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hail hitler

German translation: Heil Hitler!

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:hail hitler
German translation:Heil Hitler!
Entered by: Michael Schubert

23:04 Apr 27, 2005
English to German translations [Non-PRO]
History
English term or phrase: hail hitler
"Hail Hitler!"
Heil Hitler!
Explanation:
This is not only how it is (was) rendered in German: because of the phrase's notoriety, it is left untranslated in English. Whether in Nazi movies or among modern neo-Nazis, the German phrase is always used -- never "Hail Hitler" or "Long live Hitler" or any such translated form. "Hail Caesar!" yes, but always "Heil Hitler!".

Regarding Harry's comment: "Heil" here is not functioning as the imperative of "heilen" but rather as "das Heil" = salvation. Thus "Hitler" is in the implied dative and to say "Heil Hitler!" means literally "salvation to Hitler!"
Selected response from:

Michael Schubert
United States
Local time: 03:45
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +7Heil Hitler!
Michael Schubert


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
Heil Hitler!


Explanation:
This is not only how it is (was) rendered in German: because of the phrase's notoriety, it is left untranslated in English. Whether in Nazi movies or among modern neo-Nazis, the German phrase is always used -- never "Hail Hitler" or "Long live Hitler" or any such translated form. "Hail Caesar!" yes, but always "Heil Hitler!".

Regarding Harry's comment: "Heil" here is not functioning as the imperative of "heilen" but rather as "das Heil" = salvation. Thus "Hitler" is in the implied dative and to say "Heil Hitler!" means literally "salvation to Hitler!"

Michael Schubert
United States
Local time: 03:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  ENGSOL: Michael, that is simply a cool answer! :-)
39 mins
agree  Johanna Timm, PhD: Prima erklärt;! (Wobei ich allerdings glaube, dass Harry's Antwort eher sarkastisch gemeint war;) )
2 hrs
agree  Tatjana Dujmic
5 hrs
agree  Terence Ajbro: it has almost religious undertones, compare "hail Mary"
6 hrs
agree  Alexandra Collins: That's a good explanation!
6 hrs
agree  ahartje
7 hrs
agree  Ingo Rösler: my DUDEN agrees, too!
13 hrs
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