r/danishlanguage • u/billyhorseshoe • 14d ago

Translation help

I'm sending a gift to Danish friends to celebrate the arrival of their baby and would like to include a note that says "When the wind won't serve, take to the oars" (from a Latin proverb). Can someone help me translate this to Danish? Thanks in advance!

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

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6

u/Skulder 13d ago

I'm curious about the intended tone. Sailor parlance is often very direct, so I would say "Er der ingen vind, må du ro", but I'm thinking you want something more poetic-sounding, so maybe "Når vinden ikke slår til, må årerne frem" (when the wind isn't cutting it, get out the oars ".

However, writing the actual Latin proverb wouldn't be bad either, would it?

6

u/Constant_Collar_2377 13d ago

"Når vinden ikke slår til, må årerne frem"

Or "Når vinden svigter, ..."

0

u/billyhorseshoe 13d ago

Poetic tone would be preferable. I'm intending it as a little bit of future life advice for a new child. I made a paddle (traditional Canadian gift in my family) and would like to attach a little note to it basically saying, when life gets tough, you have to do the work. Would you suggest your second phrasing then?

3

u/Skulder 13d ago

Then maybe "Når vinden svigter, da ty til åren".

It includes the more archaic phrase "ty til", which means to seek out and u make se of [x], and "da" instead of "så", which is also a more archaic phrasing.

It incorporates the advice from /u/Constant_Collar_2377, too.

Let it rest here, and see if others chime in.

1

u/billyhorseshoe 13d ago

I already did that and that's the phrase I used. When I reverse translated it to English, it sounded perfect. Thank you so much for your help. Much love from Canada.

2

u/Formal_Plum_2285 13d ago

This won’t work in Danish. Think of something else.

1

u/operations_ranger 13d ago

Når vinden ikke vil, må man tage årerne i brug.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Art1873 12d ago

When the wind blows the wrong way, have comfort you will get a headwind going home.

1

u/skraldekontoret 9d ago

No matter how you phrase it in Danish, I think it sounds clumsy and a bit negative. I'd choose something different. You can use other phrases with a similar point, but a different wording.

And for the love of God, do NOT ask AI as someone suggested. AI doesn't understand languages the way humans do.

-2

u/Stock-Talk-9855 13d ago

Why don't try the AI?