Alí Babá tanteó como pudo

English translation: Ali Baba groped as best he could

07:59 Dec 13, 2021
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Literature.
Spanish term or phrase: Alí Babá tanteó como pudo
I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well. This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.

Is okay to translate it as Ali Baba felt as he could in the interior part of the cave?

Here is the full paragraph for your review:

Una vez dentro, Alí Babá tanteó como pudo el interior de la cueva, pues a medida que se adentraba en el orificio, la luz del exterior disminuía y avanzar suponía un gran esfuerzo.
yugoslavia
United States
Local time: 12:21
English translation:Ali Baba groped as best he could
Explanation:
Once inside, Ali Baba groped as best he could inside the cave, as the deeper he went into the hole,so the light from outside grew dimmer, and advancing further took a great effort.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2021-12-13 09:06:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

@YUGOSLAVIA : What happened to this question?: Spanish term or phrase: no era gravilla lo que había estado pisando
I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well. This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.
Is okay to translate it as it was not gravel what he was touching with his feet?

Here is the full paragraph for your review:

Tuvo que restregarse varias veces los ojos ya que no cabía en el asombro al ver las grandes montañas de oro que allí se encontraban, no era gravilla lo que había estado pisando sino piezas de oro, rubíes, diamantes y otros tipos de piedras de gran valor.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2021-12-13 09:07:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The above question seems to have disappeared !!!!!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2021-12-13 10:01:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

@YUGOSLAVIA: NO ! THE " GRAVILLA " QUESTION HAS DISAPPEARED!!! THE OTHER 4 QUESTIONS YOU POSTED ARE STILL THERE!!
Selected response from:

Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:21
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3Ali Baba groped as best he could
Andrew Bramhall
4 +1Alí Babá felt/explored as best as he could
Cecilia Gowar


  

Answers


54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Alí Babá felt/explored as best as he could


Explanation:
inside the cave.

Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 227
Notes to answerer
Asker: Muchas gracias Cecilia.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  neilmac: "Felt his way around inside the cave as best he could"...
8 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Ali Baba groped as best he could


Explanation:
Once inside, Ali Baba groped as best he could inside the cave, as the deeper he went into the hole,so the light from outside grew dimmer, and advancing further took a great effort.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2021-12-13 09:06:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

@YUGOSLAVIA : What happened to this question?: Spanish term or phrase: no era gravilla lo que había estado pisando
I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well. This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.
Is okay to translate it as it was not gravel what he was touching with his feet?

Here is the full paragraph for your review:

Tuvo que restregarse varias veces los ojos ya que no cabía en el asombro al ver las grandes montañas de oro que allí se encontraban, no era gravilla lo que había estado pisando sino piezas de oro, rubíes, diamantes y otros tipos de piedras de gran valor.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2021-12-13 09:07:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The above question seems to have disappeared !!!!!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2021-12-13 10:01:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

@YUGOSLAVIA: NO ! THE " GRAVILLA " QUESTION HAS DISAPPEARED!!! THE OTHER 4 QUESTIONS YOU POSTED ARE STILL THERE!!

Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 70
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks again for your help.

Asker: Thanks Miss Taylor. Mr. Andrew,I still see the question. Maybe is something with your computer there in UK? Please let me know. Thanks again.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Simone Taylor
14 mins
  -> Thank you!

neutral  patinba: Andrew: You may have your notification setting as PRO questions only. Askers questions tend to be reclassified by Proz members as Non-Pro.
3 hrs
  -> Ah right thanks; will check!

agree  Barbara Cochran, MFA: But I think I would add "around" after "groped".
5 hrs
  -> Yep, thanks.

agree  neilmac: Ditto "groped around... "
9 hrs
  -> Yep, Thank you!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search