'Voilà' incorporated into modern English

P

PIcti

New Member
Bordeaux
English
Hi Everyone,

I'm currently translating a French text to English about fashion, aimed at the general public.

Unsuprisingly, words like 'Voilà' or 'oh la la' come up a lot.

I read that 'Voilà' is used a lot more these days than back in the year 2000...

Do you think it can replace the french voilà, or is it used differently?

Have you ever heard it in an English version of a french film?

Looking forward looking forward to reading your thoughts and experiences about this.
 
    • Voila as in the definitions here is common in the US and has been common for decades. But we'd need to know how you perceive it as used in French in order to say whether it has the same meaning in English.
    I think I have a pretty good idea of how it's used in French, but it would help to know the context and meaning as you see it.
     
    PIcti said:
    Hi Everyone,

    I'm currently translating a French text to English about fashion, aimed at the general public.

    Unsuprisingly, words like 'Voilà' or 'oh la la' come up a lot.

    I read that 'Voilà' is used a lot more these days than back in the year 2000...

    Do you think it can replace the french voilà, or is it used differently?

    Have you ever heard it in an English version of a french film?

    Looking forward looking forward to reading your thoughts and experiences about this.
    Click to expand...
    I'd say voila is used in about the same manner in English as in French. It's pretty common in American English.

    But beware ... some speakers pronounce it "wahla", i.e., "w" English sound at the beginning.

    People do also use / say "oo la la", as I would write it.
     
    broche said:
    I'd say voila is used in about the same manner in English as in French. It's pretty common in American English.

    But beware ... some speakers pronounce it "wahla", i.e., "w" English sound at the beginning.

    People do also use / say "oo la la", as I would write it.
    Click to expand...
    Thanks broche,

    "Oh la la! I don't know if that's what he wanted. "

    Is one example of an 'oh la la' that I'm thinking of leaving as it is. 'Oh dear!' just doesn't seem to have the same ring to it.

    But then i have been here in France a while...🙃
     
    Roxxxannne said:
    Voila as in the definitions here is common in the US and has been common for decades. But we'd need to know how you perceive it as used in French in order to say whether it has the same meaning in English.
    I think I have a pretty good idea of how it's used in French, but it would help to know the context and meaning as you see it.
    Click to expand...
    Thanks Roxxanne.

    It's used in so many different ways here for example: there!, like that!, he it/she/he is! hey presto!, the list goes on...
     
    If you are looking to retain the flavor of France in the translation, then it would help to leave it in. It's not really content/exposition, so it's not going to do any harm or lead to misunderstanding if it's seen by someone not familiar with it (which I think is unlikely).
     
    In French, the word can also used in sentences that would be translated in English: "Look! There's the man I told you about." (not implying that he has appeared as if by magic) and also "Here's your change." It's not used like that in English.
     
    PIcti said:
    Do you think it can replace the french voilà, or is it used differently?
    Click to expand...

    In English, I only hear the one-word exclamation "Voila!" I have not heard it used along with other words, in English. So I assume that French sentences use it differently. But to be sure, ask about a translation in the French-English forum.
     
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