Comparing Idioms' Meanings in Different Languages

Question

If I had an idiom in English: "I'm on cloud nine!", and I converted it to Spanish or another language, would the meaning differ? Or would it still mean that someone is really happy? Do certain idioms exist in all languages?

Tere is a book of Spanish /English idioms on SD. Go to phrasebook. - ray76, Mar 22, 2013

there - 0080b918, Mar 22, 2013

you wrote something wrong, you wrote tere. you should wrote there, thats ok! - 0080b918, Mar 22, 2013

Thanks for the tip anyways! I will certainly check in phrasebook! - llamalovers000, Mar 25, 2013

Yeah, it still means the same thing! - llamalovers000, Mar 25, 2013

Answer 1

The Oxford Spanish Dictionary (3rd Edition) gives to be on cloud nine (colloq) as:

Estar en el séptimo cielo o Estar en la gloria

I have given you an example of how it could be used:

Estaba en el séptimo cielo después de dar buenas notas en todos sus exámenes. = He was on cloud nine after obtaining good grades (results) in all his exams.

You have to remember that idioms seldom translate directly between different languages so any attempt is usually fraught with difficulties..

For example: It's raining cats and dogs can be translated as:

Está lloviendo a cántaros (It's raining buckets) English " It's bucketting down!"

One of the translations of the idiom: if pigs had wings/ if pigs could fly... is

la semana de tres jueves = literally the week of three thursdays

Not all idioms will exist in all of the most frequently spoken languages of the world: Eg: Spanish, , Chinese, English, French, Italian Swedish, German, and Japanese etc. Where a similar idiom already exists, translation, will be easier between the two languages, but many idioms are rooted in the culture and practices of a country adn so are language and culture specific therefore the idea you are trying to convey might well be lost on a culture that has no experience ofsuch ideas..

For example, if there were an idiom which mentioned milkmen/people who deliver your milk to your door such an idiom would almost certainly be lost on most native French people who have probably never seen a milk man before,,,since they don't have milkmen and I think they never have had them.

I hope this helps you and stimulates your interest further

Hi Feliz how are you man ? Great to see you again , I am overjoyed. - ray76, Mar 22, 2013

Thank you, Ray it's good to see you too my friend :) - FELIZ77, Mar 22, 2013

Answer 2

As Spanish native speaker I would say "Estar en la gloria", as FELIZ77 proposed, which means that you feel really great and relaxed, not only happy but really calm too.

Answer 3

I am thinking based on other idioms it would probably sound very silly in a different language. I have no idea what "I'm on cloud nine!" would translate to, but I doubt that it would be the same. That is a fantastic question.

Answer 4

Hard to add much to Feliz's awesome answer. Usually where the idiom exists across languages, the two languages are closely related, or one of them inherited it from the other. If you assume an idiom doesn't translate, you'll be right far more often than not. Best to avoid idioms from your own language, and only start incorporating ones you learn in and from your new language. Good luck.

Answer 5

I would imagine the idea or the meaning behind any given idiom exists in most languages, although it may be expressed in a completely different way.

You shouldn't expect to find literal translations, but as I stated earlier, I think the meaning transfers.

Answer 6

Wow! Thanks for the help! It's always good to have clarifications!