is Poland's payback" could easily mean "this is revenge exacted against Poland". In other words, "payback"=negative
2 hrs

neutral  Zsuzsanna Koos: A remark about style: a verb (pay back, repay) would sound more dramatic than a noun.
7 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
This is the reward from Poland!


Explanation:
Could also be an option just to avoid any association with money or revenge. This has a much wider meaning in my opinion.

szilard
Local time: 12:19
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
That's Poland's gratitude!


Explanation:
my suggestion

Katarina Peters
Canada
Local time: 07:19
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Zsuzsanna Koos: It sounds good but the noun phrase doesn't express the drama. / No, I didn't mean quotation marks, I meant to say that I'd prefer a more literal translation as far as the Hungarian verb "fizet" is concerned.
4 hrs
  -> I should have put "gratitude" in quotation marks, but that would be irony, not drama. Do you have a "drama" alternative?//But even in Hungarian, "fizet" is not meant literally...so how about "retribution"? Unless you have an alternative...

agree  hollowman (X)
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, hollowman
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
It's the least Poland can do!/ Just Poland repaying you! / Just Poland expressing her gratitude!


Explanation:
Sorry about the three options. The first one is the most natural to my ear: any English speaker would understand this means that Poland is repaying a debt, and doing the proper thing in the circumstances.

The other two are more literal translations, perhaps too much so, but still usable. The last one might be a little longer than you want, but I think it works well in fact.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:00:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Zsuzsanna makes some excellent observations. In light of these, I would consider:

"Poland is grateful to you."
"This is how Poland discharges her debt to you."
"Poland is indebted to you."

And let the context do the rest.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:02:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"This is Poland's way of paying you back."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2008-06-25 17:14:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Zsuzsanna is also right about "repaying" being better than "paying back."

Jim Tucker (X)
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks! Overall, this answer was most helpful. I was looking for some insight into the meaning of the Hungarian version of the phrase, but, I guess -- same as in Polish -- there is no straightforward answer. So I have decided to go with: "Poland pays her debt to you," which, even if not literal, I think says it all.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Krisztina Lelik: I like the 2nd one
4 hrs

agree  Zsuzsanna Koos: I partially agree with the 2nd one. The other two are not concise enough and lack the drama of the original. The first one belittles the sacrifice, and I have the same feeling about the inclusion of "just." Could we say "Poland's repaying (you)"?
4 hrs
  -> Thanks - I take your point about the first one. All your points are good. // Yes, we could - but without the contraction here: "Poland is repaying you."

agree  Andras Malatinszky: This is Poland repaying you.
5 hrs
  -> Thanks - this is very good. I don't know why I make things so difficult.
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