Glossary entry

Dutch term or phrase:

aanvoelen

English translation:

to complement

Added to glossary by Ljiljana Malovic
May 19, 2005 18:27
19 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Dutch term

aanvoelen

Dutch to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
The context: a Flemish speaker is sitting writing his memoirs in an Italian town. He has been there for a long time and now has the distinction of being attended by two waiters. He doesn't speak Italian. Their English isn't up to much. He describes the situation in the following (tortuous) way:


Ze zijn nu al met twee kelners om me te pamperen.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 to complement

Discussion

Ljiljana Malovic May 19, 2005:
Thanks Kate, thanks Bosse. I've changed the word, I guess that's what I had to do. If not - sorry.
Non-ProZ.com May 19, 2005:
I think it must be aanvullen. That would make sense. I'll accept "aanvullen" meaning "to complement" (already accepted by client).
Kate Hudson (X) May 19, 2005:
I think that it is 'aanvullen' here too. You should post an answer Ljiljana.
Ljiljana Malovic May 19, 2005:
The whole sentence is a bit ironical, isn't it? Poor man - he probably got dizzy, that's the impression at least. Nice text. By the way, combination with 'aanvoelen'is also possible.
Non-ProZ.com May 19, 2005:
Given that the two Italian waiters presumably speak terrible English (I should add that the Flemish man speaks good English)I suppose the "complementary" notion is intended ironically?
Ljiljana Malovic May 19, 2005:
zou het een typfout kunnen zijn - aanvullen - vult aan?
They complement each other well - Ze vullen elkaar goed aan. (?)

Proposed translations

+4
2 hrs
Dutch term (edited): aanvullen
Selected

to complement

Thanks Kate, thanks Bosse.

I guess, I had to do this - change the word. Or not?
Peer comment(s):

agree Paul Peeraerts
34 mins
thanks
agree mariette (X) : Perhaps you can rephrase, something like "One waiter's English skills complement the other one's lack of linguistic feeling in such a way that I am now completely lost".
3 hrs
thanks
agree Nico Staes
8 hrs
thanks
agree Tina Vonhof (X)
19 hrs
thanks
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for clearing this up. Sorry for the delay in grading."
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