This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Norwegian to English

kverrulant

English translation: cantankerous/quarrelsom person

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Norwegian term or phrase:kverulant
English translation:cantankerous/quarrelsom person
Entered by: Lyngstad

10:28 Apr 18, 2002
Norwegian to English translations [Non-PRO]
Norwegian term or phrase: kverrulant
the best I have been able to come up with is argumentative person/behaviour. Looking for the exact word if there is one or at least something alittle more concrete.
Lyngstad
Local time: 03:45
quarrelsome/cantankerous person
Explanation:
NB! It's spelled "kverulant"
Selected response from:

Eivind Lilleskjaeret
Local time: 03:45
Grading comment
I still think argumentative as my answer of choice, but I choose catankerous as the most helpful answer because it gives me an alternate term - at least in those situations where a kverulant is seen as a negative term. Personally I perceive it to be more neutral and that is why I was hoping for a noun. I still haven`t found an acceptable noun so in that respect this question is still open.
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5grumbler
Sven Petersson
4 +1quarrelsome/cantankerous person
Eivind Lilleskjaeret
5nagger/Argumentative person
Susanne Gustavsson
5complainer
Yngve Roennike
5nitpicker, quibbler
Richard Lawson


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
grumbler


Explanation:
Implicit in answer.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-04-18 10:32:30 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Confirmed by Norstedts.

Sven Petersson
Sweden
Local time: 03:45
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 1166
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
quarrelsome/cantankerous person


Explanation:
NB! It's spelled "kverulant"


    Kunnskapsforlagets Engelsk Stor Ordbok
Eivind Lilleskjaeret
Local time: 03:45
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian
PRO pts in pair: 200
Grading comment
I still think argumentative as my answer of choice, but I choose catankerous as the most helpful answer because it gives me an alternate term - at least in those situations where a kverulant is seen as a negative term. Personally I perceive it to be more neutral and that is why I was hoping for a noun. I still haven`t found an acceptable noun so in that respect this question is still open.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Richard Lawson
8 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
nagger/Argumentative person


Explanation:
In spite of the fact that I know you were looking for other possibilities, and although all of the above answers are correct and good, the most commonly used terms in everyday spoken language would be "argumentative" or "nagging".

If you were to say "He's a kverulant" you'd say "He's a bit/always argumentative" ie. always arguing (negatively) about things.

"He is always nagging" means "he's always negative and complaining about things".

Susanne Gustavsson
Local time: 02:45
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
complainer


Explanation:
is the usual translation for this word into English.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-04-21 12:15:05 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

I would again stick with complainer, which is indeed the term used in the US, no question. Cantankerous person is too strong.

Yngve Roennike
Local time: 21:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 22
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
nitpicker, quibbler


Explanation:
Translation is always dependent on context, and dictionaries are never to be relied upon. No context was supplied here. In my experience, by "kverulant", Norwegians usually mean someone who wastes time by finding fault with details. "Nitpicker" and "quibbler" are words that could be used here. "Cantankerous person" would not be right at all.

Richard Lawson
Local time: 03:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 1147
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search