Need help with a translation please

harleymo

My daughter Caitlin wants to get a tattoo that says "Let Go" in Irish Gaelic. She had a very rough childhood with her mother before she came to live with me and wants to Let Go of those painful years and memories. We are Americans with Irish ancestory so she would like to get the tattoo in Gaelic. I dont trust the online translators and know the context means alot in Gaelic. Thanks in advance for your help.

Harley

Jijsaw

Dul in iúl

harleymo

Jijsaw wrote: »

Dul in iúl

That's what Google translate came back with. I'm just wanting to make sure that is correct

leewarden

harleymo wrote: »

That's what Google translate came back with. I'm just wanting to make sure that is correct

It's not!!!!!
Ar aghaidh linn is what I would say

Sorry thought it was let's go

leewarden

Scaoil leis it actually means let it go but I don't know how to say it without the it.

Anybody else

leewarden

Whatever is right dul in iúil is so wrong you couldn't believe it

Gumbi

leewarden wrote: »

Scaoil leis it actually means let it go but I don't know how to say it without the it.

Anybody else

You can't - it needs to have a subject. Let it doesn't mean anything; u less you mean "allow" it? Which may be rendered as "tabhair cead dó", or in others ways.

In those case, the reference is to the memories, so "scaoil leo" should e an adequate translation.

Ranelite

'Lig léi' would be best. It's means 'let it be' or 'let her go'.

harleymo

I've never really studied a language it's amazing the nuances depending on the context. Does that ma'am English is too complicated or not complex enough?

Thank you for all the input.

Gumbi

harleymo wrote: »

I've never really studied a language it's amazing the nuances depending on the context. Does that ma'am English is too complicated or not complex enough?

Thank you for all the input.

Neither really. Every language has it's nuances. Something's don't translate directly, sometimes it's difficult to translate certain concepts succinctly. Some ideas that exist in one language don't readily exist in another.

As for the specific comparison of Irish and English, one may generalise as English having a huge abundance if words meaning many different things (there are a few reasons why English has such a hue vocabulary), and Irish having a comparatively smaller vocabulary, albeit with some words having many different meanings indifferent contexts as compared to English; more nuances.

But I digress :P

mr chips

Ranelite wrote: »

'Lig léi' would be best. It's means 'let it be' or 'let her go'.

I'd have said "lig dó or "lig di" rather than "lig leis / lig léi", but I haven't checked whether both options are ok. Either way OP - as nouns have gender in Irish, someone translating the phrase back into English could take it to mean "let him go/let her go". This ambiguity may or may not suit what your daughter would like to convey. As you can see, achieving a direct translation of the phrase "let it go" with the specific meaning she intends is not completely straightforward. Would she be open to alternative ways of expressing the concept?

Ranelite

mr chips wrote: »

I'd have said "lig dó or "lig di" rather than "lig leis / lig léi", but I haven't checked whether both options are ok. Either way OP - as nouns have gender in Irish, someone translating the phrase back into English could take it to mean "let him go/let her go". This ambiguity may or may not suit what your daughter would like to convey. As you can see, achieving a direct translation of the phrase "let it go" with the specific meaning she intends is not completely straightforward. Would she be open to alternative ways of expressing the concept?

Lig do or lig di means 'stop annoying/pestering her/him'. Not relevant in this case.

HansHolzel

"Fág é" means 'Leave it' (i.e. leave it behind). That might do just as well.

Gumbi

We're referring to "memories" here. So "scaoil leo" works well in my opinion. Or scaoil leis if referring to a memory/the memory.

Ranelite

Gumbi wrote: »

We're referring to "memories" here. So "scaoil leo" works well in my opinion. Or scaoil leis if referring to a memory/the memory.

Could also mean to let your farts rip!

An gal gréine

Fág i do dhiaidh iad.

Gumbi

Ranelite wrote: »

Could also mean to let your farts rip!

Lol. It can mean anything. Context is key.

Gumbi

An gal gréine wrote: »

Fág i do dhiaidh iad.

I like this.

harleymo

Ranelite wrote: »

Could also mean to let your farts rip!

Im sure she would love to have a fart tattoo permanently inked into her body LOL

Wow, I never thought this would be so complicated. In English she was looking for idea of "Letting go" of the past (memories, experiences, bad childhood etc) to be free from them. So from what it seems there may not be an equivalent that encompasses all of those general ideas.

harleymo

Ranelite wrote: »

'Lig léi' would be best. It's means 'let it be' or 'let her go'.

Ok, she is leaning towards Lig Léi. Any last input? She wanted to tell you all she appreciates your help.

mr chips

One other suggestion - what do ye think of "Scaoil uait í"? It's maybe a bit more specific in terms of referring to her birth mother, but I think it would be a little closer to the concept. The meaning could be taken to be "let her go" or "put her from you". But I'd still wait for feedback on it before making a final decision.

kittycati

Fuascailt ?