FRENCH Language Help

[ElectronicQuillster]

A NOTE TO THOSE WHO WANT WORDS TRANSLATED:

I'm not gonna lie to you: online translators should not be held as the iron-clad rules when it comes to translating.

Remember that you might need to give a bit of background in order for someone to give you the best possible translation. (For example, verbs can change drastically when conjugated into different tenses. Also, many adjectives have masculine and feminine forms. If you give a translator a bit of context, he or she might tell you that a slang word would work best.)

Example:

I need to know how to say, "Please get over here immediately." This is Harry talking to Ron through the Floo.

A NOTE TO TRANSLATORS:

Anyone can use Google to find an online translator. There's nothing wrong with using these Internet tools, but translators should have at least a little knowledge of the language. (You don't have to be a native speaker, by any means.)

Please note: if you're not 100% comfortable with your translating skills, please state that.

[sirius_rocks]

If someone could translate or give me some insults in French, like go away, I hate you, and maybe the occasional swear word, it'd be great!

Thanks for your time!

[ElectronicQuillster]

The posts that have been deleted here should be dealt with via pm if you feel you need that kind of language. We're a family friendly forum, and we don't have a rating system for this branch of our site, so we need to keep it clean.

[sirius_rocks]

that would kind of be my fault, sorry... Maybe just go away will do... maybe...

[Viv]

Go away is "Va t'en" or "Laisse-moi tranquille", if you want the person to leave you alone. I hate you is "Je te déteste" or "Je te hais". "Je ne t'aime pas" is I don't like you, which can goes with I hate you. It can also fit, but it depends on the context.

[littleWoNdErFuL]

Would this be the correct way of asking to go to the bathroom, if Gabrielle was asking Fleur?

“Est-ce que je peux aller à la toilette?” For, "Can I go to the bathroom?"
“Oui, d'accord. Vas-tu,” For "Yes, all right. Go." (I added the "d'accord" because in my French book they're always tacking on a "d'accord" at the end of "oui" so I thought it would be okay to.)

I think it might be too proper asking it this way, but I tried inverting the verb and it didn't sound quite right. Also, for the "Vas-tu", is that correct? Or would Fleur just reply with "Aller"? I can't remember if it should be conjugated or left as an infinitive.

I really should know this...*will fail her French final* Thanks for the help, though!

[little_kitty]

Would this be the correct way of asking to go to the bathroom, if Gabrielle was asking Fleur?

“Est-ce que je peux aller à la toilette?” For, "Can I go to the bathroom?"
“Oui, d'accord. Vas-tu,” For "Yes, all right. Go." (I added the "d'accord" because in my French book they're always tacking on a "d'accord" at the end of "oui" so I thought it would be okay to.)

I think it might be too proper asking it this way, but I tried inverting the verb and it didn't sound quite right. Also, for the "Vas-tu", is that correct? Or would Fleur just reply with "Aller"? I can't remember if it should be conjugated or left as an infinitive.

I really should know this...*will fail her French final* Thanks for the help, though!

It seems okay. Personally, I would put aux toilettes rather than à la toilette, but maybe that's just me.

I have heard people say "Puis-j'aller aux toilettes", but I think "est-ce que je peux aller..." works as well.

As for the vas-tu part, I think it sounds a bit odd. I'd just say, vas-y. That would work. It means something like "go!" or "go on!"

Someone ought to double check on this because my French isn't that good.

--Little Kitty

[rita_skeeter]

As far as I know, this is basically correct, but it does sound a little formal, I agree.
I would suggest changing it to the following:

"Est-ce que je peux aller aux WC?"
"Bien sûr."

This would probably sound more realistic. Good luck with your fic!

Until we meet again, rita_skeeter.

[mecredi]

I have heard people say "Puis-j'aller aux toilettes", but I think "est-ce que je peux aller..." works as well.
--Little Kitty

Yeah, my french teacher has us say that for going to the bathroom in class, but that might mean it's kind of formal.

[HPobsession]

"Est-ce que je peux aller aux WC?"

I think this is still pretty formal. I was taught, "Je peux aller a WC" with an accent grave over the a.