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Glossary entry

Italian term or phrase:

W gli sposi ... e figli maschi!

English translation:

Best wishes to the happy couple and may you have male children !

Added to glossary by Tom in London
Jun 11, 2014 13:28
9 yrs ago
Italian term

W gli sposi ... e figli maschi!

Non-PRO Italian to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters marriage ceremony
Following to the first question ... how do you say

... e figli maschi ...

Thanks and regards
a
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 Best wishes to the happy couple and may you have male children !
4 ... and may you have healthy children!
4 May you have much happiness and many beautiful children.
3 Please raise your glasses/make a toast to the bride and groom.... May you have a long and happy
Change log

Jun 12, 2014 07:54: luskie changed "Field (specific)" from "Poetry & Literature" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"

Jun 12, 2014 10:00: Yvonne Gallagher changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Jun 12, 2014 18:45: Tom in London Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): Daniela Zambrini, SYLVY75, Yvonne Gallagher

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Discussion

Angela Guisci Jun 11, 2014:
@ anusca I couldn't write all sentence, you can find the second part as comment .... sorry ! I too suggested " may you have male children "
VMeneghin Jun 11, 2014:
To Brigitte There is no request at all-the expression remained in Southern Italy as a memory of what it used to be. NO PARENT would be upset if they produced a girl, on the contrary...What abortion are you talking about?This is not Shakespeare: http://nfs.sparknotes.com/macbeth/page_44.html

If the asker is translating a piece of italian literature, then she should keep it! If not, the phrase can be adjusted to suit the English reader.
Michele Fauble Jun 11, 2014:
Context See asker's previous question for the context.
Tom in London Jun 11, 2014:
Well, exactly - it's just so pressurising !
BrigitteHilgner Jun 11, 2014:
What if they don't want children? As a bride/new wife I would strongly object against the request to produce MALE children. Are people putting pressure on me to produce male children - abort the females ones - or what? No, I am not a feminist but if somebody said this at my wedding I would ask the person to leave - immediately.
VMeneghin Jun 11, 2014:
It all depends on what the asker is translating-if it is a text where a certain cultural context is given, you just can't get rid of something which could be unpleasant for English readers, because it's a very important part of that cultural and social situation That's why I have suggested a note of explanation...
Tom in London Jun 11, 2014:
Yes but Yes- we know that VMene but even if you say it ironically now, as some Italians still do, in translation the irony is lost because those historical associations you explain so well are lost, and the English version is just plain offensive!
VMeneghin Jun 11, 2014:
If you need to keep the original context you should translate "figli maschi" as well, otherwise you would dismiss the whole cultural implication of such a phrase. If it is part of a text of italian literature that you are translating, then you should keep the expression "figli maschi" and probably add a note of explanation for the English readers.
FIGLI MASCHI meant, in the past, a chance of survival for the whole family: they could work, they could help in the fields, while the FEMMINE would have to be married to someone and given a dowry, which would take away lots of money and energy from the family. Any poor society in the world has always priviledged the male children. Nowadays people say it as a tradition (I've never say it myself because I don't like it), but in the deep south it still has some meaning.
Tom in London Jun 11, 2014:
Separate " W gli sposi" has already been asked as a separate question
Helena Grahn Jun 11, 2014:
lol tom I think you are right!
Tom in London Jun 11, 2014:
Offensive That would be offensive. I wouldn't translate it at all.

Proposed translations

+3
39 mins
Selected

Best wishes to the happy couple and may you have male children !

This is a correct translation but if you dare to say it, you will never hear from them again.
Peer comment(s):
agree texjax DDS PhD : Agree with your comment
42 mins
agree Michele Fauble : Don't say it.
2 hrs
agree luskie : don't say it!
18 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to Tom for the suggestion not to say it, even if we all know that male or female ... is not to order. I will not say it, but should I be requested to translate it I am compelled to do it, but I will immediately add the explanation according to VMeneghin. It corresponds to the truth and is a very good formulation. Thanks to all a"
8 mins

Please raise your glasses/make a toast to the bride and groom.... May you have a long and happy

life together ... may you have male children !

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 min (2014-06-11 13:37:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

even if it's offensive to say that !
Something went wrong...
49 mins

... and may you have healthy children!

I think that would sound more adequate in EN.
Something went wrong...
1 hr

May you have much happiness and many beautiful children.

Another possibility

Reference:

http://www.neilandchristy.com/congrats.html

Something went wrong...
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