fy fan

English translation: for fuck's sake

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Norwegian term or phrase:fy fan
English translation:for fuck's sake
Entered by: brigidm

14:38 May 15, 2007
Norwegian to English translations [PRO]
Slang
Norwegian term or phrase: fy fan
No, this is NOT a joke...! This is a serious question. I never thought I would actually have to translate this professionally, but now the day has come..
The challenge I face here has to do with the context I have to place this in. This is an academic article on anti-Semitism. A number of quotes from internet debates are given, including the following:"Fy fan den dritten bør sendes dit han kom fra.". So, dear colleagues, do I go for the "f" word, which I consider to carry the same or similar nuance as the Norwegian, or do I "tone it down" "e.g. "bloody hell"). Any advice most welcomed!
brigidm
Norway
Local time: 08:03
fucking
Explanation:
For an American context, I would go ahead and translate the sentence as "That fucking piece of shit should be sent back where he came from" (or "Send the fucking piece of shit back where he came from." An American expressing that sentiment would never actually say "piece of shit" either. They would use some derogatory term for a Jew. But since the quote is cited in the academic article, not written by the academic him/herself, I wouldn't shy away from translating it the way the speaker meant it. After all, "pyu, the devil!" clearly isn't going to work here ;-)
Selected response from:

Tara Chace
United States
Local time: 00:03
Grading comment
Thanks to all for your helpful suggestions and guidance in this matter. I finally went for "For fuck's sake...".
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2fucking
Tara Chace
5Phew / Ugh / Shame
lone (X)
3 +1Damn it,.....
Diarmuid Kennan
4Oh crap
Per Bergvall
3that bastard should be sent back to where he came from
Francis Gregson
3fuck me
Soulkeeper


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Phew / Ugh / Shame


Explanation:
Maybe you should tone it down a bit? Here are a few suggestions!


    x
lone (X)
Canada
Local time: 03:03
Native speaker of: Danish
Notes to answerer
Asker: On what grounds could I base that decision? Because I personally might find it offensive? Is that good translation practice? That's my dilemma here.

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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Damn it,.....


Explanation:
This would be my choice.

Diarmuid Kennan
Ireland
Local time: 07:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vedis Bjørndal: "fy faen" is labelled "a strong oath" in my dictionary. "Fan" is short for "fanden"=the devil, as you probably know
3 hrs
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51 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
fucking


Explanation:
For an American context, I would go ahead and translate the sentence as "That fucking piece of shit should be sent back where he came from" (or "Send the fucking piece of shit back where he came from." An American expressing that sentiment would never actually say "piece of shit" either. They would use some derogatory term for a Jew. But since the quote is cited in the academic article, not written by the academic him/herself, I wouldn't shy away from translating it the way the speaker meant it. After all, "pyu, the devil!" clearly isn't going to work here ;-)

Tara Chace
United States
Local time: 00:03
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks to all for your helpful suggestions and guidance in this matter. I finally went for "For fuck's sake...".
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Tara. This is exactly what I am convinced is the right choice, though I'm going for "Fucking hell, that shithead should be sent back to where he came from". But my primary goal was to hear others' thoughts on the underlying principle rather than an actual translation.

Asker: As I mentioned, Per, the quote is taken from an internet discussion forum, so it's absolutely up to date. But are you sayting that "fy fan" is low key? Isn't it just about the worst/best you can get in terms of Norwegian profanities?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Johnson: Same for UK, definitely.
51 mins

disagree  Per Bergvall: Considering the time line, I rather doubt the f-word was in as widespread use as suggested. Even if it were, the low-key 'fy fan' hardly warrants the big guns.
1 hr

agree  vaskekona: "fucking hell" _is_ low key when used as a lead-in casual mumble, so it's a good match. In both languages, EMPHASIS changes the meaning of course.
1 day 13 mins

agree  yieto: I see no reason whatsoever to shy away from the F word, here. Academics are the very last people to sanitize language, so I think it potentially does great injury to the intent to "tone it down." This is the best option. (I don't get Per's comment.)
1 day 4 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Oh crap


Explanation:
As profanities go. ths is fairly low key - the follow-up is actually worse: "Oh crap - this piece of shit should be sent back...."

Per Bergvall
Norway
Local time: 08:03
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  vaskekona: "oh crap" is good, it carries over that little element of surprise, standing alone as a phrase, but it doesn't translate well in the given context.
23 hrs
  -> So what can I say - I don't do profanity very well. It isn't even on my list of specialisations...
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
that bastard should be sent back to where he came from


Explanation:
Perhaps..

Francis Gregson
Local time: 08:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
fuck me


Explanation:
"Fuck me" is an expression of disgust, much like "fy fan" is used in this context.

Example sentence(s):
  • Fuck me! That piece of shit should be sent.....
Soulkeeper
Local time: 08:03
Native speaker of: Native in Norwegian (Bokmal)Norwegian (Bokmal)
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