Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
renacuajo
English translation:
a quivering wreck
Added to glossary by
Susan Andrew
Mar 26, 2014 12:40
10 yrs ago
Spanish term
renacuajo
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Hi everyone. Can anyone help me with this phrase?
"Cuatro días: el tiempo que necesita el miedo para convertir a un hombre en viento; en renacuajo; en mierda."
I get the general sense of the phrase, I'm just stuck on a translation of the word renacuajo, as tadpole doesn't really work in English.
For a bit of context, the man referred to in the sentence has been followed by a debt collector for the last four days. Any suggestions for the translation of viento here would also be appreciated.
Thanks!
"Cuatro días: el tiempo que necesita el miedo para convertir a un hombre en viento; en renacuajo; en mierda."
I get the general sense of the phrase, I'm just stuck on a translation of the word renacuajo, as tadpole doesn't really work in English.
For a bit of context, the man referred to in the sentence has been followed by a debt collector for the last four days. Any suggestions for the translation of viento here would also be appreciated.
Thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +4 | a quivering wreck |
Susan Andrew
|
| 4 +1 | jelly |
Carol Gullidge
|
| 5 | A tadpole (also called pollywog) |
jude dabo
|
| 3 | amoeba (see explanation) |
Susana Magnani
|
Change log
Apr 4, 2014 10:26: Susan Andrew Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+4
8 mins
Selected
a quivering wreck
Four days: the time it takes for fear to turn a man into a shadow; a quivering wreck
Just some ideas to get you started...
Just some ideas to get you started...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: I like "quivering wreck" for renacuajo! But don't agree with 2 terms being asked (or answered!) as there are very good reasons for this rule
4 mins
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Thanks Carol
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| agree |
Charles Davis
: I like "quivering wreck" too! It's a long way from the original, but I think this calls for a very free approach. PS. I like "shadow" for "viento" too; why not post that for the other question?
16 mins
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Thanks Charles, I will.
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| agree |
James A. Walsh
: Excellent option!
4 hrs
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| agree |
Judith Armele
5 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
+1
10 mins
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
315
jelly
the time it takes for terror to turn you into jelly…
I agree with you that a literal translation wouldn't work here, so you need a metaphor (or two!) that will work in the context. Turning into jelly is a very well-known one, but there are of course plenty of others to choose from
I agree with you that a literal translation wouldn't work here, so you need a metaphor (or two!) that will work in the context. Turning into jelly is a very well-known one, but there are of course plenty of others to choose from
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
: I wonder if the reference is to frogspawn, which is a jelly-like substance.
2 hrs
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thanks Phil! I hadn't thought of that - only that perhaps tadpoles are traditionally understood to be timid in Spanish (although this connotation doesn't apply in English)
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15 mins
Susana Magnani
Argentina
Argentina
Native in Spanish
&
English
Works in field
Argentina
Over 30 years' experience.
Native in: Spanish , English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
amoeba (see explanation)
In Spanish, a renacuajo connotes an insignificant being.
I honestly don't see why you cannot use tadpole; that would have been my first choice. However, you could try "amoeba" (or a similar term, depending on the register of the text as a whole).
Good luck!
I honestly don't see why you cannot use tadpole; that would have been my first choice. However, you could try "amoeba" (or a similar term, depending on the register of the text as a whole).
Good luck!
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Carol Gullidge
: not sure about amoeba (maybe this could work…), but the trouble with tadpole is that - to my ears - it could simply sound comical in English
6 mins
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I am not sure about amoeba either, Carol (that's why I gave it a "3"), it just came to mind to exemplify the connotation of the word in Spanish; but thank you for your view on "tadpole".
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58 mins
A tadpole (also called pollywog)
fits figuratively
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Carol Gullidge
: I think the literal translation doesn't work that well, because of culturally different connotations, and "tadpole" could end up simply sounding comical. See my note to Susana, who already suggested tadpole//I never guessed that humour was intended!
2 hrs
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Carol,I think the literal translation works perfectly here.Renacuajo is indeed comical too.
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Discussion