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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Längst in unseren Herzen - nun in unseren Armen

English translation:

The twinkle in our eyes is now the little star in our arms

Added to glossary by Tim Jenkins
Feb 27, 2007 12:03
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Längst in unseren Herzen - nun in unseren Armen

German to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters birth announcement
A customer's asked me to translate the above for a card to be sent out announcing the birth of the boss's baby.
It'd be traightforward if it weren't for the "längst".
Now, there would otherwise be a thousand options for this kind of card - but they've said they do want it as close as possible to the German (which I must tearfully admit I like).

"Long since in our hearts ..." just doesn't work for me.
How about "The twinkle in our eyes and now in our arms"?

TIA for any ideas!
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 The twinkle in our eyes is now the little star in our arms
1 +7 Long held dear, now (at last, finally) held near
2 +1 Long borne in our hearts - now in our arms
3 Long awaited - now (s)he's here
3 Long our heart's desire and now in our arms
3 always in our hearts - at last in our arms
1 +1 Long in our hearts - finally in our arms
Change log

Feb 28, 2007 11:34: Steffen Walter changed "Term asked" from "Längst in unseren Herzen – nun in unseren Armen" to "Längst in unseren Herzen - nun in unseren Armen"

Discussion

Tim Jenkins Feb 28, 2007:
It would be good to know the outcome, if you ever hear back from the customer.
Francis Lee (X) (asker) Feb 28, 2007:
Thanks to everyone. I gave the customer a variety of your suggestions but strongly recommended Tim's. I've yet to hear from the (non-native) customer but, well, does that matter? ;-)

Proposed translations

+3
23 mins
German term (edited): Längst in unseren Herzen – nun in unseren Armen
Selected

The twinkle in our eyes is now the little star in our arms

Yep, go with twinkle. Tried to find something for the baby without mixing metaphors and thought of "little star".
Note from asker:
Hmmm ... and "star" also kind of rhymes (with a little crowbaring) with "hearts"
In fact, the more I look at this the more I like it, i.e. as it stands. And that's an Über-Agree there from Austrianlassie ;-)
Peer comment(s):
agree Austrianlassie : Awww I like this one. Just had a baby girl myself and wish I had used this on our cards.
1 hr
Thanks lassie, and congratulations!
agree Lancashireman : Choose this one, Fran.
6 hrs
thank you Andrew
agree Maudarg (X) : Really like this one Tim - much better than my own poor effort
23 hrs
Thanks Maureen
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Great stuff there, Tim. Thanks."
+1
5 mins
German term (edited): Längst in unseren Herzen – nun in unseren Armen

Long in our hearts - finally in our arms

I'm going to stay along the lines of your suggestion again, but I'd drop the 'since'. Grot, innit?
Note from asker:
Hmmm ... I'm wondering if this doesn't have a hint of an obituary about it ...
Peer comment(s):
agree Terry Gilman : the simplicity of this has a lot going for it (much as I like "twinkle")
2 mins
Something went wrong...
+7
11 mins
German term (edited): Längst in unseren Herzen – nun in unseren Armen

Long held dear, now (at last, finally) held near

wasn't looking for a rhyme. just a suggestion.
Note from asker:
Yes, top marks on the poetic front!
Peer comment(s):
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : this is really neat, and very close to my heart, as I will be a grandmother this summer, and we are visiting our daughter soon overseas...:)
4 mins
agree Sarah Appleby (X)
7 mins
agree jerrie : Nice one!
8 mins
agree David Seycek : nice & inspired
9 mins
agree Hilary Davies Shelby : brilliant!
23 mins
agree franglish : neat, as Ingeborg says!
36 mins
agree gangels (X)
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
13 mins
German term (edited): Längst in unseren Herzen – nun in unseren Armen

Long borne in our hearts - now in our arms

Just another suggestion you may like to consider.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Bill. For me, the smart money's on this one.
Peer comment(s):
agree Armorel Young : a nice way of putting it
6 mins
Danke, Armorel!
Something went wrong...
14 mins
German term (edited): Längst in unseren Herzen – nun in unseren Armen

Long awaited - now (s)he's here

Or, if you want to be really twee:

"Long held dear - now (s)he's here"
Something went wrong...
15 mins
German term (edited): Längst in unseren Herzen – nun in unseren Armen

Long our heart's desire and now in our arms

You're probably going to have a million suggestions for this one...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2007-02-27 18:58:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

That was the impression I had from the original (!)
Note from asker:
Perhaps I'm making too big a deal of it (as with Alan's suggestion), but - after initially liking this a lot - I'm worried this could imply "after years of trying".
Something went wrong...
9 hrs
German term (edited): Längst in unseren Herzen – nun in unseren Armen

always in our hearts - at last in our arms

I was thinking of the readership and thought too personal would not fit, plus I tried to keep it close to the original phrasing.


or:

always in our hearts - and now in our arms





Something went wrong...
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