Aug 5, 2008 19:56
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

¡fuaaaaaaaa!

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Modern Spanish Novel
Eran las cinco de la mañana y padre y madre todavía dormían. Le cortó la cabeza a padre ¡fuaaaaaaaa! y las paredes se bañaron en sangre. Madre abrió los ojos y permaneció inmóvil, mirándolo fijamente, con pena, con aflicción pero también con alivio. ¡Fuaaaaaaaaa! madre ya no tenía cabeza.

This is from a quite manga-ish Spanish novel set in Japan. Think Haruki Murakami, if you've ever read any.
Anyway, I wanted to get some input on how you would all interpret this sound in English. A fun mission for once! All input will be most gratefully received, as for me there are so many ways of interpreting sounds...Would really appreciate your ideas and opinions on an appropriate sound.
Spain to UK.
Thanks very much everyone!
:)

Discussion

Kate Major Patience (asker) Aug 5, 2008:
Hi guys, wonderful so far. I would like to add something that I should've added earlier (sorry, I forgot, and it's relevant). It's some more context: "Padre hizo fuaaaaaaa. Madre hizo fuaaaaaaa." It comes as a kind of heading to the chapter. It may affect some of the answers, as whereas a sword may go "slash" (great suggestion Simon, really), "dad" can't. I'm sorry I didn't add this before, and hope it helps. :)

Proposed translations

+4
4 mins
Selected

Slash!

Reminds me of the 1970s Batman TV series...
Note from asker:
Hi Simon. Great suggestion. Feel free to add some more good ideas in light of my note above, as your input has been very helpful so far. :)
Peer comment(s):

agree Ana Cizmich : the same image came to my mind! haha! (or jaja!)...
40 mins
Thanks :)
agree Egmont
2 hrs
Thanks :)
agree Ricardo Galarza : That's exactly the one!
8 hrs
Thanks :)
agree Carla_am
9 hrs
Thanks :)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Hey thanks so much everybody. I used "slash" in the end, but there were a few good answers and lost of interesting input, so thanks to everyone who contributed. :)"
3 mins

ktchack!

...too many comic boock in my youth...

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Note added at 4 mins (2008-08-05 20:00:40 GMT)
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"books" (...see what I mean?)
Something went wrong...
5 mins

woooow!

my interpretation :)
Something went wrong...
+3
58 mins

¡fuaaaaaaaa!

Leave it as it is! My feeling from the info you provided is that the readership, whether it's the comic book/manga audience which is actually a very aware and knowing one, or whether it is a more general novel readership, will be very much aware that the author of this text is Spanish and therefore would expect some Spanish expressions and would be almost disappointed if they didn't get them. Whatever, 'fuaaaaaaaa!' conveys the omomatopoeic aspect of the action described as well as any English equivalent I can think of!

Note from asker:
I thought of this too. Definitely an option. Thanks Roderick! :)
Peer comment(s):

agree Nelida Kreer : I totally agree.
3 hrs
thanks, Niki!
neutral Ricardo Galarza : Onomatopoeic terms ought to be transalted (just like words), since every language develops its own for the different sounds. In this case is "Slash!". I'll give you and everyday-use explanation: The "jajaja" (laughter in Sp.) vs. the "ha ha ha" (in En.)
7 hrs
agree Gabriel Csaba : Ricardo, you have a point, but comics have a logic of their own. For the whole Spanish-speaking world, the old Batman wouldn't have been Batman if someone had translated "Ka-Pow!" into "Pumba!". Hulk is Hulk, not El Grandullón... etc.
8 hrs
thanks, Gabriel
agree franglish
9 hrs
thanks.
Something went wrong...
+1
20 mins

swoosh! / wham!

More options

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Note added at 15 hrs (2008-08-06 11:51:09 GMT)
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With your last information I would go for "oooow!" as the "a" sound is so different in English.
Peer comment(s):

agree Ana Cizmich : swoosh is good too
24 mins
Thanks, Ana:)
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