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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

pentaglisse

English translation:

multi-lane waterslide, racer slide

Added to glossary by Bourth (X)
Apr 16, 2007 08:48
17 yrs ago
11 viewers *
French term

pentaglisse

French to English Tech/Engineering Tourism & Travel swimming pools
My leisure centre has pools with a "toboggan" and a "pentaglisse". I assume the "toboggan" is what I know as a "hydroslide", though I think it goes under a different name outside NZ, and the "pentaglisse" appears to be a multi-lane slide (more or less straight and at a more or less constant slope). Can anyone confirm the name or provide something better?
TALIA.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +11 5-lane waterslide

Discussion

Ben Gaia Apr 18, 2007:
Hehe or a flying sorceress?
Bourth (X) (asker) Apr 17, 2007:
@Ben: Five lanes don't impress me, but they might be good for attracting witches. Or would that be a hexaglisse?
Ben Gaia Apr 17, 2007:
There's a four lane one in Tahunanui, perhaps you are impressed by five lanes because the French do everything bigger. I bet it's architecturally interesting too with a seventies/bauhaus flair? Powered by nuclear energy though...
Bourth (X) (asker) Apr 17, 2007:
@Ben: somewhere I have a photo taken back in the 1970s of one of the Waitaki River hydro dams spilling water from its spillways in an enormous plume of water and spray. In the foreground is a sign apparently pointing towards it but in fact pointing towards a nearby amusement facility: the sign says "Hydroslide". That would be one helluva ride!
Ben Gaia Apr 17, 2007:
Nothing wrong with educating English speakers on the fabulous Newzild vocabulary. It will always be a five lane hydroslide in my mental picture.
Claire Cox Apr 16, 2007:
Sorry, meant to add the link: http://www.nvrpa.org/waterslide.html
Claire Cox Apr 16, 2007:
Yes, this link refers to a three-flume water slide, and the image shows individual flumes which aren't side-by-side.
Graham macLachlan Apr 16, 2007:
For info, some of the images googled up by "pentaglisse" showed lanes that weren't side by side: perso.orange.fr/aquabearn/loisir.html
Bourth (X) (asker) Apr 16, 2007:
@ Mactrad: I was hesitating to use "hydroslide" since it does appear to be a GodZone word, but was thinking of retaining it if the "pentaglisse" was to be any form of "waterslide", just for differentiation.
Bourth (X) (asker) Apr 16, 2007:
@David: Thanks for pointing out the "pentagliss" question. I had KudoZsearched, only with the final E. I rather like "racer slide" as a means of more readily distinguishing it from the "standard" water slide.
Mark Nathan Apr 16, 2007:
google imaging pentaglisse suggests that it can be used for just about anything involving a slope and some water.
David Goward Apr 16, 2007:
This term (without the final "e") has been discussed before: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1292388 and http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1799776.
Laurel Clausen Apr 16, 2007:
In the US, all of these would be waterslides (with crazy names and explanations). Here is a site with pictures of both, for anyone with a better idea than me of how to actually say it:
http://www.campinglestropiques.com/tro-t1200.php?GalCatID=61
Kate Hudson (X) Apr 16, 2007:
children love the swimming pool complex with its four-lane waterslide, toboggan and ... The large pool complex with a five-lane waterslide, heated pool and ...
www.camp-sites.co.uk/canvas_holidays/ france/coastal_brittany.htm

Proposed translations

+11
9 mins
Selected

5-lane waterslide

that's what I'd call it!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2007-04-16 08:58:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Camping France Europa - AFEURO | Camping French Lakes & Mountains ...The exciting tropical pool complex with a 5 lane waterslide will be a hit with everyone but when it's time to explore the great outdoors, you can cycle ...
www.leisuredirection.co.uk/HOD/CAM/CCF/AFEURO


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2007-04-16 08:59:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

penta presumably refers to X5 and not slope

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2007-04-16 09:00:17 GMT)
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are you sure you want to use "hydroslide"?

Specialists in Wastewater Treatment and Stormwater Management
The HYDROSLIDE is a proven technique for regulating sewer flows. ... The HYDROSLIDE flow passage area is largest at the most critical time; ...
www.copa.co.uk/products_detail.asp?wastewaterId=844


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-04-16 12:22:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

if you take "penta-" to mean slope and not 5 as in "pente à glisse", nothing in the word "pentaglisse" evokes multiple lanes, indeed "slipslope" is all it says
Peer comment(s):
agree Kate Hudson (X) : hildren love the swimming pool complex with its four-lane waterslide, toboggan and ... The large pool complex with a five-lane waterslide, heated pool and ...
1 min
thanks
neutral Laurel Clausen : the "pent" part does in fact refer to "pente" not x5 (see the link in my comment with a photo of a 4-lane pentaglisse)
4 mins
in both English and French, penta- is a combining form meaning 5, but I agree marketeers are a law unto themselves!
agree Mark Nathan : not necessarily 5 lanes// Yes, you're right, it should be, but....
10 mins
thanks, it should be!
agree Cervin
32 mins
thanks
agree Vicky Papaprodromou
1 hr
thanks
agree Alison Jeffries-Thierry : agree with above - don't think its pent, but pente ...
1 hr
I'm not so sure, perhaps the first model made by the innovating company was a 5-lane slide...
agree Jennifer White : but not 5-lane/ but why not leave it as pentagliss? A few google hits for this.
1 hr
yes could be "pente à glisse"
agree Claire Cox : Maybe you could call the toboggan a flume instead?
2 hrs
a very nice word indeed!
agree Carol Gullidge : looks like pente-à and not penta is the answer. But you got it anyway!
4 hrs
thanks Carol
agree Evi Prokopi (X)
4 hrs
thanks
agree Swatchka
4 hrs
thanks
agree jean-jacques alexandre
8 hrs
thanks
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "You get the points by default, being the only answerer, not that I wish to sound ungrateful! Actually I went for "racer slide" from a prev. Q. as indicated by David, since this enabled me to differentiate conveniently between "standard water slide" and "racer slide". I don't think "penta" means "five", but rather "pente à". Otherwise there would surely be duoglisses, trioglisses, hexaglisses, etc. (not that I've checked)."
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