Help with German Translation

[TheRic]

I'm in charge of our local Oktoberfest parade. At the beginning of the parade we have a banner that says "Willkommen Minster Oktoberfest" I want to put a sign at the end of the parade to let people know it's over. Something like "The End" in German and maybe the English version, then on the other side would be something like "Thanks for coming. Next years Minster Oktoberfest dates are ....... ", all in English.

As many of you know when you translate from one language to another it's not always the same. I have a translator on my computer when I translate "welcome" into German you get "begrüßen" which translates back to English as "greet". If I translate "willkommen" from German to English I get "welcome".

When I translate 'The End" from English to German I get "Das Ende", and back to English it comes out "The End". But is "Das Ende" the proper words to use in this case, is there a more suited German word(s) that I should use?

Thanks for your help. Also open to suggestions on what the sign should say.

[cabinetman]

If you get no response, I think our member "gerti" speaks German.

[Donna Menke]

Auf Wiedersehen may be a better choice. Literally it translates: until our next get-together. It is most common for people saying goodbye. Donna

[tuttlejr]

Try Alta Vista where one can translate words and phrases from and to other languages to and from English.

[TheRic]

Auf Wiedersehen may be a better choice. Literally it translates: until our next get-together. It is most common for people saying goodbye. Donna

That's an interesting idea, then it could lead more into what is on the back. Would the "Thanks for Coming" part be redundant then?

[cbrown]

I'm in charge of our local Oktoberfest parade. At the beginning of the parade we have a banner that says "Willkommen Minster Oktoberfest" I want to put a sign at the end of the parade to let people know it's over. Something like "The End" in German and maybe the English version, then on the other side would be something like "Thanks for coming. Next years Minster Oktoberfest dates are ....... ", all in English.

As many of you know when you translate from one language to another it's not always the same. I have a translator on my computer when I translate "welcome" into German you get "begrüßen" which translates back to English as "greet". If I translate "willkommen" from German to English I get "welcome".

When I translate 'The End" from English to German I get "Das Ende", and back to English it comes out "The End". But is "Das Ende" the proper words to use in this case, is there a more suited German word(s) that I should use?

Thanks for your help. Also open to suggestions on what the sign should say.

Willkommen is right for 'Welcome!" (begrüßen is the verb for "to greet"). Usually I think one would say "Willkommen zum Minster(er) Oktoberfest!"

"Auf Wiedersehen!" is right for the the sign at the end of a parade. At the end of stories or books, Germans sometimes put just "Ende," but I think Auf Wiedersehen in the sense of "see you again" is what you want for your sign.

I stand ready to be corrected by someone whose German is more native than mine.

Chris

[germdoc]

Or you could say "Tschuess", which is a colloquial way of saying goodbye and is actually much more commonly used than Auf Wiedersehen.

[JR]

That's an interesting idea, then it could lead more into what is on the back. Would the "Thanks for Coming" part be redundant then?

Auf Wiedersehen would be plenty. It's understood by most people and perfectly appropriate. Anything more, while perhaps appropriate at a festival in a German town, would probably be lost on your visitors.

JR

[Stytooner]

I think Auf Wiedersehen would be fine as most have said. The other thing that comes to mind would be Ausfarht. You see this sign when you are leaving the autobahn, but typically thats in a vehicle and may not be a good choice where beer drinking might be involved.

[TheRic]

Or you could say "Tschuess", which is a colloquial way of saying goodbye and is actually much more commonly used than Auf Wiedersehen.

Between "Tschuess" and "Auf Wiedersehen" I think more non German speaking people would recognize "Auf Wiedersehen" at least I did. I have never seen / heard "Tschuess" before.

I will admit that most of the German I know comes from Hogan Heroes, and other such shows.

[TheRic]

I think Auf Wiedersehen would be fine as most have said. The other thing that comes to mind would be Ausfarht. You see this sign when you are leaving the autobahn, but typically thats in a vehicle and may not be a good choice where beer drinking might be involved.

What does "Ausfarht" translate into? I tried two different translators. Neither knew what the word is. Maybe a different spelling?

[JR]

What does "Ausfarht" translate into? I tried two different translators. Neither knew what the word is. Maybe a different spelling?

Ausfahrt = Exit

[TheRic]

Ausfahrt = Exit

Jr: Thanks on the meaning.

Stytooner: Thanks for the idea, but I think I will pass on this suggestion.

[Ken Massingale]

What does "Ausfarht" translate into? I tried two different translators. Neither knew what the word is. Maybe a different spelling?

Austrian Poot???

[LinuxRandal]

OLD Joke

The biggest problem with Germany is you drink large amounts of warm foamy beer, then you have to drive on the autobahn at a high rate of speed, to get back to where your staying to get to the bathroom.


Seems appropiate here.