sich ankündigen

English translation: We are having guests!

19:42 May 18, 2019
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
German term or phrase: sich ankündigen
As in: "Besuch hat sich angekündigt – Tante Inge will heute Nachmittag zum Kaffee kommen! Ich muss noch schnell einen Kuchen backen!"

I was sure to find "sich ankündigen" in some dictionary – but didn't find it. How would you say "Besuch hat sich angekündigt" in idiomatic English, please?

TVMIA!
Anne Schulz
Germany
Local time: 12:23
English translation:We are having guests!
Explanation:
In English I would completely change the subject.
Sich ankündigen means to announce oneself, so literally the sentence is "A visit has announced itself/got announced".


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Note added at 1 hr (2019-05-18 20:43:51 GMT)
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In response to your discussion entry:
You could move the self-invitation element to the next sentence and write "We are having company! - Tante Inge invited herself over for coffee this afternoon"
Selected response from:

Claudia Letizia
Germany
Local time: 12:23
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4We've got company
Justin Reeve
4 +4We are having guests!
Claudia Letizia
4is coming
David Hollywood
3 +1announced she's on her way
Ramey Rieger (X)


Discussion entries: 12





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
We are having guests!


Explanation:
In English I would completely change the subject.
Sich ankündigen means to announce oneself, so literally the sentence is "A visit has announced itself/got announced".


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2019-05-18 20:43:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In response to your discussion entry:
You could move the self-invitation element to the next sentence and write "We are having company! - Tante Inge invited herself over for coffee this afternoon"

Claudia Letizia
Germany
Local time: 12:23
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Susan Welsh
11 mins

agree  philgoddard: Or visitors.
41 mins

agree  AllegroTrans
1 hr

agree  James Swan
14 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
We've got company


Explanation:
This is an idiomatic phrase which is probably best not to translate literally.

Justin Reeve
Canada
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  AllegroTrans
6 mins

agree  Kevin Fulton: Certainly works for North America
18 mins

agree  Kirsten Bodart
10 hrs

agree  Lydia Molea
11 hrs

neutral  Birgit Gläser: we've got company would mean the guests have already arrived...
1 day 12 hrs
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1 day 1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
is coming


Explanation:
Tante Inge will heute Nachmittag zum Kaffee kommen! Ich muss noch schnell einen Kuchen backen!"

Aunt(ie) Inge is coming for coffee this afternoon. I'd better get on it and bake a cake

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Note added at 1 day 1 hr (2019-05-19 21:19:40 GMT)
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or: I'd better get going and bake a cake

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Note added at 1 day 6 hrs (2019-05-20 01:50:51 GMT)
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this is the way I would put it in a colloquial register

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Note added at 1 day 8 hrs (2019-05-20 04:33:16 GMT)
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no way you're going to choose this given the foregoing but just thought I woould put it in anyway

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Note added at 1 day 8 hrs (2019-05-20 04:34:47 GMT)
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been on this site for so many years it's water off a duck's back

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Note added at 1 day 8 hrs (2019-05-20 04:37:22 GMT)
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but that's a nice way of saying it

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Note added at 1 day 8 hrs (2019-05-20 04:39:46 GMT)
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kommt drauf an, wie du die Sache siehst

David Hollywood
Local time: 08:23
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 64
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1 day 12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
announced she's on her way


Explanation:
Company's coming - Aunt Inge announced she'll be here for coffee this afternoon. Now I have to bake a cake!

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 12:23
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 116

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Birgit Gläser: I would use Surprise, aunt Inge announced.... Why should we stick with the German phrase... and the aunt announcing herself also carries the subtext of the inevitable, liklely unwelcome visit :D
1 hr
  -> Yes, very nice! I'll add a note, or do you want to post it yourself?
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