Psovka: u p.... materinu

English translation: depends...

06:58 Jan 14, 2006
Serbian to English translations [PRO]
Slang
Serbian term or phrase: Psovka: u p.... materinu
Nisam mogla ni sanjati da cu jednom ovdje postaviti i ovo pitanje, ali klijent insistira da prevedem i psovke iz razgovora nekoliko ljudi, mada mi je prvobitna namjera bila da umjesto toga u zagradu stavim da se radi o psovkama.
Izvinjavam se svim kolegama i unaprijed zahvaljujem onima koji mi mogu pomoci da nadjem engleski pandan gore navedene psovke, koja se vise puta u tekstu ponavlja kao postapalica. Sa ostalim slicnim izrazima sam nekako izasla na kraj.
Anira
Local time: 10:59
English translation:depends...
Explanation:
The following answer contains mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised :)

It's hard to say without the context, but assuming that it's used as a prop-phrase expressing annoyance or irritation, you might possibly consider using "son of a b***h!" In US English, at least, it's used not only as a term of disparagement, but also as an impolite interjection. It's best, though, not to try to translate "u p.m." as such with a single phrase but to use "f***ing" (or "motherf***ing") or "the f**k" in the sentences where "u p.m." appears in the original. For instance, "X je opet zakasnio, u p.m." > "X was f***ing late again." "Zasto si mu to dao, u p.m?" > "Why the f**k did you give it to him?" I hope these few examples help, but, again, it depends on the context.

Selected response from:

Pavle Perencevic
Canada
Local time: 09:59
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4depends...
Pavle Perencevic
3 +2f... word, various combinations thereof
Mark Daniels


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
f... word, various combinations thereof


Explanation:
As a native English speaker, I can reasonably say that there is no obscenity in English that is even close to this phrase in Serbian, and so versatile at the same time! I have seen this translated semi-literally in film subtitles etc. but I think this is the WRONG approach, unless the client wants to know in a more literal sense what kind of expressions the people are using.
In English, the f... word has equivalent force to this phrase and could be used in its different forms, as the context requires.
I really would not use the c... word, it is far more obscene in English than the p.... word in Serbian and is actually fairly rare.
Sorry, this is a fairly coy answer! Just trying to give you an idea.

Mark Daniels
Local time: 17:59
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ingrid Lovric: slažem se s Vama. Slavenski jezici su na žalost puno bogatiji različitim kombinacijama psovki koje se ne mogu vjerno prevesti na engleski.
1 hr
  -> Hvala, u pravu ste, blago nama zbog takvog bogatstva :)

agree  Sherefedin MUSTAFA
1 hr
  -> Hvala
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
depends...


Explanation:
The following answer contains mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised :)

It's hard to say without the context, but assuming that it's used as a prop-phrase expressing annoyance or irritation, you might possibly consider using "son of a b***h!" In US English, at least, it's used not only as a term of disparagement, but also as an impolite interjection. It's best, though, not to try to translate "u p.m." as such with a single phrase but to use "f***ing" (or "motherf***ing") or "the f**k" in the sentences where "u p.m." appears in the original. For instance, "X je opet zakasnio, u p.m." > "X was f***ing late again." "Zasto si mu to dao, u p.m?" > "Why the f**k did you give it to him?" I hope these few examples help, but, again, it depends on the context.



Pavle Perencevic
Canada
Local time: 09:59
Native speaker of: Native in SerbianSerbian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  vorloff: or 'idi u p.m" would be f off. Don't feel bad Anira. I once had to interpret j. ti mater u usta to a room full of American upper managers (uttered in an argument in a factory) - and they asked for the literal translation! The silent reaction was deafening
1 hr

agree  Mark Daniels: Slazem se sa kolegom Pavlom - to je ta fleksibilna upotreba "f... word" koju sam zagovarao, a on je to lepo uoblicio!
6 hrs

agree  Sherefedin MUSTAFA
6 hrs

agree  Dusica Cook: jednom sam davno dobila 'udzbenik', learning english as a second F*** language... it is great and it has helped some friends in finding translations for our 'juicy french'... anyhow - i fully agree with the explanation!
7 hrs
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