Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
douceur/doux
English translation:
gentle/kind/comfortable/calming/soothing (or n. equiv.)
Added to glossary by
Héloïse Ki (X)
Jul 22, 2009 14:09
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
France
Master's in Translation & Interpretation
Native in: English
Works in: French to English
douceur/doux
French to English
Marketing
Marketing
I am translating survey answers about a new razor with hydrating gel. The image that's used it a man getting splashed with water and feeling refreshed - this evokes the sensation the razor produces. The problem is, I have "doux" and "douceur" come up all over the place and I'm having a hard time figuring out whether this should be more smooth or soft. It's not fresh, because "fraicheur" is often used alongside it.
My examples:
- se raser devient un moment de plaisir ou on plonge dans un bien etre et une douceur totale
- comme un tampon permettant un contact plus doux avec la peau
- A préparer la peau, à éviter les coupures, pour un rasage censé être plus doux
Thanks!
My examples:
- se raser devient un moment de plaisir ou on plonge dans un bien etre et une douceur totale
- comme un tampon permettant un contact plus doux avec la peau
- A préparer la peau, à éviter les coupures, pour un rasage censé être plus doux
Thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Jul 23, 2009 15:15: Héloïse Ki (X) Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+1
12 mins
Selected
gentle/kind/comfortable
A few suggestions. To be honest, I wouldn't necessarily translate it the same way in each of those contexts, unless you have to...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Gill Zschunke
: Absolutely - didn't see this before posting discussion entry.
2 mins
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Thanks!
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| neutral |
MatthewLaSon
: Hello. "En douceur totale" refers to the experience rather than the actual shaving gel. But even so, one could assume that that the shaving gel's softness and gentleness leave one feeling serene and calm. So, I suppose you could get away with this.
2 days 59 mins
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks - everyone's suggestions were great. I guess this wasn't as obvious as I was afraid it might have been!"
4 mins
Sara Brown
Argentina
Argentina
Native in English
Works in field
Argentina
Carefully revised & edited translations
Native in: English 
, Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to English, and 5 more.
bliss/blissful
A suggestion
+1
15 mins
a combination of adjectives
I would probably use several adjectives throughout. Nothing obliges you to translate using the same word systematically if the context is different (hey, English has far more words than French - we might as well take advantage of it!).
For example, in your second example I would use "soft", whereas the for the third I would go with "smooth", and you might even get more creative with the first example.
Best,
Jocelyne
For example, in your second example I would use "soft", whereas the for the third I would go with "smooth", and you might even get more creative with the first example.
Best,
Jocelyne
37 mins
Roberta Mondin Smith
United States
United States
Works in field
United States
Italian, French, and English
Native in: Italian 
Works in: French to Italian, English to Italian, English to French, and 1 more.
softness,comfort/velvety,smooth,soft
These are adjectives that I often see on shaving products. I would use a mix.
56 mins
comfort/gentle
total confort
1 hr
Timothy Rake
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
My business is translating your business
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, English to French
Related KudoZ points
:
4
sensual pleasure
used in the sense almost of "jouissance" perhaps?
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-07-22 15:13:01 GMT)
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oops, that is for "douceur". For "doux" you might try using "satisfying" as "for a more satisfying shave.
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-07-22 15:13:01 GMT)
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oops, that is for "douceur". For "doux" you might try using "satisfying" as "for a more satisfying shave.
+1
2 hrs
it leaves you feeling calm and soothed
Hello,
I don't think that "douceur" is talking about the softness of the shave but the experience as being serene.
bien-être = well-being (feeling content/cal/relaxed)
douceur = serenity (soothed)
So, I would just that this this shaving gel leaves you feeling a calm and soothed (not too feminine-sounding for a man's shaving gel). It gives the idea of both "bien-être" and "douceur"
If you google "en douceur totale", it's about feeling serene or soothed.
I hope this helps.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-07-22 20:20:05 GMT)
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Les journées s'écoulent *dans une douceur totale * et je me sens serein comme jamais. Parfois je songe à mon étang de Latrille (dans les Landes, terre haïe) et ...
www.another-record.com/danahilliot/dana.../node3.html
I hope you see that "en douceur totale" is probably not referring to the softness/smoothness of the gel (even though that is implied), but rather how it makes you feel after it's applied (while shaving and afterwards).
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Note added at 1 day28 mins (2009-07-23 14:38:47 GMT)
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If it leaves you feeling calm and soothed, there is a feeling of "bien-être", too, right?
I don't think that "douceur" is talking about the softness of the shave but the experience as being serene.
bien-être = well-being (feeling content/cal/relaxed)
douceur = serenity (soothed)
So, I would just that this this shaving gel leaves you feeling a calm and soothed (not too feminine-sounding for a man's shaving gel). It gives the idea of both "bien-être" and "douceur"
If you google "en douceur totale", it's about feeling serene or soothed.
I hope this helps.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-07-22 20:20:05 GMT)
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Les journées s'écoulent *dans une douceur totale * et je me sens serein comme jamais. Parfois je songe à mon étang de Latrille (dans les Landes, terre haïe) et ...
www.another-record.com/danahilliot/dana.../node3.html
I hope you see that "en douceur totale" is probably not referring to the softness/smoothness of the gel (even though that is implied), but rather how it makes you feel after it's applied (while shaving and afterwards).
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Note added at 1 day28 mins (2009-07-23 14:38:47 GMT)
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If it leaves you feeling calm and soothed, there is a feeling of "bien-être", too, right?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
George C.
17 hrs
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Thank you, solarstone! I appreciate it. I'm glad someone sees my point of view.
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Discussion