This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Burg
Service des Usages du Numérique

Glossary entry

français term or phrase:

l’éclairage féerique

anglais translation:

the magical glow of the lights

Added to glossary by EirTranslations
Apr 6, 2011 10:00
13 yrs ago
français term

l’éclairage féerique

Non-PRO français vers anglais Marketing Général / conversation / salutations / correspondance
For a horse drawn carriage, pls see below thanks

Par beau temps, les calèches roulent aussi le soir sous l’éclairage féerique (jusqu’à 22 heures).
Proposed translations (anglais)
4 +2 the magical glow of the lights
4 +4 magical lights
4 +1 fairytale lighting
4 the enthralling lights
4 enchanting (or charming) lights
4 by lamplight
4 under a twilight/fairytale-like sky
4 fairyesque lighting
3 ethereal lighting
References
Fairy lights
Change log

Apr 6, 2011 10:16: writeaway changed "Field" from "Autre" to "Marketing" , "Field (specific)" from "Tourisme et voyages" to "Général / conversation / salutations / correspondance"

Apr 6, 2011 12:21: Aude Sylvain changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): cc in nyc, Evans (X), Aude Sylvain

When entering new questions, KudoZ askers are given an opportunity* to classify the difficulty of their questions as 'easy' or 'pro'. If you feel a question marked 'easy' should actually be marked 'pro', and if you have earned more than 20 KudoZ points, you can click the "Vote PRO" button to recommend that change.

How to tell the difference between "easy" and "pro" questions:

An easy question is one that any bilingual person would be able to answer correctly. (Or in the case of monolingual questions, an easy question is one that any native speaker of the language would be able to answer correctly.)

A pro question is anything else... in other words, any question that requires knowledge or skills that are specialized (even slightly).

Another way to think of the difficulty levels is this: an easy question is one that deals with everyday conversation. A pro question is anything else.

When deciding between easy and pro, err on the side of pro. Most questions will be pro.

* Note: non-member askers are not given the option of entering 'pro' questions; the only way for their questions to be classified as 'pro' is for a ProZ.com member or members to re-classify it.

Discussion

Lara Barnett Apr 7, 2011:
I wouldn't say it is essential, but as "fairy" based terms do contain the elements of "enchantment, magic, magnificence" etc, I don't think there is any harm at all in using it, which accounts for my suggestion of "fairyesque". I reckon this comes down to a matter of personal choice and interpretation.
David Hayes Apr 7, 2011:
There is no doubt an interesting research project to be done concerning the origin of the word and how it acquired its various meanings. This is the case with most words, of course. But the issue here is whether the 'fairy' aspect is important for the text quoted. I don't think it is in this instance.
Lara Barnett Apr 7, 2011:
Petit Robert Although most dictionaries give these two different meanings to the word 'féerique', if you look into them there is actually a connection, as though somewhere in history the meaning of one was applied towards the other idea.
David Hayes Apr 7, 2011:
Can't help feeling that some of this is starting to go away with the fairies! Let's get back to basics by quoting the French definition of the word 'féerique' from Le Petit Robert. It has two meanings, which no doubt accounts for the differences of opinion regarding its use here: 1. Qui appartient au monde des fées 2. D'une béauté irréelle. The latter sense is clairified by referring the reader to the entries for 'enchanteur' and 'magnifique'. Various options are available to render these adjectives, including the obvious ones of 'enchanting' and 'magnificent'. I put 'magical' because I have seen it used many times when talking about the effect of lighting. It conveys the idea of the sense of wonder created by the lights.
Lara Barnett Apr 7, 2011:
Fairies I agree with AllegraTrans. If they were used (or even hinted at) in the original text, why shouldn't they be given the same treatment in the target term?
AllegroTrans Apr 6, 2011:
Why is everyone bashing the poor wee fairies? let them light up Bruges I say
Lara Barnett Apr 6, 2011:
@ CC I follow your point, but this is concerning the language used to describe the lighting in Bruges: one word used being "féerique".
cc in nyc Apr 6, 2011:
fairies vs. fairytales As noted below, fairytales do not necessarily involve fairies. But more to the point, does the street lighting in Bruges concern either?
Lara Barnett Apr 6, 2011:
"fairy" vs "fée" The use of "fairy" based words does not necessarily imply a little fairy with wings and a magic wand. "Fairytale's" do not have to contain sweet little fairies in order to be a fairytale, just as in French, féerique can present a sort of enchanting splendour without actually referring to these sweet little things.
cc in nyc Apr 6, 2011:
What we do know... The French text seems to come from "Bruges en fiacre: http://www.hippo.be/koets/fiacre.htm

@ Bourth – No other mention or féerique, but there is another mention of par beau temps,: "Une balade nocturne peut se faire par beau temps, le centre étant joliment illuminé" next to a picture of two carriages on a cobblestone street... at night.

@ AllegroTrans No fairies needed; the rides end quite unmagically at 10 pm; see page 27 in this PDF: http://www.bruges.eu.com/visitbruges/bruges-pdf/Brugge broch...
Lara Barnett Apr 6, 2011:
I think interpretation is important here.
Lara Barnett Apr 6, 2011:
@ Allegrotrans Fairyesque There is nothing limiting "fairyesque" to CC's interpretation. I see "fairyesque" as having a magnificent and wonderful appearance, which is exactly how I see the term "fairyesque" - in UK English anyway.
AllegroTrans Apr 6, 2011:
and... do the fairies switch them off at 10 o'clock?
Bourth (X) Apr 6, 2011:
What do we know of the féeriqueness of these lights? Are they mentioned elsewhere? Are they festive, bright, flashy, gas, electric, modern, contemporary, subdued ...

Proposed translations

+2
9 minutes
Selected

the magical glow of the lights

Another option.
Peer comment(s):
agree Sonia Geerlings : this has a nice ring to it...
9 minutes
Thanks a lot Sonia!
agree Natasha Dupuy : I like this, but I think I would also add "twinkling" before lights
17 minutes
Thanks Natasha: yes, why not "twinkling", for added atmosphere...
neutral cc in nyc : I doubt magic is involved // Still, I wouldn't add more hype to this reference to street lamps in Bruge... but that's just my choice. BTW, I'm a thesaurus fan, but think the source text (the entire webpage) is more important in this case.
6 heures
sounds like you're taking "magical" very literally - check your thesaurus, it's synonymous with "enchanting", for instance...; )
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thx very nice"
2 minutes

the enthralling lights

"Féerique" doesn't necessarily have to mean "something to do with fairies", so I'd go for "enthralling" or some variation thereof.
Something went wrong...
6 minutes

ethereal lighting

Not precisely the same thing, but conveys a similar feeling I think and it sounds good!
Something went wrong...
+4
12 minutes

magical lights

I'd just put 'magical lights'. There are any number of ways to fill this out to make it sound better, but such expansion is probably not really needed here.
Peer comment(s):
agree Verginia Ophof
49 minutes
agree Evans (X)
52 minutes
agree silvester55
2 heures
neutral cc in nyc : "magical" doesn't sound right to me for streetlights ("Une balade nocturne peut se faire par beau temps, le centre étant joliment illuminé")
6 heures
agree cmwilliams (X) : I think this is the best option.
12 heures
Something went wrong...
36 minutes

enchanting (or charming) lights

Just another choice (or two); many other possibilities.

I would suggest romantic too, but I suspect that's already being used elsewhere in the text. BTW, is this your text: http://www.hippo.be/koets/fiacre.htm

Note:

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 50 mins (2011-04-06 10:50:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oops, I meant to reference the French version as well – http://www.hippo.be/koets/fiacre.htm

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 52 mins (2011-04-06 10:52:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Double oops. I meant the English version as well: http://www.hippo.be/koets/carriage.htm
Reference:

http://www.hippo.be/koets/fiacre.htm

Peer comment(s):
neutral writeaway : romantic is not being used elsewhere. it's being used in the current translation of the same text. most questions asked here are already answered there. check the Fr version and you'll see it the same doc
4 minutes
Not sure what you mean by "romantic is not [sic] being used elsewhere." As you point out, it's in the French text (first line): "Une promenade romantique au cœur de la ville de Bruges.."
neutral cmwilliams (X) : Unfortunately, the English version of the website quoted above is not very good. e.g. 'halfway the trip'.... 'the horse is getting a rest at...'
7 heures
But I didn't write (nor do I endorse) the English webpage. My suggestion is based on the French webpage.
Something went wrong...
2 heures

by lamplight

Just another suggestion - lamplight usually suggests this sort of thing so I think it gives the right message e.g. "...you can take in the magic of Bruges by lamplight"
Something went wrong...
+1
3 heures

fairytale lighting

Not a real fairytale of course. The word "fairytale" is often used to describe an experience or setting that is so beautiful that it is unreal - which seems to fit with the apparent general intention of your text.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2011-04-06 13:58:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Holidays in Bled – A fairytale setting. Bled holidays are ideal for those seeking healthy holidays in a wonderfully romantic setting. ..."
www.directline-holidays.co.uk › ... › Balkans › Slovenia -

"... Mill on the River: Fairytale setting for a wedding - See traveler reviews, candid photos, ... Aphrodite Hills Holiday Rentals Paphos ..."
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g33928-d385737-r59598... -

"French Holidays · Fishing In France ... velvet upholstered chairs, fairytale lighting and fringed lamps gave the place a feel of a fantasy man's boudoir ..."
www.placesinfrance.com/stringfellows_nightclub_paris.html -
Peer comment(s):
agree AllegroTrans : yes!
3 heures
Thanks AT
neutral cc in nyc : Probably not so fancy; the reference is to curb-side lighting on the streets of Bruges.
3 heures
It's fancy in French. The overblown romantic tourism spiel is trying to sell Bruges as dreamland.
Something went wrong...
6 heures

under a twilight/fairytale-like sky

Hello,

They say "jusqu'à 22 heures". Does the natural lighting of the sky at dusk (twilight hours). You could say "fairytale-like sky).

I would "sky" instead of "light/lighting" in the English translation.



Twilight sky (see here in this link):

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www2.gi.alaska.ed...
Peer comment(s):
neutral cc in nyc : I think the reference is to town lights, not twilight.
26 minutes
I don't know that for sure, though. In France, it's stays dusk out to 10 pm in the summer. But you could be right, I don't know Then I would just say "under the fairytale-like lighting". Have a nice day.
neutral B D Finch : Why tack on "-like"? It implies that there are real fairytales and ones that only pretend to be fairytales. (Perhaps they insist that they're not really fairies, they're just in drag?)
16 heures
Hello. Not sure why -- just a preference. I suppose one would work just as well as the other. Can't intellectually defend my choice LOL. Anyways, I thought they were referring to the sky, not street lights, hence the use of "twilight" LOL.
Something went wrong...
20 minutes

fairyesque lighting

This is an play on words incorporating the "fairy" aspect if you decide you want to stick with that.

This is an invented adjective which I actually found to be used on various google sites anyway as both a noun and an adjective.

Here it is used as a noun but could easily pass as an adjective.
http://minimidimaxi.com/editorials/canadian_fashion/fall2006...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2011-04-06 10:29:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Here the term has been used as an adjective, in one case it is hyphenated, though this is not necessary (matter of choice).

"Whimsical Fairy-esque Women Mug"
http://www.zazzle.co.nz/whimsical_fairy_esque_women_mug-1683...

"...urgent appeal for fairyesque wings..."
http://antispandexcorps.myfreeforum.org/sutra846.php

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2011-04-06 19:03:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

This term does not have to signify the presence of an actual fairy, as suggested by CC in his comment below (this is his interpretation, but would not be every English speakers interpretation of the term "fairyesque"). Take "Fairytale" for example, this does not need to tell the story of a sweet little "fairy" in order to make it a fairytale. Just as in French, féerique can present a sort of enchanting splendour without actually referring to these sweet little things, "fairyesque" can also present a sort of enchanting splendour without referring to sweet little fairies.
Example sentence:

"Its so fairyesque"

Reference:

http://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2006/07/its_so_fairyesque/

Peer comment(s):
neutral cc in nyc : IMO, in this context féerique refers to a "Spectacle magnifique, merveilleux" rather than the "Pouvoir magique des fées"; source: http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/féerie // I don't consider quoting the French dico "misrepresentation."
6 heures
I agree-but depends on yr interpretation. I see "fairyesque" as having a magnificent and wonderful appearance./I meant that you give impression my word refers to "pouvoir mag.. des fées"- it does not necessarily - it's a word just as ambiguous as féerique
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

35 minutes
Reference:

Fairy lights

"LED fairy lights"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 40 mins (2011-04-06 10:41:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

..during the night under the twinkling/story-like Fairy lights (until 10 pm)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 42 mins (2011-04-06 10:42:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

......during the night under twinkling/story-like Fairy Lights( till 10pm)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 45 mins (2011-04-06 10:46:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

..under the twinkling/story-like Fairy Lights illumination ( till 10pm)
Reference:

http://www.fairylightuk.com/

Peer comments on this reference comment:
neutral writeaway : Look at the current English version of this doc to see what they mean: http://www.hippo.be/koets/carriage.htm/ it's lighting (verlichting) not individual (types of ) lights
3 minutes
"romantic illuminated".....with what kind of lights ?
neutral B D Finch : Fairy lights are a particular type of light (the sort you wrap round a Xmas tree). This is not specified in the text.//Your references support my comment, i.e. that "éclairage féerique" in FR is not specific, whereas "fairy lights" in EN is.
3 heures
http://www.rp-press.com/uploads/tx_cwtpresscenter/090928_Un_... http://www.commentfaiton.com/fiche/voir/10614/comment_obteni... http://www.lesreceptionstendances.com/decoration-evenementie...
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Recherche par terme
  • Travaux
  • Forums
  • Multiple search