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  3. Poetry & Literature

a la salida de la cueva.

English translation: at the mouth of the cave

10:31 Nov 21, 2021
Spanish to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Literature.
Spanish term or phrase: a la salida de la cueva.
I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well. This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.

Is okay to translate it as "in the exit of the cave?

I hope that all of you are healthy and safe from The Covid19 Pandemic.

Here is the full paragraph:

El hombre se puso muy nervioso, más aún a la mañana siguiente, cuando escuchó que la puerta se abría y entraban los ladrones. Al verle, los ladrones acabaron con su vida y dejaron su cuerpo a la salida de la cueva.
yugoslavia
United States
Local time: 04:25
English translation:at the mouth of the cave
Explanation:
The entry/exit of a cave is usually called a 'mouth'.

Above his head flocks of swifts darted in and out of the cave mouth.

Human occupation was limited to the cave mouth, although paintings were created throughout the length of the cave.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cave-mo...
Selected response from:

Jennifer Levey
Chile
Local time: 04:25
Grading comment
Thanks Miss Levey.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5at the mouth of the cave
Jennifer Levey
3 +5at the entrance of the cave
Ana Vozone
4near the exit of the cave
Marouchka Heijnen


  

Answers


46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
near the exit of the cave


Explanation:
I would translate it as near (or by) the exit of the cave.

Marouchka Heijnen
Spain
Local time: 10:25
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your help Miss Marouchka.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jennifer Levey: A native UK English speaker would more likely write 'exit from the cave.
8 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
at the mouth of the cave


Explanation:
The entry/exit of a cave is usually called a 'mouth'.

Above his head flocks of swifts darted in and out of the cave mouth.

Human occupation was limited to the cave mouth, although paintings were created throughout the length of the cave.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cave-mo...


Jennifer Levey
Chile
Local time: 04:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks Miss Levey.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your help Mrs. Levey!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Carol Gullidge: technically very correct, although perhaps too highbrow for the (presumably very young) target audience. Otherwise I would Agree!//Good point, although not quite what I was getting at regarding linguistic register - rather than child psychology :)
1 hr
  -> I think that if the readers are old/mature enough to cope with murder ('los ladrones acabaron con su vida'), they can probably handle the idea that caves have mouths.
agree  Frank Foley: Yes, it elegantly covers both entrance and exit with a single word. But will we ever find out if they left him inside or outside? :-}
2 hrs
agree  neilmac: Classic!
5 hrs
agree  Simone Taylor
8 hrs
agree  Katarina Peters
14 hrs
agree  Shilpa Baliga
1 day 1 hr
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
at the entrance of the cave


Explanation:
Suggestion :)

https://www.google.com/search?q="at the entrance of the cave...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2021-11-22 07:57:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Physically, it is very probably/most certainly the same place. Hence my suggestion.

Example sentence(s):
  • Ali Baba was a poor woodcutter of Persia who witnessed the visit of a gang of ... his body in pieces at the entrance of the cave, carrying the pieces home.
Ana Vozone
Local time: 09:25
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 16
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hi Miss Ana, Thanks for your help but the Spanish term is Salida, not entrada. Can you please clarify? Thanks.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jennifer Levey: Yes - in this context 'entrance' is a fair translation of 'salida' :) // But I would prefer 'entrance to the cave'.
3 mins
  -> Thank you, Robin!
agree  Carol Gullidge
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Carol!
agree  philgoddard
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Phil!
agree  Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
6 hrs
  -> Thank you, Beatriz!
agree  Orkoyen (X)
1 day 39 mins
  -> Thank you, Orkoyen!
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