How Can I Get a Translation of a Couple of Words Into Latin?

Question: How Can I Get a Translation of a Couple of Words Into Latin?

Would you please translate an English word or two into Latin?

Answer: I'm sorry. There are lots of reasons why I won't. Here are three:

1. If I am wrong it could result in serious consequences.
2. I really do get a lot of requests and it takes more time than you would think, so I just don't have time.
3. Finally, qualified people offering to translate deserve their fees and I don't want to pre-empt their business.

If you want more than a couple of words translated into Latin, you should look at my articles on translating (especially, Where Can I Find a Latin Translation of...), but if it's just a couple of words, someone on the homework help forum may be willing to help. There is a problem, though. There is not a 1:1 correspondence between words in English and Latin, so it is frequently all but impossible to help. To make it less frustrating for all involved, please follow these steps.

Before you ask for a translation:

1. Please try to put the word you want translated into a complete (made up, if necessary) English sentence, with subject and predicate.
2. Please try not to use "they". Instead use "the men" or "the women". If you're writing in the first person, please tell whether you're a male, female, or neuter. If you're writing about more than one person, please tell whether the group is all female, all neuter, or includes at least one male. I actively resist steering you wrong by assuming you are male.
3. If the term you want translated is an abstract that could be used to mean more than one thing, make sure you explain what meaning you are interested in.
4. I may not have covered all the contingencies, so please try to provide any clues and try to think in terms of Latin rather than English, possibly by reading this page on Latin translation.
5. Finally, there is no guarantee that your question will be answered accurately or at all. As they say, you get what you pay for.

Thank you.

P.S. There are only a few members of the forum who do almost all the (unpaid, volunteer) translation help and only when they feel like it. They richly deserve thanks and praise. There is no guarantee as to the accuracy of their work, however.

Examples of Translations Into Latin

P.P.S. The Rogue Classicist posted a comment on why "e pluribus unam" doesn't cut it even for women. Do you know why? If not or even if you think you do, check E Pluribus Unam?.

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