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. French to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

Ils sont enfuis.

English translation: they no longer exist

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Ils sont enfuis.
English translation:they no longer exist
Entered by: Lara Barnett

22:14 Apr 23, 2014
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Narration in abstract style
French term or phrase: Ils sont enfuis.
I cannot see what exactly "enfuis" is referring to here if it is a case of something or someone fleeing. Have I understood the meaning here?

"Ici c’est une profession, ils ont pensé à tous. Tout est valorisé. On les traite et on extrait la part qu’il est possible de valoriser et qui supportera une transformation. Ce qui reste est ce tas dont rien de plus ne peut être extrait et qui rejoint ainsi le tas de déchets ultimes. L’inutile est ici à bannir. Ils sont enfuis. Pollution. Dépollution. Pollution. La boucle est bouclée."
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:04
they no longer exist
Explanation:
........ultimate/final waste....the ineffectiveness is banished. It no longer exists. The loop is closed
Selected response from:

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 02:04
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3They are buried
Remy Ib
3 +1they no longer exist
Verginia Ophof
3 -1They have escaped.
Timothy Rake
3 -1they vanished
Mario Freitas


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
They have escaped.


Explanation:
or.... they've gotten away, they've gotten out of hand??? if "ild" refers to "pollution, depollution, pollution"

Timothy Rake
United States
Local time: 01:04
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Victoria Britten: "ils" can't refer to "pollution..." - it would be "elles"; and in any case in English we would use "it" in that case, not "they" (I believe, seeing the thing as a process).
8 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
they no longer exist


Explanation:
........ultimate/final waste....the ineffectiveness is banished. It no longer exists. The loop is closed

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 02:04
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yolanda Broad: Nice interpretation.
3 mins
  -> Thank you Yolanda !!
neutral  Victoria Britten: It's poetic, but "ils" as far as I can see can only refer back to "[tas de] déchets", which can't (unfortunately) just no longer exist.
6 hrs
  ->  le tas....?
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
they vanished


Explanation:
Suggestion

Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 05:04
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Victoria Britten: In a puff of smoke?
5 hrs
  -> There are several meanings for the term, not only the one you are familiar with.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
They are buried


Explanation:
Trash do not flee, and such metaphor would be quite clumpsy here.

Also, the correct translation for "they escaped" would be "ils se sont enfui".

IMO, this is a typo and the source text should have been "ils sont enfouis" for "trash are buried".

Remy Ib
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:04
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Victoria Britten: This was my first thought too: the piles of waste have been buried
5 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Philippa Smith: definitely
7 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Bertrand Leduc
16 hrs
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