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
Bruttoliste
Transportplatte

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

In Wangen bleibt man hangen

English translation:

Wangen (just) won't let you go (let go of you!)

Jul 11, 2008 10:39
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

"In Wangen bleibt man hangen"

German to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
I need a snappy translation for this saying about Wangen, a town in the Allgäu region of Germany, the idea that once you've been to (or been born in?) Wangen, you stay there. Not always true of course ;-)
Any ideas anybody? My creative juices have died up
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 Wangen (just) won't let you go (let go of you!)
3 +2 the place of no return
3 +2 Once is not enough in Wangen
3 +2 "Once Wangen, always Wangen"
2 +2 You settle down in W / You take roots in W
3 Wangen gets in your blood
2 +1 if you're tired of Wangen, you're tired of life
3 One gets stuck in Wangen!
3 Wangen - your heart stays with it

Discussion

Nicole Schnell Jul 11, 2008:
Costello - those "explanations" are meant as a prank, are crawling with typos and the German is substandard.
Costello (asker) Jul 11, 2008:
Hey Cilian Many thanks for the link - both great explanations of the origin of the phrase and both v. plausible...
Costello (asker) Jul 11, 2008:
creative juices unfortunate typo, they have of course "dried up", not "died up", but it's the same thing really ;-)
Costello (asker) Jul 11, 2008:
In Wangen bleibt man hangen It's part of a calendar for a company describing the history and how, after he went away for a while, the founder returned to his home town and started the company
BrigitteHilgner Jul 11, 2008:
Context? Is this part of an advertisement to attract tourists? What else does it say? I guess there is more than just this one sentence?

Proposed translations

+1
8 hrs
Selected

Wangen (just) won't let you go (let go of you!)

I guess you are looking for the irony in the saying, as Cilian's link points out.

Wangen always (re-) connects with you
You always (re-) connect with Wangen
Wangen will always capture your heart (and some other parts)
(you) can't help (but) stay(ing) in Wangen
Can't shake Wangen, never! (well, sarcastically speaking)

more traditional approach but without the cobblestone-"connection":

you always (want to) come back to Wangen
(For people wanting to come back to their home town/favorite town)

you always (want to) come home to Wangen
Wangen is home!
Wangen - my kind of town!

I know above suggestion is similar to one of Chetan's but maybe it's a little more straight-forward.

Wangen will always stay/remain in your heart

http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=745&p=community&a=1
..will always stay in my heart

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2008-07-11 19:42:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

more:

Wangen - and you're hooked!
Wangen (always) gets you good!


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2008-07-11 19:43:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

revamping my main answer:

You just can't let go of Wangen!
Peer comment(s):
agree Lancashireman : The Sinatra option is excellent. (Reminds me of Baden Baden - so good they named it twice.)
2 hrs
♫ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♫ ♪ ... thanks, Andrew.:)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, I really liked this one. So many to choose from so thanks to all who contributed"
+2
9 mins
German term (edited): In Wangen bleibt man hangen

the place of no return

maytb sth. along those lines

or simply
Wangen, a captivating town

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2008-07-11 11:03:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Ein alter Spruch lautet "In Wangen bleibt man hangen" angeblich beruht dieser Satz darauf, das die edlen Damen mit ihren Absätzen Probleme auf dem Kopfstein-Pflaster hatten und dort hängen-blieben. Andere Menschen sagen, das die Aussage in Wangen daher kommt, das man die Erhängten in Wangen nicht wieder runtegeholt hat, sondern sie, ihr erratet es, hängen liess. Die erste Geschichte gefällt mir besser.

http://www.nigmann.info/14584/86001.html?*session*id*key*=*s...
Peer comment(s):
neutral BrigitteHilgner : I can't think of anything more off-putting than "place of no return"! Do they slit your throat there or what?
5 mins
neutral Nicole Schnell : Hm, here it means: Once you got contaminated, you will fall in love with this town. Regarding the high heel-problem: Nothing tops old town Heidelberg. :-)
48 mins
I did suggest captivating too
agree Lancashireman : Welcome to the Hotel California…You can checkout any time you like, But you can never leave… http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/eagles/hotel california_2004446...
3 hrs
agree Bernhard Sulzer : with "Wangen, a captivating town" - and once it got you/to you, it won't let go of you/you go :)
8 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
51 mins
German term (edited): In Wangen bleibt man hangen

You settle down in W / You take roots in W

Might work in this particular case.
Whatever you choose, please remove the quotation marks for the glossary entry - otherwise it won't be found again.
Peer comment(s):
agree Ken Cox : or 'Wangen won't let you go' (it's damned difficult to think of anything that doesn't suggest that Wangen is full of people who don't have enough gumption to go somewhere else)
36 mins
Thank you, Ken - I love comments which make me laugh! Suggestion: Let's go somewhere else. Have a nice weekend!
agree Kari Foster : "Wangen stays with you" (like a bad smell???)/ I have not had the pleasure of visiting Wangen. No doubt it is lovely.
1 hr
Thank you, Kari. Could it be that your impression of Wangen is not a favourable one? ;-) Have a nice weekend!
Something went wrong...
1 hr

Wangen gets in your blood

or (more risky) 'Wangen gets under your skin'
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr
German term (edited): In Wangen bleibt man hangen

Once is not enough in Wangen

Or: Once is not enough in Wangen,
To Wangen you'll come back (for sure) again.

Or: If you've been to Wangen, you'll come back again (and again).

Or: Wangen will make you want to come back again (and again)
Peer comment(s):
agree Kari Foster : "You can never get enough of Wangen"
1 hr
Thank you, Kari
agree sylvie malich (X) : yup. Wangen ain't no "one-night-stand"
1 hr
Yes, like I said: ...again and again ;-) Thanks, sylvie
Something went wrong...
+1
2 hrs

if you're tired of Wangen, you're tired of life

to paraphrase Dr Johnson
;-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2008-07-11 13:45:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Once a Wanger, always a Wanger.
;-)
Peer comment(s):
neutral Ken Cox : You might want to check the slang meanings of 'wanger', and it's also perilously close to 'wanker'.
46 mins
I know; it was not at all a serious suggestion
agree sylvie malich (X) : this deserves an honorable mention!
1 hr
You are very kind.
Something went wrong...
+2
4 hrs

"Once Wangen, always Wangen"

Just crossed my mind as an option/suggestion.
Peer comment(s):
agree Lancashireman : Or, as Ken might suggest: "Once a Wanger, always a Wanger."
7 hrs
Thanks, Andrew!
agree Lingua.Franca : this is my favorite
1 day 1 hr
Thank you, Tamas!
Something went wrong...
8 hrs

One gets stuck in Wangen!

See Link.
Reference:

http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=1816213

Something went wrong...
12 hrs

Wangen - your heart stays with it

Just another idea- you fall in love with it - it also gives the tourist the option to return to his 9-5 hamsterwheel after his stay ;-)
Example sentence:

Taos Is Where the Heart Stays

my heart stays with you (lyrics Backstreet Boys)

Reference:

www.discovernewmexico.com/articles/taos_is_where_the_heart_stays/index.htm - 21k -

http://www.mp3lyrics.org/b/backstreet-boys/my-heart-stays-with-you/

Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search