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City of Odessa

English translation: It depends

20:27 Nov 18, 2022
Ukrainian to English translations [PRO]
Law (general) / Court Decisions
Ukrainian term or phrase: City of Odessa
Since Ukraine became an independent country, many official city names spelling (at least in Ukrainian) has changed.
City of Odessa name has two "s" in Russian (Одесса) and traditionally - in English (Odessa). Ukrainian spelling has one "s" (Одеса).
So, how should the Odessa city name be translated into English now, both from Russian and Ukrainian - as Odesa or Odessa?
Boris Gorlin
United States
Local time: 02:55
English translation:It depends
Explanation:
Usually I do this way. I use Odessa (and other Russian wordings) in the case I translate RU-EN, and I use Odesa (and other Ukrainian wordings) when I translate UA-EN. Also it is applied to names, such as Nikolay (Ru) - Mykolay (Ua), Nataliya (Ru) - Nataliia (Ua), etc.
Selected response from:

Alexandra Shapovalova
Ukraine
Local time: 09:55
Grading comment
It seems logical - keeping the traditional City name spelling when translating from Russian, where it stays the same as before. At the same time, on many sites and official maps ALL city names in Ukraine have changed, according to their current Ukrainian versions. Therefore, the challenge remains - how should it be reflected in translations into English. Should it always correspond with the official Ukrainian version, or depend on what language we translate it from...



Summary of answers provided
5 +4Odesa
Sergiy Butkov
5It depends
Alexandra Shapovalova
5Odesa
Dmytro Rachek
4Odesa
Oleksandra Matviichuk


  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Odesa


Explanation:
Odesa is the official name and it should be definitely used in any official, legal and logistics content. I'd recommend using this version in other fields too. Same for other names like Kyiv instead of Kiev, etc.
And, actually, Ukraine is independent for 31 years, but some spelling names have changed several times, and that's the reason of the mess with city names, etc.

Sergiy Butkov
Ukraine
Local time: 09:55
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Oleksandra Matviichuk
4 mins
agree  Vladyslav Golovaty: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odesa
3 hrs
agree  Viktoriia Horiachko
10 hrs
agree  mk_lab
11 hrs
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Odesa


Explanation:
I would say Odesa.


Oleksandra Matviichuk
United States
Local time: 02:55
Native speaker of: Native in UkrainianUkrainian
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
It depends


Explanation:
Usually I do this way. I use Odessa (and other Russian wordings) in the case I translate RU-EN, and I use Odesa (and other Ukrainian wordings) when I translate UA-EN. Also it is applied to names, such as Nikolay (Ru) - Mykolay (Ua), Nataliya (Ru) - Nataliia (Ua), etc.

Alexandra Shapovalova
Ukraine
Local time: 09:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
Grading comment
It seems logical - keeping the traditional City name spelling when translating from Russian, where it stays the same as before. At the same time, on many sites and official maps ALL city names in Ukraine have changed, according to their current Ukrainian versions. Therefore, the challenge remains - how should it be reflected in translations into English. Should it always correspond with the official Ukrainian version, or depend on what language we translate it from...
Notes to answerer
Asker: I agree. Actually, I do the same. When I translate old Birth Certificates of Ukrainians from Russian, I include a Translator's Note about a discrepancy in name spelling of the old and current Ukrainian versions). On another hand, I think each language has (should have?) standard geographical names, no matter what language a text is translated from. There are two options existing currently in English though, for the City of Odessa/Odesa (my beloved birth city, by the way). That was the reason for my question.

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16 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Odesa


Explanation:
In practically all official communications, the government uses 'Odesa'. Hence, it is a preferred spelling.


    https://mfa.gov.ua/en/about-mfa/mfa-representations-ukraine-regions/ukraines-mfa-representation-odesa
    https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/mi-pidgotuvali-nominacijne-dosye-odesi-dlya-vklyuchennya-do-78421
Dmytro Rachek
Ukraine
Local time: 09:55
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
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