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. German to English

Leb wohl!

English translation: Have a good life. Farewell.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Leb Wohl.
English translation:Have a good life. Farewell.
Entered by: 2M Languages

09:01 Aug 9, 2003
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary
German term or phrase: Leb wohl!
Leb wohl waren die letzte worte eines Briefes eines Gefangenen im Konzentrationslager von DAchau an seine Frau und Kinder.

was sag ich da? Good Bye sagt doch nicht das selbe aus. Im deutschen ist klar, dass er davon ausgeht, seine Familie nicht mehr zu sehen.

das ganze ist schrecklich genug. hat jemand ne idee?
2M Languages
Local time: 11:28
farewell
Explanation:
.
Selected response from:

Edith Kelly
Switzerland
Local time: 03:28
Grading comment
I am using both. Have a good life. Farewell. Thanks also to Fantutti.

Cheers from Australia.

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6farewell
Edith Kelly
5 +3Fare thee well
Charon
5Fare thee well forever
Сергей Лузан
4 +1Have a good life!
Fantutti (X)
4Live in peace!
Jirina Nevosadova
3So long!
Ellen Zittinger
3Adieu
writeaway


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
farewell


Explanation:
.

Edith Kelly
Switzerland
Local time: 03:28
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 9253
Grading comment
I am using both. Have a good life. Farewell. Thanks also to Fantutti.

Cheers from Australia.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway
22 mins
  -> Thanks.
agree  Athanasios Tsifis (X)
2 hrs
  -> Thanks.
agree  Nancy Arrowsmith
4 hrs
agree  Lars Finsen: I prefer this one too
8 hrs
agree  roneill
9 hrs
  -> Thanks all.
agree  Barbara Stedman (X)
11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
So long!


Explanation:
Till then!

Ellen Zittinger
Local time: 18:28
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 287
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Live in peace!


Explanation:
Live in peace! or Live in happiness!
None of them is literally exact, but both express the same.

Jirina Nevosadova
Czech Republic
Local time: 03:28
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech
PRO pts in pair: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Fare thee well


Explanation:
A bit archaic, albeit still common in folk songs and tales

Charon
Germany
Local time: 03:28
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 42

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: it's the way I'd translate ' Lebe wohl!' in Die Zauberflöte for example. perhaps a bit too archaic for the context (but lovely anyway)
49 mins
agree  Malgorzata Kozarzewska
1 hr
agree  Corinna Luchtenberg
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Fare thee well forever


Explanation:
I presume. Good luck, tdietter!

Сергей Лузан
Russian Federation
Local time: 04:28
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in pair: 420
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Adieu


Explanation:
is goodbye for ever. just another option.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-08-09 12:47:10 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

it is quite literary and perhaps rather archaic too. Farewell is still part of everyday language. Depends on what you need/want for your text.

writeaway
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 1179
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Have a good life!


Explanation:
Leb wohl = live well, or better: have a good life. There's a lot of sadness in this term, too, because it indicates farewell forever.

Fantutti (X)
Local time: 18:28
PRO pts in pair: 1023

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  roneill: This is also a possibility in the context.
1 hr
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