Language

[Archonsod]

Well yeah, it's a proper noun. Halloween can't be translated into foreign languages either, because it's called Halloween.

 

[Ambalon]

Aye, Halloween is called Halloween here, though we don't celebrate it and I'd be surprised if 5 people I meet at any given day know when it is.

 

[Mike Hawk]

Well yeah, it's a proper noun. Halloween can't be translated into foreign languages either, because it's called Halloween.

It's also used as an adjective and a verb. Pustno/pustni/pustna, pustovanje, post/pust(old slovenian) - to fast/fasting, etc...

 

[Silver]

Well yeah, it's a proper noun. Halloween can't be translated into foreign languages either, because it's called Halloween.

All helgona. Halloween in Swedish. Then again, there's conflicting opinions on wether that's a direct translation, and the word halloween is used here as well, to refer to the more commercial/fun part of the holiday, with all helgona (which directly would be "all hallowäs eve") being the christian holiday.

So, it might be possible, depending on who you ask, and what your definition of Halloween is.

 

[Fierce Headmaster]

Cat here is gato.

Do you guys have a noun that summarizes when you're missing someone? Like emotionally needing a person that's away. Here in Brazil we call it "saudade" (probably in Portugal too, but they have some different words for some things so I can't be certain)
I can't think of another one now.

 

[AWdeV]

I think "Yearning" works in English. Not sure if there's one word for it in Dutch though.

 

[Silver]

Why'd we let this thread die? It's interesting.

I found something interesting a few days back. The Swedish language doesn't have a term, that I can think of, for "I apologize".

The two phrases used are "Förlåt mig", and "jag ber om uräkt". The first one is "Forgive me" and the other one "I beg/ask for forgiveness", basically.

There's no direct translation of either "I'm sorry" or "I apologize". I can't think of a way to ask for forgiveness without taking back what you said/did, or asking for forgiveness, which leaves a bit of a gap in communications.

Anyway, I find it interesting, because I usually complain about English lacking words.

 

[butscrew]

I found something interesting in Swedish too.

Jag vill *** i din röv

Though I do believe one of those words might actually be English. Of course when it comes to Swedish I like the words;

Röv apa.

I am trying to find out how to say monkey in multiple languages, perhaps this thread can be of use to me in that regard.

So far I only have,

English- Monkey
Swedish- Apa
Danish- Abe (thanks Seff)
Japanese- Saru

Anymore additions to my list would be much appreciated.

 

[FrisianDude]

Jag vill *** i din röv I think "***" isn't actually Swedish.

Aap is Dutch for monkey, by the way. And "Apen" is  plural.

 

[butscrew]

I said *** because well... I forgot the Swedish word for it. Thanks for the aap and apen.

 

[FrisianDude]

You're welcome.

Actually, now that I've seen your siggy; it seems odd that the English word Ape means something different than Aap. Aap is a monkey, and mensaap (literally humanmonkey) would be ape.

 

[butscrew]

I work with a lot of mensaap's everyday. I even call them little monkeys in class, but that is only because I can't be bothered remembering their real names.

 

[FrisianDude]

Mensapen.

So, you teach at a zoo?

 

[Hengist]

Thanks for reviving this topic, Silver. 

Butscrew:
Monkey in German: Affe(Sg.)/ Affen(Pl.)
If you like to be correct, the same distinction as in Dutch applies: monkey-Affe, ape-Menschenaffe

A bit off topic: I don't know what the actual biological difference is. Ok, chimpanzees and gorillas are apes, but where does the monkey-family begin, or what is the criterion for being a monkey or an ape? The tail?

 

[FrisianDude]

No doubt Wikipedia has the answer!
I thought it was Affe in German, but I wasn't sure.

 

[Silver]

I found something interesting in Swedish too.

Jag vill *** i din röv

Though I do believe one of those words might actually be English. Of course when it comes to Swedish I like the words;

Röv apa.

Gah! I'm usually not a grammar nazi, but you don't write like that! Either "rövapa", or you show that it's two different words somehow. You just don't write it like that.

And no, "***" is english. If you want the translation, I'd say "komma" is probably the correct term.

 

[Seff]

Kinky.

 

[FrisianDude]

And no, "***" is english. If you want the translation, I'd say "komma" is probably the correct term.

 


...

You lie. It can't be true.

 

[Seff]

It's to 'komme' in Danish.

 

[FrisianDude]

But.. but... "komma" is Dutch for "comma. "