Need help from native English speakers Autor vlákna: Elena Sosno
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Elena Sosno 
Austrálie
Local time: 06:42
angličtina -> ruština
+ ...
Hi, my very good friend is starting a new site related to car sales (advertisements of private car sellers and dealers) similar to cars dot com or autotrader dot com. Ads will also include different accessories and spare parts. English is not his native language and he needs help in evaluation of the site name - he wants to name it "carplaza" or "plazamotors". "Plaza"here is supposed to be used in the meaning of "big shopping area".
Do you think this name is suitable for the content descr... See more Hi, my very good friend is starting a new site related to car sales (advertisements of private car sellers and dealers) similar to cars dot com or autotrader dot com. Ads will also include different accessories and spare parts. English is not his native language and he needs help in evaluation of the site name - he wants to name it "carplaza" or "plazamotors". "Plaza"here is supposed to be used in the meaning of "big shopping area".
Do you think this name is suitable for the content described? Does it sound "nice" to an English speaker or does it sound strange? Which variant is better, if any.
Any help is greatly appreciated! ▲ Collapse
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Kim Olson
Local time: 16:42
Člen (2009)
portugalština -> angličtina
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| Native English speaker's impression | Aug 6, 2012 |
Hi Elena,
In my opinion, both "carplaza" and "plazamotors" sound perfectly acceptable - nothing strange or off about either. I think "carplaza" best describes the type of place your friend is envisioning - a wide offering/array of things. "Plazamotors" sounds more to me like a small-town autobody/sales name - a place more limited in scope.
Hope my two cents help!
Kim Olson
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John Fossey
Kanada
Local time: 16:42
Člen (2008)
francouzština -> angličtina
+ ...
Not unusual or "small town" at all. In fact, see www.plazamotors.com. The problem may be a name that's already in use.
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neilmac
Španělsko
Local time: 22:42
španělština -> angličtina
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Caveat: names like "car warehouse/auto warehouse /car market /automarket" are all used somewhere or other, so I think either of the 2 plaza options looks good.
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Russell Jones
Velká Británie
Local time: 21:42
italština -> angličtina
rather more common in American than British English, I suspect.
Translating from Italian, I quite regularly have to explain to Italian clients why plaza is not a good option in British English.
However, for your friend's purposes, both options are fine, even if they don't have the shopping centre connotation to British ears. Carplaza would be my preference incidentally.
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XXXphxxx (X)
Velká Británie
Local time: 21:42
portugalština -> angličtina
+ ...
| Agreed, definitely not British | Aug 6, 2012 |
I'm with Russell on that but perhaps fine if aiming at the U.S. market.
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I agree with Lisa and Russell. However, since you cannot ever make everyone happy, go for CarPlaza. It is very clear what the company does.
Regards,
Nicky
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LilianNekipelov
Spojené státy americké
Local time: 16:42
ruština -> angličtina
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| It sounds perfect , | Aug 6, 2012 |
just like in Brooklyn. Both alternatives sound natural.
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pgschreier
Švýcarsko
Local time: 22:42
němčina -> angličtina
| Plaza in UK English | Aug 7, 2012 |
Hi Russel,
An American is curious why "plaza" does not work in UK English?
-- Paul
(who moved to Europe from the Boston area)
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Russell Jones
Velká Británie
Local time: 21:42
italština -> angličtina
| Plaza in the UK | Aug 7, 2012 |
Hi Paul
It's not that the word is unknown to Brits, it is just very rarely used, especially in the sense of "big shopping area".
In ordinary speech, it would just sound like a pretentious term for an urban open space. As part of a trade name though, it would not seem especially strange.
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Helena Chavarria
Španělsko
Local time: 22:42
Člen (2011)
španělština -> angličtina
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| 'Plaza' doesn't mean anything to me in UK English | Aug 7, 2012 |
Carspace
Carcentre/Carcenter
Carmall
I'm afraid I associate the word 'plaza' with its meaning in Spanish and I would immediately think, 'Oh someone who likes Spanish/is Spanish owns the business'.
I'm just being truthful.
I don't even know how you pronounce the word in English: plaza (z as in mother)? platha (z as in path)?
[Edited at 2012-08-07 19:24 GMT]
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LilianNekipelov
Spojené státy americké
Local time: 16:42
ruština -> angličtina
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| Well, it is bread and butter in New York | Aug 7, 2012 |
No one would question the word in New York, and all English-speaking people would know how to pronounce it right away. It is very common in such contexts.
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Ty Kendall
Velká Británie
Local time: 21:42
hebrejština -> angličtina
| My old stomping ground........ | Aug 7, 2012 |
is called "Broadway Plaza" in Birmingham (England). It is used in the UK - pronunciation is anglicized with a "Z" as in "Zebra" (IPA: plaːzə) and it usually signifies some kind of "square" or specified communal/outside area (the shopping area connotation isn't strong in England though so for the OP's purpose it indeed would not be good for a specific UK market although UK speakers would surely make the connection).
[Edited at 2012-08-07 21:25 GMT]
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Elena Sosno
Austrálie
Local time: 06:42
angličtina -> ruština
+ ...
AUTOR TÉMATU
I will pass all remarks to my friend. Thank you all a lot!
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