maremma cane!

English translation: bloody maremma!

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:maremma cane!
English translation:bloody maremma!
Entered by: carly kelly

11:55 Feb 3, 2006
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Journalism / travel and tourism
Italian term or phrase: maremma cane!
This is the title of an article about Maremma in Tuscany, its history, flora and fauna, gastronomy etc.
It starts by explaining the origin of this Tuscan expression (people used to go to Maremma to find work, it was known as place of poverty and misery among the migrant workers).
I feel "Maremma cane" should be left in Italian, but do you think I should offer an English equivalent in brackets maybe? How could I "translate" it?
I'd appreciate your opinion on this...
thanks
carly kelly
Italy
Local time: 11:57
bloody maremma!
Explanation:
This is really what it means. nothing to do with dogs really!!!!! you could also use the "F" word instead of bloody, but i think it may be too strong

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Note added at 19 mins (2006-02-03 12:14:40 GMT)
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it is also used in general terms even when the maremma has really nothing to do with it. like "bloody hell" etc.....

like federico, I would leave the original
Selected response from:

Mario Calvagna
Local time: 10:57
Grading comment
This is what I went for in the end, though I liked Angela and Federico's suggestions too.
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4bloody maremma!
Mario Calvagna
3 +4This hell of a Maremma
Federico Guerrini
4 +2A dog's life in Maremma
Angela Arnone
2Maremma sheepdog
Lindsay Watts


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
Maremma sheepdog


Explanation:
does the title refer to the Maremma sheepdog that comes from the Maremma area maybe?

Lindsay Watts
Italy
Local time: 11:57
Native speaker of: English
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
This hell of a Maremma


Explanation:
This is clearly a kind of swear, in Tuscany they are famous for that, very inventive people. I would leave it in original, though.

Federico Guerrini
Local time: 11:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  sonia parpi
4 mins

agree  Mario Calvagna: this is good too i think
15 mins

agree  Jo Macdonald: One hell of a Maremma, so you have a double meaning too.
2 hrs

agree  Stefano77: with Jo
6 hrs
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
bloody maremma!


Explanation:
This is really what it means. nothing to do with dogs really!!!!! you could also use the "F" word instead of bloody, but i think it may be too strong

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2006-02-03 12:14:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

it is also used in general terms even when the maremma has really nothing to do with it. like "bloody hell" etc.....

like federico, I would leave the original

Mario Calvagna
Local time: 10:57
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
This is what I went for in the end, though I liked Angela and Federico's suggestions too.
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Roberta Anderson: right, cane comes from the similar "porco cane" expression, which here has been...well, localized :-)
52 mins
  -> had not realised u lived in maremma....maremma cane se t'invidio!!!!!!

agree  Ivana UK: yep - or bloody hell - we use it in Lucca too!
2 hrs
  -> thank you ivana

agree  Romanian Translator (X)
13 hrs
  -> thank you awana

agree  Gian
1 day 3 hrs
  -> grazie gian!
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
A dog's life in Maremma


Explanation:
Is what springs to mind, fitting it in as an explanation.
Funnily enough, I'm battling with the Maremma too!!!
Ciao
Angela

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Note added at 1 hr (2006-02-03 13:52:20 GMT)
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Actually, this is a play on words like the Italian... perhaps I should have explained more.
I'm not keen on using "swear words" in the title or in the explanation because, as Roberta says, "Maremma cane" is pretty mild.
Then, the migrant workers had a "dog's life", didn't they! So you get to keep the concept of "dog/dog's life" that the Tuscan has.
BTW, the reason Maremma was unpopular was because it was a malaria-ridden swamp ... but before Robert's day, I think!!!

Angela Arnone
Local time: 11:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alfredo Tutino: "tutti mi dicon 'maremma', 'maremma' / ma io dico che è una maremma amara: / l'uccello che ci va perde la penna / io ci ho perduto una persona cara" - It should be sung with the local, aspirated, "c's". though....
2 hrs
  -> woof, woof, Alfredo!

agree  JudyK: I like the dog connection and this was the first thing I thought of too. I also thought of "Going to the dogs in Maremma", but too long I think.
2 hrs
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