40 replies to this topic

[creakyjaws5533]

I thought "voyage" was to travel or in conjunction with "Bon" journey. "Safe journey". Am I better off having the literal meaning?

It's is Bon voyage just means safe trip or journey

[(philip)]

That just means happy trip so not directly linked to sailing which I think the op wanted

Bon voyage is a cliche for a reason.

 

Bon voyage means good trip and can mean anything from a trip to the shops or a holiday.

 

If  the boat name is Heureux, then just use that?

 

Bonne navigation is how you would wish someone a good trip of a sailing trip.

[Grimshaw17]

Boat names happy but he often used the phrase "happy sailing". But I guess there is no way to translate that word for word and still make sense

[(philip)]

No to literally translate happy sailing into French is just two words that would never be put together in French normally. No one would understand it.

 

Happy sailing in French (so people would know what you mean) is bonne navigation (literally translated into English as good navigating).

Edited by pw-london, 15 March 2014 - 11:06 AM.

[Grimshaw17]

Bonne navigation it is, I would rather it could be understood rather then, make no sense. Plus it's more of personal value that means quiet a lot

[(philip)]

ps... It's your arm though, as long as it makes sense to you.. :)

[mini-geek]

This reminds me of the goods inwards sign in wales..

The welsh version said "please forward for translation" or something lol

[Grimshaw17]

Aha, I spent two years doing French and can only remember how to order beer and food. Not much else needed ;)

[Ethel]

There's also the tale of police stopping many a Polish Mr Driving Licence.

Yes, bon voyage isn't specifically nautical, but then neither is "happy (or plain) sailing" as an English idiom. That's what idioms are about is it not?

What's wrong with the English, that or coin your own apothegm. How about "happy by name, happy by nature"?

[RedRallyMini]

Aha, I spent two years doing French and can only remember how to order beer and food. Not much else needed ;)

 

Well... I live in Belgium where 40% of the population speaks French, the French border is about 40km from where I live and I had 2 hours of French lesson every week for 9 years in school... the only thing I can remember is, like you, how to order food and drinks + ask where the toilet is...

[Dan]

Literal translations don't work for phrases or idioms (or much else really), because often the phrase isn't meant literally. You need to find a local phrase that people use in the same circumstances and that would be Bonne navigation as said above. This is the real difference between being an academic speaker and a native speaker. The problem with literal translation is that words have many meanings and context is as important as vocabulary. Voile means sailing yes but also just a sail, voile (as in the type of material), veil or even Burqa. Each of these could be combined with happy and make about as much or as little sense as each other. Not sure how you'd adapt Bonne navigation to include the name of the craft though, as I said my French is poor. Maybe put "Heureux" above Bonne navigation, not sure if the French use quotes like that to indicate a name or title though.

[Moggyton]

I did french for 6 years and i cant speak a word of it :)

[A-Cell]

What about
Bonne voile à Happy

French would understand this as - Good sailing in Happy.

[(philip)]

What about
Bonne voile à Happy

French would understand this as - Good sailing in Happy.

 

that would be good sailing TO Happy?

 

Bonne voile dans Happy might work, although again I think thoroughbreds might give you a look of "Ce qui?"

[A-Cell]

Au contraire pw-london.
à can mean to, for or in. One doesn't say dans lit (in bed) one says au lit ( à le lit)
Anyway trying to keep the phrase short and meaning what the OP wants I reckon this is the best way
Bonne voile à Happy