fröhlich-frech

English translation: high-spirited; cheeky

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:fröhlich-frech
English translation:high-spirited; cheeky
Entered by: Hilary Davies Shelby

07:23 May 10, 2007
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
German term or phrase: fröhlich-frech
Hello all!

This is part of a book blurb and I can't think of how to translate "fröhlich-frech" without sounding like Enid Blyton! Can anyone help?

"Ein spannendes Abenteuer mit fröhlich-frechen Charakteren"

Thanks a lot!

PS. This is UK English, so I'm trying to avoid the words "sassy" and "fresh" if I can!
Hilary Davies Shelby
United States
Local time: 14:06
bold/ fearless/ high-spirited
Explanation:
can't argue against 'cheeky' here, but here are few more alternatives
Selected response from:

Lori Dendy-Molz
Germany
Local time: 21:06
Grading comment
So many great suggestions - thank you all! This was a difficult choice, but in the end I used Lori's "high-spirited". Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2with a host of cheeky but loveable characters
Francis Lee (X)
4Cheerfully bold
Courtney Sliwinski
1 +2cheery-cheeky
Henry Schroeder
3...who are always getting into trouble!
urbom
3bold/ fearless/ high-spirited
Lori Dendy-Molz
1lively
Nadine Kahn


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +2
cheery-cheeky


Explanation:
Cheeky isn't in my vocubulary as an American, it just sound British, hence the lack of confidence.

Besides, I like the absurdity of cheery-cheeky characters, too bad the last "ch" is pronounced differently, but the visual effect is funny.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2007-05-10 07:37:32 GMT)
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Ah, look, HeinrichB, just wrote "cheeky" in the notes, so it can't be all that wrong

Maybe you could even replace characters with chaps. That will make the blurb totally silly

Henry Schroeder
United States
Local time: 15:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 88
1 corroborated select project
in this pair and field What is ProZ.com Project History(SM)?

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nesrin: I like this one (without the "chap" bit though). Google also brings up some nice examples for "cheery cheeky".
1 hr

agree  casper (X): The alliteration sounds good :)
1 hr
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59 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
lively


Explanation:
"Perky" rather AE. I don't know about "pert", but I think lively sums it up quite well.



Nadine Kahn
Germany
Local time: 21:06
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
...who are always getting into trouble!


Explanation:
...with loads of [boys/girls/hedgehogs/whatevers] who are always getting into trouble!

or: ...who are always landing up in trouble!

You could also add 'naughty' as a modifier, which I think would be clear enough as the 'cheeky' sense (and not 'nasty') if the rest of the sentence is light-hearted in tone.

I would definitely specify what the characters are, rather than using the word 'characters' in the English.

urbom
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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39 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
with a host of cheeky but loveable characters


Explanation:
I'd say you don't as such have to render "Charakteren". It's not Beckett, after all ...

- with cheeky characters galore

To us UK natives, of course, "cheeky" is the standard tranlsation for frech, so I think variations on a theme are called for:
- with all sorts of cheeky goings-on/wot-not
(yes, perhaps a bit TOO cheeky)

That said, an alternative for "characters" would be nice.
But what's the surrounding text, Hilary??

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-05-10 08:59:47 GMT)
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- with loads of cheerful/merry monkey-business along the way

Just what exactly do these characters comprise?
- featuring a cast of unlikely heroes
- set against an awesome canvass of characters (no, that's summat else ...)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2007-05-10 09:26:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

How about:
- light-hearted larks/escapades/mischief
- amusing adventures in the company of x heroes

Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 21:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 80

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  urbom: Agree that "characters" shouldn't be used in English.
28 mins

agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): monkey business and last suggestion would be my preference
3 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
bold/ fearless/ high-spirited


Explanation:
can't argue against 'cheeky' here, but here are few more alternatives

Lori Dendy-Molz
Germany
Local time: 21:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 22
Grading comment
So many great suggestions - thank you all! This was a difficult choice, but in the end I used Lori's "high-spirited". Thank you!
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Cheerfully bold


Explanation:
"An exciting adventure with cheerfully bold characters", I think that has a nice ring to it!

Courtney Sliwinski
Local time: 21:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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