Frau FN Gräfin LN

English translation: leave it untranslated

03:35 Feb 20, 2019
German to English translations [PRO]
Names (personal, company)
German term or phrase: Frau FN Gräfin LN
This is a business letter from a company, addressed to another company represented by this countess, FN is a placeholder for her first name, LN for her last name.

What is the proper way to translate "Frau FN Gräfin LN"? Is Mrs Countess FN LN?

I assume that "Gräfin" is her title, rather than part of her last name.
Michelangela
United States
Local time: 03:01
English translation:leave it untranslated
Explanation:
I think "Mrs Countess" sounds a bit weird, and I would leave it in German.

If you really want to translate it, I'd say "Countess FN LN" or "FN countess LN".
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6leave it untranslated
philgoddard
3 -2Mrs Countess
Kartik Isaac


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -2
Mrs Countess


Explanation:
Mrs Countess sounds right


    Reference: http://https://www.linguee.com/english-german/search?query=F...
Kartik Isaac
Switzerland
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: How about "Mrs. FN Countess of LN"?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Edith Kelly: sounds very odd
5 hrs

disagree  AllegroTrans: this would never be used in English
6 hrs

disagree  Thomas Pfann: Definitely not an option. The form of address for a countess would be [The Right Hon.] the Countess of XY on the envelope and Madam or Dear Lady XY as the salutation at the beginning of the letter.
6 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
(Frau) FN Gräfin LN
leave it untranslated


Explanation:
I think "Mrs Countess" sounds a bit weird, and I would leave it in German.

If you really want to translate it, I'd say "Countess FN LN" or "FN countess LN".

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks!
Notes to answerer
Asker: I received another good explanation: "Since aristocratic titles were abolished in Germany, they are now just part of the last name." I found another example online to support this conclusion. Her last name is "Gräfin Lambsdorff".


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sibila T
14 mins

agree  Kim Metzger
54 mins

agree  writeaway: our just use Countess to replace Frau Gräfin: Countess FN LN. Asker plans to use Mrs Countess though. /oh- just saw you suggested the same thing. Oh well
4 hrs

agree  Thomas Pfann: Yes, it is her name; strictly speaking Gräfin is not a title in German but part of the name. And if you were to translate it then it would need to be without first name – Maria Gräfin von Viersen --> The Rt. Hon. the Countess of Viersen/Dear Lady Viersen
4 hrs

agree  Gordon Matthews: Since "Gräfin" is part of her name, as others have explained, it should not be translated. Another point: In this particular case it may be correct to assume that she is married, but as a general rule "Frau" should be translated as "Ms."
4 hrs

agree  Lonnie Legg: w. Gordon
2 days 10 hrs
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