Numbers 1,2

Arabic translation: عدد %2% لعبة

07:56 Jun 4, 2020
English to Arabic translations [PRO]
Science - Mathematics & Statistics / Numbers
English term or phrase: Numbers 1,2
I'm facing a problem with translating English to Arabic text.

The sentence is get %2% free games each day.

The number is put in "% %" because it is variable. The client wants to change it whenever there's a need too.

I told them that for 1 and 2 this isn't possible in Arabic, unless I'm missing something here.

How would you translate it?
Kamal Idkaidek
Local time: 16:33
Arabic translation:عدد %2% لعبة
Explanation:

The problem you describe is real and vexing -- and it is actually more extensive than described in your question. The morphological rules governing numbered nouns vary far beyond the numbers 1 and 2. The rules governing 3-10, for instance, are different from those governing 11 and beyond.

The bottom line is that there is no elegant solution. In modern times, especially with the advent of computer programming and variable content, Arabic-speaking communities had to resort to a solution that would not have been imaginable in older times. It works as follows:

1. Insert the word عدد at the outset to signify that what follows is a quantity in which the numbered noun will not follow traditional rules;

2. Insert the space where the variable will appear, using whatever symbol is required before and/or after (in this case, "% %"); and

3. Insert the numbered noun using the singular form. In this case, the noun will be لعبة, regardless of the number.

If you have to, hold your nose, because the result will not exactly smell like vanilla, but it is the acceptable formula.
Selected response from:

Fuad Yahya
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5عدد %2% لعبة
Fuad Yahya
5أحصل على %2% لعبة، لعبتين، ألعاب
ABDESSAMAD BINAOUI
4عدد اللعب المجانية كل يوم %2%ـ
TargamaT team


  

Answers


26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
%2% games
عدد %2% لعبة


Explanation:

The problem you describe is real and vexing -- and it is actually more extensive than described in your question. The morphological rules governing numbered nouns vary far beyond the numbers 1 and 2. The rules governing 3-10, for instance, are different from those governing 11 and beyond.

The bottom line is that there is no elegant solution. In modern times, especially with the advent of computer programming and variable content, Arabic-speaking communities had to resort to a solution that would not have been imaginable in older times. It works as follows:

1. Insert the word عدد at the outset to signify that what follows is a quantity in which the numbered noun will not follow traditional rules;

2. Insert the space where the variable will appear, using whatever symbol is required before and/or after (in this case, "% %"); and

3. Insert the numbered noun using the singular form. In this case, the noun will be لعبة, regardless of the number.

If you have to, hold your nose, because the result will not exactly smell like vanilla, but it is the acceptable formula.

Fuad Yahya
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for the help. Stay Safe!

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34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
numbers 1,2
أحصل على %2% لعبة، لعبتين، ألعاب


Explanation:
I faced the same problem in translating a website. This is the solution because as you know in Arabic we have: المفرد، المثنى، الجمع

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Note added at 46 mins (2020-06-04 08:42:57 GMT)
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يجب ذكر المثنى لأنه مهم جدا في هذه الحالة

ABDESSAMAD BINAOUI
Morocco
Local time: 14:33
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 12
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
numbers 1,2
عدد اللعب المجانية كل يوم %2%ـ


Explanation:
عدد اللعب المجانية كل يوم %2%ـ

TargamaT team
France
Local time: 15:33
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 62
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