BigOgre
Well-known member
Trying to translate 'Bad Boy' into German. As a name though, not as a phrase or statement. Have gotten a few suggestions with 'Böse Junge' being the most popular but no one seems to be sure. Can anyone help?
Anyone fluent in German?
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scubatech
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wheatonFJR
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gixxerjasen
Well-known member
My grandparents were German from "the old country." I decided to take German in high school rather than Spanish or French, so I could maybe speak their native language with them. I also wanted to know what they were saying when they argued (always did that in German so us kids couldn't understand them!). Of course, one of the first things I learned is what they called me many times...Kleine Scheiße.
Unfortunately, all I remember of my four years of high school German is how to order beer. Sorry!
Unfortunately, all I remember of my four years of high school German is how to order beer. Sorry!
ionbeam
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petey
Well-known member
wheatonFJR
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BigOgre
Well-known member
That's what just about everyone added, that they weren't sure if their translations were gramatically correct.
Looks good. (I guess.
Umm, yeah. That ain't gonna work.
kawabeemer
Well-known member
IM Translator on my FireFox tool bar translates 'bad boy' to 'schlechter Junge'.
wfooshee
O, Woe is me!!
The thing is, does "bad boy" as English slang even have a German equivalent?
It can be really difficult to get slang ideas across in a different language. The literal words are just literal words, and the concept being sought might use completely a different phrase.
It can be really difficult to get slang ideas across in a different language. The literal words are just literal words, and the concept being sought might use completely a different phrase.
mcatrophy
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Google translate suggests "schlecht Junge" as "bad boy", "schlechter Junge" it gives as "poor young". Not the same at all.
El Toro Joe
FYYFF
unartiger Junge
Riona
Well-known member
I don't think you can translate an idiom word for word.
Try
"geiles ding" "sexy thing"
"geile kiste" "horny/sexy crate"
or "heißer Feger" "hottie"
or "krasse Sache" "blatant thing"
OK, so the translations back into English look a little strange, but that's idioms for you ...
Try
"geiles ding" "sexy thing"
"geile kiste" "horny/sexy crate"
or "heißer Feger" "hottie"
or "krasse Sache" "blatant thing"
OK, so the translations back into English look a little strange, but that's idioms for you ...
wheatonFJR
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I doubt that petey used google translate for Schlecter Junge...
I go with petey on this one.
...or my suggestion.
gixxerjasen
Well-known member
Same here. However, having a French girlfriend and taking a semester of French in college (she dumped me mid semester, my interest in the class waned, I got an F for 5 freaking credit hours on a class I didn't even need for my degree....sigh) really screwed up my German.My grandparents were German from "the old country." I decided to take German in high school rather than Spanish or French, so I could maybe speak their native language with them. I also wanted to know what they were saying when they argued (always did that in German so us kids couldn't understand them!). Of course, one of the first things I learned is what they called me many times...Kleine Scheiße.
Unfortunately, all I remember of my four years of high school German is how to order beer. Sorry!
jjp4674
Well-known member
Yeah, ultimately, it's context.
Riona is definitely headed in the right direction with it.
Very few idioms ever translate correctly into other languages, much as theirs tend to not translate right into English.
Unless you are literally intending to state that someone is a bad boy (child), you don't want to use 'böse Junge' or 'schlecter Junge'. Junge refers to a male youth, or "boy".
If you're wanting to say they're a bad man, you could go with 'böse Mann'.
If you want to say they're "a bad egg", you might say 'ein schlecter Kerl' (a worse fellow). A bad person could be 'schlecter Mensch'. "Badass" would be 'knallharter Typ'.
Not fluent, but minored in German Language and Culture in college. Can speak enough to survive in Germany (been there, done that) and used dict.leo.org for translation help.
Riona is definitely headed in the right direction with it.
Very few idioms ever translate correctly into other languages, much as theirs tend to not translate right into English.
Unless you are literally intending to state that someone is a bad boy (child), you don't want to use 'böse Junge' or 'schlecter Junge'. Junge refers to a male youth, or "boy".
If you're wanting to say they're a bad man, you could go with 'böse Mann'.
If you want to say they're "a bad egg", you might say 'ein schlecter Kerl' (a worse fellow). A bad person could be 'schlecter Mensch'. "Badass" would be 'knallharter Typ'.
Not fluent, but minored in German Language and Culture in college. Can speak enough to survive in Germany (been there, done that) and used dict.leo.org for translation help.
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BigOgre
Well-known member
What most here have pointed out is the same thing I was finding, that it's almost easier to translate a phrase, something you're trying to get across, rather than a literal word-for-word translation. The thing is, 'Bad Boy' is to be written as a name and not said, for example, as, "You're being a bad boy." I've tried several on-line dictionaries etc. and seem to get a different answer on each one.
At the moment I'm leaning towards Petey's suggestion but still have the weekend to decide. Of course, thanks to all for taking the time here.
At the moment I'm leaning towards Petey's suggestion but still have the weekend to decide. Of course, thanks to all for taking the time here.
petey
Well-known member
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