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
Creditreform-Auskunft
Vorausscheidung
Sep 26, 2007 00:44
17 yrs ago
German term

Minchen

German to English Art/Literary Names (personal, company)
Manchmal sagte sie auch: „Minchen“ war heute böse, er hat Stubenarrest und darf nicht zum Spielen rauskommen.

The 'sie' here is the mean mother of a boy (er), who was forced to do all house work.

My question is, is 'Minchen' a pet name? I mean some sort of expression of affection?

Thanks in advance
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 little skivvy
4 it is a name, noun
Change log

Sep 26, 2007 07:38: Steffen Walter changed "Field (specific)" from "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters" to "Names (personal, company)"

Sep 26, 2007 07:38: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Other" to "Art/Literary"

Discussion

Assem Mazloum Sep 26, 2007:
You're welcome, hope to be able to help again in future, good luck
Sonali Hegde (asker) Sep 26, 2007:
Yes profi-assem. Really sorry about the whole load of confusing and misleading notes ;-). Thanks!
Assem Mazloum Sep 26, 2007:
So i was right after all, thank you
Sonali Hegde (asker) Sep 26, 2007:
Sorry, I just found out that that was the name by which the mother called him.
Ulrike Kraemer Sep 26, 2007:
What was the boy's name? Wilhelm, maybe?
Ulrike Kraemer Sep 26, 2007:
Minchen is definitely short for "WILHELMINE". I should know because that was my great-grandmother's name, and she used to be called "Minchen".
Assem Mazloum Sep 26, 2007:
try the following: " our little maid here ...." in this case nicole deserves the credit.
Assem Mazloum Sep 26, 2007:
Guess the nickname is the best explanation.
Sonali Hegde (asker) Sep 26, 2007:
Nicole and Profi-assem, this is about all the context I have got. The text then goes on to talk about other things.
Don't know if this will help, but the above sentence is a statement made by a friend of the boy's, who had seen the boy being ill-treated by his 'herrische' mother.
Nicole, I think you are right about the nickname part.
Nicole Schnell Sep 26, 2007:
More input: Minchen is also short for "Minna", a classic, stereotypical name for a maid. In this case it would be a pretty nasty special title for the boy.
Assem Mazloum Sep 26, 2007:
I had to be sure because Sonali kept repeating " That is not his name. Not even close." she made me to doubt myself. thank you for the explanation
Nicole Schnell Sep 26, 2007:
I clicked "send" too fast. My question is: would this be possible? You've got all the context.. Thanks, Sonali!
Assem Mazloum Sep 26, 2007:
it is definitely a noun,
add more text to find out if it's a pet's name
Nicole Schnell Sep 26, 2007:
It is a nickname. Minchen usually is short for Hermine, a female first name. Maybe they called the boy by a girls' name to humiliate the kid even more.

Proposed translations

+2
24 mins
Selected

little skivvy

Our little skivvy was bad.

Note from asker:
Isn't that a little too harsh? :-)
on second thoughts, you may be right..
Peer comment(s):
agree Karin Seelhof : I agree - its harsh, but that's life ;-)
5 hrs
agree Ulrike Kraemer : and with your explanation in the Asker's Box
9 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Nicole! Your note was very helpful ! Thanks everybody else for your contribution!"
5 mins

it is a name, noun

perhaps the name of the boy
Note from asker:
That is not his name. Not even close. But it could be a pet name.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Ulrike Kraemer : This is a female name, so it's definitely not the name of the boy. / The asker "admitted" that this is what the mother calls him, not that it is the boy's name. I can call you anything but that doesn't automatically mean it's your name, does it?
7 hrs
but the asker admitted later, / perhaps I miss expressed myself, I meant that it is a name and my answer says : “ it is a name, noun”
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search