Anyone fluent in German?

[Riona]

I'll throw in "heiße Maschine" (although you wouldn't say this about a car) ... the extra context that it is to be a name helps. I was thinking more of the usage as "let me show you the bad boy I just bought, it will do 150 at the track ......"

If you want the name to be short enough to put on a licence plate - I nominate "Krasse" ... meaning blatant ...

 

[Riona]

FWIW: Mercedes Benz had a car nicknamed "Grosse" (correctly Große) ... just meaning "big"

 

[Checkswrecks]

Jokes, knick-names, etc regularly don't translate at all. I got into real trouble a few times in Germany with this and guess I didn't learn. Because on a related note, it's why I've told my kids over & over NOT to add the cultural burden of marrying a foreigner, which is one reason my ex is now my ex.

You also have to be careful of what works in the north, won't work in the south of Germany. When the movie Airplane first came out, I saw it in German. We lived in Dusseldorf (north) and in the scene where the black guy is talking jive, the old lady said to the flight attendant "All is OK, I speak Bavarian."

That said, a "Bad Boy" in our language is hooligan or somebody you have to watch out for. But it is said kinda endearingly.

In old Germany, a hooligan or thief would have his ear cut and the slang term for the same idea that is still in use is:

Schlitz Ohr

 

[HotRodZilla]

Hey Petey...What language did you speak first??

I'd go with what Petey says. Google Translate could screw up an order at Taco Bell.

 

[petey]

Hey Petey...What language did you speak first??
I'd go with what Petey says. Google Translate could screw up an order at Taco Bell.

My first language was indeed german, however you can't use this translation (schlechter Junge) for a slang describing a hot car ect... it's strickly a translation of "Bad Boy" and it's only used (in german) to describe a boy that is bad.

 

[scubatech]

**** Head Beemer' is hanging out HERE these days, stop by and send him a PM. Translation isn't just words, the syntax is equally important.

I wandered where he went. I must have missed a few days......

 

[BigOgre]

Hey Petey...What language did you speak first??
I'd go with what Petey says. Google Translate could screw up an order at Taco Bell.

My first language was indeed german, however you can't use this translation (schlechter Junge) for a slang describing a hot car ect... it's strickly a translation of "Bad Boy" and it's only used (in german) to describe a boy that is bad.

That's exactly what I was looking for and hoping to hear. Thank you Petey, that'll be going on the paperwork.

And again, thanks for all the responses. Still further proof that here on the Forum you can find expert advice on everything from planting grass seed to giving childbirth!