Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
Maledetto
English translation:
Wretch / Wretched soul
Added to glossary by
Peter Waymel
Sep 15, 2012 10:51
11 yrs ago
Italian term
Italy
Business English Services & Translations
Native in: Italian 
, English
Works in: Italian to English, Spanish to English
Maledetto
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Religion
"Si può giustificare un danno assolvendolo dicendo: Poveretto non l’ha fatto apposta, o si può giustificare un danno condannandolo dicendo: Maledetto, l’ha fatto apposta."
"One can justify a harm by absolving it, saying: "Poor guy, he didn't do it on purpose"; or one can explain it by condemning him, saying, "Damn it, he did it on purpose!".
'Damn it' seems a bit too strong for this type of book (an exegesis on the Our Father), but I can't think of a suitable substitute that doesn't sound silly ('Darn it'); the only other option seems to leave it out entirely. Is there a sufficiently strong exclamation that doesn't sound either silly or too strong for a religious book?
Thanks,
Peter
"One can justify a harm by absolving it, saying: "Poor guy, he didn't do it on purpose"; or one can explain it by condemning him, saying, "Damn it, he did it on purpose!".
'Damn it' seems a bit too strong for this type of book (an exegesis on the Our Father), but I can't think of a suitable substitute that doesn't sound silly ('Darn it'); the only other option seems to leave it out entirely. Is there a sufficiently strong exclamation that doesn't sound either silly or too strong for a religious book?
Thanks,
Peter
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+6
3 hrs
Wolf Draeger
South Africa
South Africa
Native in English
Specializes in field
South Africa
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
Wretch / Wretched soul
Conveys a sense both of the immorality of the sinner and the perdition of his/her soul.
I'm reminded of the French "Misérable" here; again, there is a sense of "you wretch" - you despicable, vile sinner and "you wretch" - you sorry, lost soul, you're going to hell and no one can help you now.
I'm reminded of the French "Misérable" here; again, there is a sense of "you wretch" - you despicable, vile sinner and "you wretch" - you sorry, lost soul, you're going to hell and no one can help you now.
Example sentence:
Wretch, it was deliberate!
Wretched soul, the sin was deliberate!
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alexandra Speirs
: I think this the most suitable for a serious text like the one you described.
For the same reason I wouldn't use "guy"!
29 mins
|
|
Thanks Alexandra.
|
|
| agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Jim.
|
|
| agree |
Rachel Fell
: "The wretch,..."
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Rachel; yes, "the" is better.
|
|
| agree |
Dr Lofthouse
2 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
Daniela Zambrini
: excellent!
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Daniela.
|
|
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
10 hrs
|
|
Thanks gallagy.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
50 mins
Nesrine Echroudi
Tunisia
Tunisia
Works in field
Tunisia
High Quality translation
Native in: Arabic (Variants: Tunisian, Egyptian) , French
Works in: English to French, English to Arabic, French to Arabic, and 6 more.
damned/
Damned!!/ Damn it!! He did it on purpose!!
+1
1 hr
Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Flair and accuracy tailored to your text
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
The accursed one !
He did it on purpose. (And it has the distinction of being less modern and diomatic, more in keeping with the biblical style register.)
1 hr
R.T. Miranda
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in English
Works in field
Netherlands
Tech/scientific/IT, on time with quality
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US) , Dutch (Variant: Netherlands)
Works in: Dutch to English, Spanish to English, English to Dutch, and 3 more.
Good Heavens
You wish to condemn an act that was presumably not done on purpose. If so, then you might consider a milder expletive such as "Good Heavens", which conveys more an element of unpleasant surprise than of consternation.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2012-09-15 12:11:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry, I misread the original - the text refers to an act done on purpose. But even so, "Good Heavens" is still, in my view, entirely appropriate.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2012-09-15 12:11:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry, I misread the original - the text refers to an act done on purpose. But even so, "Good Heavens" is still, in my view, entirely appropriate.
2 hrs
Paul Rooms
Spain
Spain
Native in Italian
&
English
Spain
Translating knowledge with accuracy
Native in: English , Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English
Curse him
In the Bible the verb "maledire" is always translated "to curse".
It could be "Curse him, for he did it on purpose"
It could be "Curse him, for he did it on purpose"
Reference:
1 day 8 hrs
Michael Korovkin
Italy
Italy
Native in English
Italy
Native in: English , Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, Italian to Russian, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
Confound him, he did it on purpose!
The varmint! :)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day8 hrs (2012-09-16 19:09:49 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
oops, too late, sorry!
However, I don't think that in this context Italia "maledetto" is of such an important impact as "wretch" in English. It's just more like "damn brat"/"damn varmint", here.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day8 hrs (2012-09-16 19:09:49 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
oops, too late, sorry!
However, I don't think that in this context Italia "maledetto" is of such an important impact as "wretch" in English. It's just more like "damn brat"/"damn varmint", here.
Discussion
Who is to be absolved/condemned, the sin or the sinner? In the italian version - grammatically speaking - is the sin/harm: **si puó giustificare un danno assolvendolo [...] o condannandolo**, but it is of course hard to tell without further context. Nevertheless, the direct object of **giustificare** is always the same.
What about **to atone**?