sweet girleen

08:51 Mar 10, 2009
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

English to German translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Lolita
English term or phrase: sweet girleen
Humbert ist beim Arzt, um sich Schlaftabletten verschreiben zu lassen.Er hält einen inneren Monolog ab.

Once, in another connection, a stupid lapse on my part made me mention my last sanatorium, and I thought I saw the tips of his ears twitch. Being not at all keen for Charlotte or anybody else to know that period of my past, I had hastily explained that I had once done some research among the insane for a novel.
But no matter; the old rogue certainly had a *sweet girleen*.

Ist "girleen" in der englischen Sprache ein gängiger Begriff?

Vielen Dank!
Divademarron
Local time: 07:39


Summary of answers provided
3 -1kesse/süße Bettgespielin // kesse/süße Puppe
Anja C.
Summary of reference entries provided
Urban dictionary
Vera Wilson
Irish diminutive suffix -een
Cilian O'Tuama

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
kesse/süße Bettgespielin // kesse/süße Puppe


Explanation:
in Deinem Satz und Sprachregister würd ich's wie oben übersetzen; allg. eher hübsches/süßes/niedliches Ding oder süße Kleine

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-03-10 10:44:04 GMT)
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nach Boris? Einwand: kesse Kleine

"kess" würde ich hier unbedingt verwenden, gerade auch für Lolita und Euphemismen hin oder her...

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-03-10 10:44:42 GMT)
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oops, sollte heißen: nach Boris' Einwand

Anja C.
Switzerland
Local time: 07:39
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Boris Rogowski: Sorry, but Nabokov would never use "Bettgespielin" or "Puppe". Euphemisms are an important stylistic device of Humbert's poetic apology for all his atrocities. "Hübsche Kleine" is just fine.
30 mins
  -> Sorry, Boris - I didn't see your discussion entry before posting. Still, "kesse Kleine" looks fine to me...
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Reference comments


6 mins
Reference: Urban dictionary

Reference information:
1. Girleen 11 up, 6 down love ithate it

A young sassy woman. Also used as a term of affection for a good friend.
"Hey, girleen, you are an inspiration to us all."
by zooa Nov 3, 2003 share this
2. girleen 5 up, 11 down love ithate it

An effeminate young gay man. Chiefly derogatory.
Look at those girleens waiting to get in that bar!


    Reference: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=girleen
Vera Wilson
France
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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42 mins
Reference: Irish diminutive suffix -een

Reference information:
e.g. colleen "a young girl", boreen "a small road"

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Note added at 4 days (2009-03-15 01:10:36 GMT)
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and a reference:

http://www.affixes.org/e/-een.html

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
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