Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
popelig
English translation:
rinky-dink (AmE) / poky (BrE)
Added to glossary by
Beate Lutzebaeck
Nov 1, 2005 04:11
18 yrs ago
German term
New Zealand
Double qualification in law (Germany/NZ)
Native in: German 
, English
Works in: English to German, German to English, French to German, and 1 more.
popelig
German to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
General inquiry about a word for which I never seem to be able to find the right translation.
Background situation: Arriving at a hotel that looked rather tired, worn and smallish (not shabby though), "popelig" seemed to be the most suitable description. The standard dictionary entries, such as crummy, meagre, stingy, don't fit.
Any ideas?
Background situation: Arriving at a hotel that looked rather tired, worn and smallish (not shabby though), "popelig" seemed to be the most suitable description. The standard dictionary entries, such as crummy, meagre, stingy, don't fit.
Any ideas?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +4 | rinky-dink / crummy |
NGK
|
| 3 +4 | pathetic/sorry-looking |
Henry Schroeder
|
| 3 +3 | down-at-heel |
Anna Blackab (X)
|
| 4 +1 | somewhat dreary |
Tom Funke
|
| 2 +3 | poky/dingy |
Francis Lee (X)
|
| 4 | second-rate |
Ingrid Blank
|
| 2 +1 | cheesy |
Friderike Butler
|
| 3 | simple |
Stephen Sadie
|
| 3 | modest/plain/primitive |
BrigitteHilgner
|
| 3 | it has seen better days |
Nancy Arrowsmith
|
Proposed translations
+4
57 mins
Selected
rinky-dink / crummy
I disagree with "crummy" not being an option here.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Fantutti (X)
: Oh yes, reminds me of the "crummy old hotel" in Brecht's 'Pirate Jenny'.
6 mins
|
| agree |
Henry Schroeder
: rinky-dink is good
1 hr
|
| agree |
Francis Lee (X)
: why not "crummy" indeed ... or (je nach dem) "dinky" / I recall "The rinky-dink Pink Panther" in the title song to the carton series, but otherwise probably as alien to UK/Irish as "poky" is to the US
4 hrs
|
| neutral |
Anna Blackab (X)
: 'dinky' in British English has connotations of small
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
: "crummy" could do the job; never heard of "rinky-dink"
6 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all for your excellent suggestions, wish I could split points."
+1
6 mins
Friderike Butler
United States
United States
Native in German
United States
Language Expert(s) at Your Service
Native in: German
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
4
cheesy
maybe? Maybe I'll come up with something better in a bit...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Teresa Reinhardt
1 min
|
|
Thanks, Teresa
|
|
| neutral |
Francis Lee (X)
: only if the hotel has furry pink and yellow wallpaper, plastic Doric columns etc.
5 hrs
|
|
or if it is stuck in another era that is completely out of date
|
|
| neutral |
CMJ_Trans (X)
: I've heard of a cheesy grin but that's all
6 hrs
|
|
try to google "cheesy hotel". Not the best translation here, but a relatively common term.
|
9 mins
Stephen Sadie
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
Practical business experience, reliable
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
48
simple
or basic possibly
19 mins
second-rate
might fit
+1
1 hr
somewhat dreary
I'm not so sure that there is a general English term here that fits all such motels. You might have to tune the copy to the context and situation:
You could leave off the 'somewhat' to make it feel worse - depending on context and general mood.
If there are details sugesting physical wear or age, you could paraphrase 'somewhat shopworn' or 'worn [a bit] at the edges'.
Intimations of lack of cleanliness might suggest other paraphrases.
HTH, Tom
HTH Tom
You could leave off the 'somewhat' to make it feel worse - depending on context and general mood.
If there are details sugesting physical wear or age, you could paraphrase 'somewhat shopworn' or 'worn [a bit] at the edges'.
Intimations of lack of cleanliness might suggest other paraphrases.
HTH, Tom
HTH Tom
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Bianca Jacobsohn
: The hotel is "not shabby", so I think this one fits well
38 mins
|
3 hrs
BrigitteHilgner
Austria
Austria
Native in German
Austria
b2b/economics/marketing/market research/
Native in: German 
Works in: German to English, French to German, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
23
modest/plain/primitive
I like the "second-rate" and "simple" suggestions, too, but think "crummy" is going to far since you have ruled out "shabby".
+3
4 hrs
down-at-heel
Based on your description - tired and worn looking, this could be an alternative
+3
5 hrs
poky/dingy
Two more alternatives that are a step up from shabby.
Depends on what exactly you mean by "popelig" and e.g. how big the hotel is ...
"good location but small, dark and poky"
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186605-d199904-r...
Depends on what exactly you mean by "popelig" and e.g. how big the hotel is ...
"good location but small, dark and poky"
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186605-d199904-r...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Victor Dewsbery
1 hr
|
| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Israel Pérez
: poky, nondescript
2 days 11 hrs
|
+4
1 hr
Henry Schroeder
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
20 years of experience, certified, ATA
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English, Russian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
pathetic/sorry-looking
In Bavaria my friends children often refer to something as popelig when it is armselig and inconsequential (as I understand it). In some contexts, which include this hotel example, I rather like the choice of pathetic or sorry:
We arrived at a rather sorry looking hotel
We arrived at a rather pathetic hotel
Rinky-dink is another excellent option.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs 52 mins (2005-11-01 12:04:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It seems to me that the back translation of "that is a really pathetic flowerbed" could be "das ist eine richtig popelige Rebatte bzw. Blumenbett". It's pathetic because it is small and lacks grandeur. It's also sorry-looking, but I guess I'm curious as to how one would translate pathetic into German? armselig? But this is of course another question.
Anyway, excuse me if Rebatte is spelled differently, apparently its Bavarian and not in my Duden.
We arrived at a rather sorry looking hotel
We arrived at a rather pathetic hotel
Rinky-dink is another excellent option.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs 52 mins (2005-11-01 12:04:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It seems to me that the back translation of "that is a really pathetic flowerbed" could be "das ist eine richtig popelige Rebatte bzw. Blumenbett". It's pathetic because it is small and lacks grandeur. It's also sorry-looking, but I guess I'm curious as to how one would translate pathetic into German? armselig? But this is of course another question.
Anyway, excuse me if Rebatte is spelled differently, apparently its Bavarian and not in my Duden.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Marcus Malabad
: both are good
33 mins
|
| agree |
Bianca Jacobsohn
: I quite like sorry-looking
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Francis Lee (X)
: "pathetic" might be a tad strong, but "sorry-looking" could work ...
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Ian M-H (X)
: "sorry-looking" is fine but I would avoid "pathetic"
5 hrs
|
22 hrs
Nancy Arrowsmith
Native in English
literary and scientific translations
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, Italian to English, English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
it has seen better days
gives the tired-out part, and shades of past glory,but also might be a bit shabby
below par
third-string
tacky
are less positive
below par
third-string
tacky
are less positive
Discussion