Translation Exercise for Beginners: Number 11
This is a thread specifically designed with beginners in mind. If other exercises intimidate you this one shouldn't! Keep in mind that it doesn't matter if you don't get it all right. The actual process of attempting translation, and then correcting yourself is what helps us learn!
There are three rules:
- Don't look at other people's translations until you have made your own.
- Do not use a translation engine. (Although you can use a dictionary)
- Do vote for the best answers and this thread. If there is a tie, votes make a difference.
So here is our sentence for Number 11:
"Algún día en cualquier parte, en cualquier lugar indefectiblemente té encontrarás a ti mismo, y ésa, sólo ésa, puede ser la más feliz o las más amarga de tus horas."
Pablo Neruda
Please remember to answer and then vote! This helps our thread and helps to choose a winner because if there is a word-for-word tie the answer with the most votes wins! The winner automatically recieves 20 reputation points not counting any votes he/she may have garnered. Every participant receives a vote from me as well for participating. Keep in mind that if you need some time to come up with an answer and if the thread disappears you can find it under the category: Games and Challenges. Have fun! The translation will be posted on Sunday.
16 Answers
Algún día en cualquier parte, en cualquier lugar indefectiblemente té encontrarás a ti mismo, y ésa, sólo ésa, puede ser la más feliz o las más amarga de tus horas.
Someday in any part, in any place, you will inevitably find yourself, and that, only that can be the happiest or the bitterest of your hours.
You like it to make us sweat, don't you ...? 
Someday, somewhere, anywhere, unfailingly, you will find yourself, and that, only that, can be the happiest or most bitter hour of your life. -- Pablo Neruda .
Ooh, tough one.
Let's try this:
Some day, you are certainly going to find yourself, and then, only then, will it be the happiest or the bitterest time for you.
Going with a bit more poetic license:
You’ll certainly find yourself one day, and when you do, only then will you know your happiest or most painful moment.
"Algún día en cualquier parte, en cualquier lugar indefectiblemente té encontrarás a ti mismo, y ésa, sólo ésa, puede ser la más feliz o las más amarga de tus horas."
Some day in some place, any place, you will inevitably find yourself, and that, only that will be the happiest or bitterest of times.
Had to add a word I overlooked. 
Some day in any place, in any town you will encounter your flawless self, and that, only that, could be the most happy or the most painful of your hours.
This is my best guess. This exercise was tough!
Someday, somewhere, in some location, inevitably you will meet yourself, and this one, only this one, can be your most happy or your most bitter hour.
Someday, somehow, somewhere, you will find yourself and that, only that, will be the happiest or the most painful moment of your life.
Hi everyone!
I am glad to say that after correcting your answers, I am really proud of you all. For those of you that have been regulars I am seeing you improve a little every time! If you didn't notice, I have been pushing you just a little more with each exercise, choosing slightly more difficult quotes. You have definitely risen to the challenge.
Congratulations Alrisaera! You are best answerer!
Ken deserves honorable mention as second with his translation as well!
There were two things that seemed tough for everyone so we will review those together here.
First:
ésa = that one or those ones
esa = that
The difference is very small but can carry a big difference in nuance. Congratulations, Jaimie, for being the only one to catch the difference!
Our sentence starts out with "One day", so it would follow that "that one" refers to "One day" or restated "that one day" or "that day".
Second:
indefectiblemente = without fail, inevitably, surely, certainly, unfailingly
So here is the translation!
"One day, without fail, somewhere or someplace you will find yourself; and that day, only that day, can be the happiest or the most bitter hours of your life."
Thank you everyone! This was fun. Look for Translation Exercise for Beginners: Number 12! It will carry a little bit of implied meaning as well! Until next time around...
I had a little trouble with this one, but here is my best guess. (Hope I didn't take too much license with it.)
Someday, in some spare moment, somewhere, indefectibly you will find yourself, and that one moment and only that one moment, can be the happiest or the most painful hour of your life.
My answer as close to word for word that I can make it "Some day in any part in any place you will find yourself and then, and only then, it may be the happiest or most bitter of your hours."
thank you for this it was a bit tough but I learned a lot from doing it.
Some day, somewhere, at sometime, you will have a perfect feeling when you and only you know the most happiness and the most pain at the same time.
Some day, somewhere, someplace your will surely find yourself, and that, only that can be your happiest or bitterest hour.
Hi everyone, Please vote!!!!!!!! Today is our last day on this exercise. Everyone weigh in with any last edits, comments, or even first attempts! Thank you for joining in.
We are looking at one day left before best answer is due. Please, everyone reading this note, vote for our participants. This helps tremendously if there are a few close or tied translations. Voting assures that the best content or the most popular content is identified and encouraged!
Hi everyone! I have looked over your responses so far, and you are really doing great! I want to challenge those of you who have already submitted an entry. What would make the translation make more sense in English and add "word power" to it? Hint: Think of synonyms and word structure! Feel free to edit your original submission if you are struck with a genius idea! See you around the bend!
