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Spanish to English translations [PRO] General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Spanish term or phrase:Hija de mil puta.
Hello, I'm trying to find the close term in English for "hija de mil puta." So far I've come up with "motherfucker" and "fucking bitch." I'm correcting a translation and that translator translated it as "daughter of a thousand whores." This is a transcript and translation for a court trial. The dialect in Spanish is Argentine and the target language is American English.
Also, if a translator is making a transcript of an audio recording for court, then translating it into target language, should the translator translate it word for word?
Here is the part of the transcription with the term I'm asking about.
"Andáte a la reverenda mierda. Andáte a Seattle. Hija de mil puta. ¿Cómo me vas a mandar esa foto? Sos una mierda de persona. Otra hija de mil puta que hizo lo mismo, mentirosa de mierda. "
Explanation: If you consult some of the online glossaries, you will find that the most common translation is "son of a bitch" (but I've eliminated "son" in favor of the generic "you", or "fucking son of a bitch". Some of the other responses offered seem to be far too literal.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day 8 hrs (2022-07-14 14:08:38 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I just thought of another possibility, which I believe to be a valid option, also: "F you, you damn bitch."
Judge (addressing Counsel again): Are you in all seriousness telling the court that the Spanish word for one thousand, by some mysterious metamorphosis, can be transformed into an Anglo Saxon expletive? Counsel: actually we don't know your Honour.... emmm... Judge: Well I know that one thousand equals one thousand Judge: I do not wish to unnecessarily increase the costs in this case but I am minded to have the translator called as a witness Counsel: We understand the translator to live on the other side of the Atlantic your Honour, so there will be a considerable costs burden
Even if the speaker is talking to a woman, he could say something like "Damn! Son of a bitch!", using the expression as nothing more than what in, at least American English is a general, very commonly used expletive, at least in situations when someone is confronted by an exasperating situation. But since the word "hija" and not "hijo" is used, I tend to believe the comment is a direct verbal attack on a female individual.
I assume (and Spanish native speakers will correct me if I'm wrong) that "mil" makes the difference and justifies the addition of "fucking". I believe "hijo de puta" is the exact equivalent of "son of a bitch", which is not very offensive.
Judge (addressing Counsel): where was this translation obtained from? Counsel: we believe it is from a translation agency your Honour Judge: even with my basic knowledge of Spanish it is obvious that the translator has inserted expletives that do not appear in the Spanish version. Can you explain that to the Court? Counsel: emmm.... Judge: I am minded to adjourn the case, to order a new translation and to make whoever translated this transcript aware of the Court's displeasure....
"El sustantivo original en español (p***) debe ser con "s" al final, porque "mil" es plural." In response to this comment. Yes it technically should be in plural, but they don't stay it in plural in Argentina. They say it in singular and in the audio recording it was said in singular, not plural.
Looking at idiomatic expressions, local variations etc. BUT, this is for a court and it isn't the translator's job to interpret what the person meant. Leave that to the lawyers to argue. In my view the only correct translation is a literal one.
I am from Argentina, and I believe "fucking bitch" is the same register. Also, I agree that a literal translation, like the one you mentioned, won't be appropriate at all.
If "hija de mil putas" is the same register as "motherfucker" or "fucking bitch", and I'm not qualified to judge, either of those translations would do fine.
Even if it's a court transcript, it shouldn't sound silly, which a literal translation does.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
2 hrs confidence:
hija de mil puta
daughter of a whore a thousand times over
Explanation: > even in these gender-conscious days, motherfucker seems incongruous for una 'hija'.
Also, judges in English-speaking court (cf. the slanging match in the recent 'Wagatha Christie' footballers' wives > Vardy vs. Rooney case in the London High Court and, otherwise, English criminal court justices who may be 'descended from a long line of bachelors':
Come on - Tell the court what s/he said!') routinely insist on a literal, 'inappropriate' translation with no punches pulled, such a describing the 'puta' as a 'brazen hussy' (BrE or IrE) or a 'streetwalker'.
My Italian acquaintances tell me that the hijo & hija turns of phrase of 'hijo/a de la más puta madre que te parió' transliterate almost identically into Italian.
Explanation: A court transcription should be as literal as possible, just like a sworn translation. Besides there's nothing wrong with "son of a thousand whores", it's perfectly understood even though three might be more idiomatic expressions.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2022-07-13 07:54:13 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Sorry "daughter of a thousand whores"!
Neil Ashby Spain Local time: 20:15 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8