Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
handwriting upon the wall
Spanish translation:
presagio
Added to glossary by
Graciela Guzman
May 21, 2005 17:52
19 yrs ago
6 viewers *
English term
United States
Literature and lyrics true to original!
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, English
handwriting upon the wall
English to Spanish
Art/Literary
Religion
In a church denomination's statement of faith:
"...The signs of the times are as a 'handwriting upon the wall,' foretelling us what the future will bring." (Obvious reference to Daniel 5:5ff in the Bible) Is there any Spanish equivalent to this idiomatic phrase? Thanks!
"...The signs of the times are as a 'handwriting upon the wall,' foretelling us what the future will bring." (Obvious reference to Daniel 5:5ff in the Bible) Is there any Spanish equivalent to this idiomatic phrase? Thanks!
Proposed translations
(Spanish)
| 4 +1 | presagio |
Graciela Guzman
|
| 5 +4 | escrito/escritura en la pared |
Luis Zepeda
|
| 5 +1 | tener los días contados |
Miguel Falquez-Certain
|
| 4 +1 | "escritura en la pared" (un signo ominoso) |
aivars
|
| 4 | escritura/ escrito a mano/ manuscrito en la pared |
Maria Boschero
|
| 4 | evidentes |
Santisanz (X)
|
| 4 | son [como] una señal/ prueba /manifestación... |
Denise De Peña (X)
|
Proposed translations
+1
11 hrs
Graciela Guzman
Argentina
Argentina
Native in Spanish
Argentina
"Accurate and Reliable"
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
presagio
Hi, Bill,
I don't know an equivalent in Spanish for the idiomatic phrase. What you see in the Bible is "escritura en la pared" but in Spanish it's "presagio"
I don't know an equivalent in Spanish for the idiomatic phrase. What you see in the Bible is "escritura en la pared" but in Spanish it's "presagio"
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "¡Presagio! Precisamente. Como el texto no hace ninguna referencia a la historia bíblica de Daniel 5, sino hace uso de un modismo bien común en el inglés, lo cual refiere precisamente a un "presagio", es la respuesta más adecuada. De todos modos, ¡¡gracias a Luis y a todos los demás por su ayuda siempre!! Bill :)"
+4
1 min
Luis Zepeda
United States
United States
Native in English
&
Spanish
United States
Experienced Translator and Interpreter
Native in: English 
, Spanish
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
8
escrito/escritura en la pared
It's a common expression meanaing "it's been said before"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Legalmed
: It seems "menetekel" is also used in Spanish, very seldomly though.
17 mins
|
| neutral |
Santisanz (X)
: The expression is not very common in Spain...
24 mins
|
| agree |
JaneTranslates
: My Bible has a section title of "El escrito en la pared." But if the common meaning is "it's been said before," then it wouldn't be appropriate in the context.
35 mins
|
| agree |
Joaquim Siles-Borràs
: To me, this sounds ok. It maintains the ref. to the book of Daniel and maintains the meaning in this context.
1 hr
|
| agree |
Leticia Klemetz, CT
: "la escritura en la pared" es lo que dice Reina Valera. Sin embargo, no tenemos esta frase ni ninguna similar como algo "idiomático" que yo sepa
2 hrs
|
2 mins
escritura/ escrito a mano/ manuscrito en la pared
Suerte!
+1
26 mins
Miguel Falquez-Certain
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
United States
Accurate, Fast, Reliable
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, French to Spanish, Portuguese to Spanish, and 15 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
tener los días contados
Se refiere a la interpretación de Daniel, a petición de Belsasar, de Mene, mene, telkel,uparsin escrito en lo encalado de la pared por mano desconocida. Su interpretación: Mene, contó Dios tu reino, y le ha puesto fin. Tekel: pesado has sido en balanza, y fuiste hallado falto. Peres: tu reino ha sido roto, y dado a los medos y a los persas. La misma noche fue muerto Belsasar rey de los caldeos. Y Darío de Media tomó el reino. Daniel 5:5-31.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
JaneTranslates
: But the reference to Daniel is not as clear as in English, so you might want to add a parenthetical (Dan. 5:5-31) or mention Belsasar. Later: I meant Bill, in his translation, might want to do that. Sorry.
7 mins
|
|
Thank you. I did mention Belsasar and Daniel 5:5-31.
|
30 mins
evidentes
I would suggest "evidentes" or "claros para todos" (see Luke 12, 54ff), for that I believe there isn't an equivalent idiom in European Spanish. It depends on the country you translate for.
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Note added at 1 hr 8 mins (2005-05-21 19:01:06 GMT)
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\"The signs of the times are as a \'handwriting upon the wall,\' foretelling us what the future will bring.\"
\"Los signos de los tiempos son evidentes y nos anticipan lo que nos deparará el futuro\"
I\'ve heard many times the idiom \"signos de los tiempos\" in religious contexts. That\'s the reason I think it\'s a well-known idiom, even if \'handwritten upon the wall\' not.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 8 mins (2005-05-21 19:01:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\"The signs of the times are as a \'handwriting upon the wall,\' foretelling us what the future will bring.\"
\"Los signos de los tiempos son evidentes y nos anticipan lo que nos deparará el futuro\"
I\'ve heard many times the idiom \"signos de los tiempos\" in religious contexts. That\'s the reason I think it\'s a well-known idiom, even if \'handwritten upon the wall\' not.
+1
1 hr
"escritura en la pared" (un signo ominoso)
Por un lado está la "escritura en la pared" o lo "escrito en la pared" que sería la versión bíblica de Daniel 5 en español. El problema de traducción se presenta cuando "escritura en la pared" no se ha convertido en un cliché como "handwritting on the wall" que se aplica a signo ominoso, a ver algo terrible. Mi solución sería poner la cita bíblica para que el lector no se pierda y entre paréntesis el significado del cliché.
1 hr
son [como] una señal/ prueba /manifestación...
de lo que nos depara el futuro...
Discussion