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
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

que atemorizaban su poblado

English translation: who were terrorizing the town

10:32 Jan 5, 2022
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Literature.
Spanish term or phrase: que atemorizaban su poblado
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 " a group of thieves that were frightening his village or settlement...?

Here is the full paragraph for your review:

así que repartió su fortuna en muchos sacos pequeños y le dio un saquito a cada uno de los habitantes del pueblo, que se lo agradecieron enormemente porque así iban a poder mejorar sus casas, comprar animales y comer en abundancia.
Así fue como Alí Babá le robó el oro a un grupo de ladrones que atemorizaban su poblado, repartió sus riquezas con el resto de habitantes y echó a su malvado hermano del pueblo, pudiendo dedicarse por entero a sus caballos y no teniendo que trabajar más vendiendo leña.....
yugoslavia
United States
Local time: 11:50
English translation:who were terrorizing the town
Explanation:
My interpretation, since thieves are often thugs and are certainly criminals.
Selected response from:

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 11:50
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3who were terrorizing the town
Barbara Cochran, MFA
4that terrified/frightened his village/town
Cecilia Gowar
3who made terror in his town
Lisa Rosengard
Summary of reference entries provided
That startled his village
José Patrício

Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
that terrified/frightened his village/town


Explanation:
Village or town, whichever you have been using in the text.

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.

Asker: Thanks a lot.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

58 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
who were terrorizing the town


Explanation:
My interpretation, since thieves are often thugs and are certainly criminals.

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 11:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 103
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks a lot.

Asker: Thanks Miss Cochran!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge: or "intimidating"
1 min
  -> Thanks...
agree  Simone Taylor
11 mins
  -> Thank you, Simone.
agree  liz askew
1 hr
  -> Thanks, liz!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
who made terror in his town


Explanation:
'That's how AliBaba confiscated gold from thieves who made terror in his town. He shared the riches with others and sent his wicked brother away. He no longer had to chop wood for a living as he could dedicate his time to horses.'

Lisa Rosengard
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:50
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


23 mins peer agreement (net): -1
Reference: That startled his village

Reference information:
That startled/frightened their his village/settlement
I was startled and quickly crawled
out of the room.
When I was on the road, I began to run - https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/jefp102.pdf
Thieves have frightened residents in their beds- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-20/elderly-residents-bei...

José Patrício
Portugal
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
Note to reference poster
Asker: Muchas gracias Jose.


Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
disagree  Carol Gullidge: sorry, but "startle" means "cause sudden shock or alarm", which is not what is going on in this context of ongoing intimidation
35 mins
  -> Synonyms: afraid, panicked, terrified, terrorized; besides I put alternatives as frightened - https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearful
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.

Return to KudoZ list

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:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search