This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Italian to English
  3. Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting

fondo schiena

English translation: bottom

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:fondo schiena
English translation:bottom
Entered by: Peter Cox

11:20 Jul 11, 2007
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Landscapes
Italian term or phrase: fondo schiena
però la proporzione fra le parti deve essere mantenuta anche nella linea arabescata c'è il gusto delle membra, il rigore tondeggiante delle curve; il fondo schiena, il collo, il seno, le braccia, le gambe, hanno quella nobiltà che discende dal vero.

Not being in a literary mood today I can only come up with a lteral meaning that makes no sense!
Peter Cox
Italy
Local time: 01:44
bum, bottom, backside
Explanation:
I have always found the term to be misleading as it seems to suggest it is the lower back when it is, in fact, the bum.
Ask any Italian - I just did, and they all confirmed it's the bum.
Garzanti also: fondoschiena s.f. (fam.) backside, bottom.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2007-07-11 16:07:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

While I don't think the small of the back is covered by the word(it's just the bum, pure and simple), I do agree 'small of the back' or something like that might sound better in the context.
Selected response from:

garrett higgins
Local time: 00:44
Grading comment
Hard to decide, thanks to both
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +6bum, bottom, backside
garrett higgins
3 +4Small of the back
Catherine Piéret
5Buttocks
amgutter (X)


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Small of the back


Explanation:
I think...
Good luck, Peter!
Have a nice day
Catherine

Catherine Piéret
Italy
Local time: 01:44
Native speaker of: French

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  KayW: "lower back' would also be possible, but "small of the back" sounds more poetic.
15 mins
  -> Thank you, KayW
agree  simona dachille
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Simona
agree  James (Jim) Davis: http://images.google.com/images?ie=UTF-8&sa=N&sourceid=deskb... While I would agree with Garrett, I think the area starts at the small of the back to then descends as it were, so in the context this could be used more poetically
4 hrs
agree  Umberto Cassano
5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +6
fondo schiena, fondoschiena
bum, bottom, backside


Explanation:
I have always found the term to be misleading as it seems to suggest it is the lower back when it is, in fact, the bum.
Ask any Italian - I just did, and they all confirmed it's the bum.
Garzanti also: fondoschiena s.f. (fam.) backside, bottom.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2007-07-11 16:07:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

While I don't think the small of the back is covered by the word(it's just the bum, pure and simple), I do agree 'small of the back' or something like that might sound better in the context.


    Reference: http://www.garzantilinguistica.it/interna_eng.html
garrett higgins
Local time: 00:44
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
Hard to decide, thanks to both

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  silvia b (X): il fondoschiena è decisamente il sedere! :)
2 hrs
agree  Costanza T.
2 hrs
agree  Laura Mussutto: decisamente il sedere, e' solo un modo piu' carino per indicare la stessa parte del corpo...
3 hrs
agree  Lindsay Watts
3 hrs
agree  Grace Anderson
8 hrs
agree  Linda 969
8 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Buttocks


Explanation:
I think this is a little most appropriate for an art text. 'Bum' and 'bottom' sound a bit childish.

amgutter (X)
Local time: 19:44
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search