Bordellen

English translation: Brothels/Houses of ill repute

16:28 Mar 3, 2005

German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting

German term or phrase: Bordellen

Sorry, meant to post German-English (as I can't spell in French). Same message.

Yes, I know what they are, thank you. We're talking Renoir, fin-de-siècle Paris. "Brothel" sounds a bit seedy to me. I'm hoping for something a bit more glamorous. The other suggestions in my synonym book are even bawdier. Any offers?

Nick Somers (X) KudoZ activity Questions: 12 (none open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 410
Local time: 07:50

English translation:Brothels/Houses of ill repute

Explanation:
nothing particulary seedy about it and it's what they were. Or do you prefer houses of ill repute?

Selected response from:

writeaway

Grading comment

Another of these questions that highlights the weakness of the points system. This was a real brainstorming session that led me via Ian, a strong contender at one time, to Francis' "nightclubs and brothels", which is spot on. Points go to the first answerer, however. Some of the answerers didn't read my question properly, but they seemed to have fun anyway, so no blame.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +9

Brothels/Houses of ill repute

writeaway

4 +3

bordels

IanW (X)

4 +1

sporting house

Kim Metzger

4 +1

parlour-house; creep-house; cat-house; notch-house; joy-house; chicken ranch

Sven Petersson

3 +1

bordello

Rebekah Wils (X)

3 +1

bordellos

Michael Bailey

whorehouse

CMJ_Trans (X)

nightclub

Francis Lee (X)

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

1 min confidence:

peer agreement (net): +9

Brothels/Houses of ill repute

Explanation:
nothing particulary seedy about it and it's what they were. Or do you prefer houses of ill repute?

writeaway
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 7

Grading comment

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

bordello

Explanation:
I suggested this when the question came up in French - maybe you already have this in your synonym book...

Rebekah Wils (X)
Local time: 06:50
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

sporting house

Explanation:
Just kidding. How about bordello?

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 23:50
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 80

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

bordellos

Explanation:
otherwise houses of ill-repute, boudoirs. Just because it is Rénoir and fin-de-siècle doesn't mean that they might not be seedy. Maybe "house of pleasure" might be a possibility, although there may be a connotation of what services might be understood as offered...

Michael Bailey
Austria
Local time: 07:50
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

bordels

Explanation:
In this case, I think you should use the French word "bordels" in italics. Everyone would know what it means, it would suit the context and it would even sound classy ...

IanW (X)
Local time: 07:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 16

14 mins confidence:

whorehouse

Explanation:
Roger online offers: bawdy house, bordello, call house, cathouse, chicken ranch, crib, disorderly house, hook shop, massage parlour, red-light district, stew, whorehouse

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 07:50
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 36

34 mins confidence:

nightclub

Explanation:
A lot of the places Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec were familiar with were brothels, dance halls and nightclubs in one (depending who you were). More context would probably help.

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Note added at 38 mins (2005-03-03 17:07:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Well, given the context, I\'d say \"nightclubs and brothels\". But what\'s wrong with \"brothels\"? Not excessively seedy or glamorous, and I don\'t think these artists were necessarily frequenting top-class places ... (Toulouse-Lautrec certainly wasn\'t)

Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 07:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 74

42 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

parlour-house; creep-house; cat-house; notch-house; joy-house; chicken ranch

Explanation:
Just a few!
:o)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 12 mins (2005-03-03 17:41:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Further research indicates that \"crib\", \"crib-house\" and \"crib-joint\" would fit the time period.

Sven Petersson
Sweden
Local time: 07:50
Native speaker of:

Swedish,

English
PRO pts in category: 4

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English translation: Brothels/Houses of ill repute

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