Love is a three letter word

English translation: act is a three-letter word

18:40 May 25, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / a poem about AIDS in zimbabwe
English term or phrase: Love is a three letter word
In order to translate the idea expressed here into my own language using a metaphor or whatever, I need to understand it in English; and I don't!

What's the idea behind the verses:

"Love is a three letter word,
Not a four letter word."


The poem:

Love shouldn’t hurt

Love is acting not a feeling,
because feeling comes and goes.


But acting will be there in mind and thought.
Love is a three letter word,
Not a four letter word.

Love is caring, not abuse
because abuse leaves you with fear.

Ta
Michel A.
Local time: 09:28
Selected answer:act is a three-letter word
Explanation:
I agree with silt that the general idea is that love, though composed of 4 letters, is not what is known in English as a 4-letter word, as Mikhail sort of identifies for you ;-) but I notice that acting is more important than feeling, because feelings come and go, and act is 3-letters..
Just trying to help a little more.
Selected response from:

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 09:28
Grading comment
In fact, I haven't been clear enough in expressin my question. I knew what "a four letter word" was (generally speaking), I mainly struggled with "three letter word"; 3 solutions have been suggested: ACT or LOV/LUV or SEX/GOD/DAD, I went with Nancy's idea to reformulate in French, though Vladimir's suggestion was also very clever (IMHO).

Thanks to all
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +12let's see if i can ...
Susana Magnani
1 +3act is a three-letter word
NancyLynn
4God (from 'god is love')
Vladimir Dubisskiy
3Love shouldn't hurt
sarahl (X)
1 +1Possibly ...
Jackie Bowman
1LUV: acting, caring and the third term is missing. Is it in your text?
Anna Maria Augustine (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +12
love is a three letter word
let's see if i can ...


Explanation:
a four letter word is usually related to a swear word, right? so, even if love is literally a four-letter word, it should not be grouped with the rest of them... just an idea...

Susana Magnani
Argentina
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  María Teresa Taylor Oliver: Exactly. The meaning is: Love is not a bad word.
5 mins
  -> thanks, maría teresa!

agree  NancyLynn
8 mins
  -> thanks, nancy!

agree  Kirill Semenov
10 mins
  -> thanks, kirill!

agree  Alfa Trans (X)
30 mins
  -> thanks, marju!

agree  Will Matter
30 mins
  -> thanks, willmatter!

agree  David Knowles: This must be it, with the hidden/peripheral idea that it's spelt "luv".
2 hrs
  -> thanks, david, i agree about the 'luv' part

agree  Sol
2 hrs
  -> thanks, sol!

agree  Craig Meulen: Agree - the following line says that "love is not abuse" and a "four-letter word" is often abusive
2 hrs
  -> thanks, craig!

agree  michael10705 (X)
3 hrs
  -> thanks, michael!

agree  Walter Landesman
4 hrs
  -> thanks, walter!

agree  vixen: Sounds very plausible
5 hrs
  -> thanks, vixen!

agree  William [Bill] Gray
15 hrs
  -> thanks, bill!
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
love is a three letter word
LUV: acting, caring and the third term is missing. Is it in your text?


Explanation:
It seems to be referring to the three key words in the verses, acting, caring and where is the other one? Do you have it?

Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Local time: 14:28
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 52
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14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +3
love is a three letter word
act is a three-letter word


Explanation:
I agree with silt that the general idea is that love, though composed of 4 letters, is not what is known in English as a 4-letter word, as Mikhail sort of identifies for you ;-) but I notice that acting is more important than feeling, because feelings come and go, and act is 3-letters..
Just trying to help a little more.

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 09:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 75
Grading comment
In fact, I haven't been clear enough in expressin my question. I knew what "a four letter word" was (generally speaking), I mainly struggled with "three letter word"; 3 solutions have been suggested: ACT or LOV/LUV or SEX/GOD/DAD, I went with Nancy's idea to reformulate in French, though Vladimir's suggestion was also very clever (IMHO).

Thanks to all

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Refugio: By their deeds you shall know them.
26 mins
  -> very true! thanks Ruth

neutral  Ala Rabie: is it feel=4 act=3?
37 mins

agree  Alexander Demyanov: For me the "feel=4, act=3" observation is a reason enough to agree w/you.
2 hrs
  -> the problem remains, for poor Michel, to render this in French...thanks Alexander

agree  Ulrike Kraemer: that was my first thought, too
12 hrs
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51 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
love is a three letter word
Love shouldn't hurt


Explanation:
it looks like a four-letter word (ie a bad word, meant to hurt) but it really isn't, the silent e doesn't count. I'm afraid you won't be able to translate this one, you'll have to adapt, dod. peace and luv!

sarahl (X)
Local time: 06:28
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +1
love is a three letter word
Possibly ...


Explanation:
"sex". Possibly also "God" or "Dad". Is that the whole poem? Does it have a title?

Jackie Bowman
Local time: 09:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 7

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Craig Meulen: Likely to mean "sex".
33 mins
  -> Cheers, Craig
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
love is a three letter word
God (from 'god is love')


Explanation:
pretty sure about it.

Vladimir Dubisskiy
United States
Local time: 08:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 4
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