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sentence

Latin translation: Suum cuique

11:05 Jan 29, 2004
English to Latin translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Advertising / Public Relations
English term or phrase: sentence
Whatever turns you on

This is not for me, it's for a friend trying to find ideas for an ad campaign he's working on. I thought someone might like the challenge and I'm actually quite curious now - my latin is very rusty but it used to be my favourite subject at school. Thanks to everyone in advance!
Céline Graciet
Local time: 00:49
Latin translation:Suum cuique
Explanation:
The English phrase is a well-known saying, and for your purposes I think you need a well-known Latin saying that carried approximately the same sense, rather than any direct translation. This would in case, as you say, be quite a challenge with this particular saying.

"Suum cuique” is one possibility. It springs to mind for me because I have recently been playing in a castle here in Dresden which has a very fine staircase with this motto built into it. You can see it in the reference, if you scroll down to the picture of the staircase. The direct back-translation would probably be “To each his own”, but I think it is at least one candidate for an equivalent to “Whatever turns you on”. It´s no exact equivalent, but might well be used in the same circumstances in which the English phrase is appropriate
Selected response from:

Chris Rowson (X)
Local time: 01:49
Grading comment
My friend's comment was: "Absolutely marvellous!! Thank you!!"

Thank you very much indeed and have a nice day.

Céline
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1Suum cuique
Chris Rowson (X)


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Suum cuique


Explanation:
The English phrase is a well-known saying, and for your purposes I think you need a well-known Latin saying that carried approximately the same sense, rather than any direct translation. This would in case, as you say, be quite a challenge with this particular saying.

"Suum cuique” is one possibility. It springs to mind for me because I have recently been playing in a castle here in Dresden which has a very fine staircase with this motto built into it. You can see it in the reference, if you scroll down to the picture of the staircase. The direct back-translation would probably be “To each his own”, but I think it is at least one candidate for an equivalent to “Whatever turns you on”. It´s no exact equivalent, but might well be used in the same circumstances in which the English phrase is appropriate


    Reference: http://private.addcom.de/blasewitz/albrecht.htm
Chris Rowson (X)
Local time: 01:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
My friend's comment was: "Absolutely marvellous!! Thank you!!"

Thank you very much indeed and have a nice day.

Céline

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Flavio Ferri-Benedetti: Absolutely wonderful - I could not remember that one, but I remembered the famous Italian translation: "A ognuno il suo". Thumbs up!
6 mins
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