Do you know that here in Italy, some personages names is differents? For example: Albus Dumbledore in Italy is Albus Silente, Severus Snape is Severus Piton and Minerva McGongall is Minerva McGranitt. I don't rember other names now, but if I rember it, I'll post it here.

Severus Piton?!! LMAO!!!! *wipes tears away* Oh my... that sounds really sexy *ahem* I mean stimulating *AHEM* I mean... interesting!!

Say, does 'Piton' has any meaning in Italy then? I mean, there's no specific meaning to 'Snape' if I'm not mistaken (if there is, I need to change my dictionary)

And out of curiousity and I just HAVE to know... what does Remus Lupin in Italian, I wonder?

BTW, welcome to the forums Demon I trust you've read the rules (the link in my siggie if you haven't already) and if you don't mind, I'm changing the topic title to make it more apparent and easier for the search facility to pick it up whenever ones using it.

I've only read the books in Spanish, but I know in French Kreacher is something like Kreatur or something like that because I saw OotP in French in a shop the other day.

I've read the books in spanish too. In spain the names are like in english.

I only read the first book in German and that's a long, long time ago, so I don't remember many differences, even though I'm sure there are quite a few. XD;; (I found it more interesting to read the books in English, even though it isn't my first language)

For example, Hermione's called "Hermine" in the German version. Pronounced Her-mee-neh. XD Actually most of the main/main-minor charas kept their names, but often streets and stuff like that are renamed.

yeah, "el Señor Tenebroso" is horrible.

HAHA LOL! Severys Piton! That's a genius name a tell you:P

so here's some names in Norwegian:

Albus Dumbledore - Albus Humlesnurr
proffessor McGonnagoll - Proffesor McSnurp
Hagrid - Gygrid
Ron - Ronny (He's still Ronald though)
Hermione - Hermine
Sirius Black - Sirius Svaart
R.J. Lupin - R.J. Lupus

There are several more but I can't think of more right now, Just ask and I'll post.

Humlesnurr and McSnurp! XDDD That's sweet. What's up with the 'snur', is that a common syllable in Norway?

I know editors had a lot of problmes with the tralsations, so they had to change some names.

I understand that many words comes from Latin (e.g spells, potions, magical terms like 'apparate' and 'priori incantetum'), but what I've been wondering was why couldn't they leave it as it is. Why do they have to translate it too? Especially with characters names.

Simple example here, Harry Potter. I learned that Potter means 'one who makes pottery'. But I didn't see it changed to Malay (my language) as 'Harry Si Pembuat Periuk Belanga' (ROTFL!!!! *wipes tears away* sorry... it was extremely hilarious when I put it like that... Ash will tell you that... part of the reason I nearly vomit reading HP books in my translated language... )

But okay, so you're saying he's THE main character here, they wouldn't changed it for anything... then why Snape to 'Piton' and Lupin to 'Lupus' (heaven forbid!!)?? You didn't think it's to emphasize their name, did you? To match whatever fates or theories awaits them because of their name?

Oh, I have another one, just remembered... Lily Potter if translated to my language would be 'Teratai Si Pembuat Periuk Belanga' (ROTFLMAO!!!!) Oh god... if only you guys speaks Malay, I'm sure you'll laughs along with me...

But anyway, you may not have the answer, Demon, so don't worry... I just want to let it out of my chest... I guess the answers only lies in the hands of the translator themselves, eh?

EDIT: I just saw your edit up there... yes, I do understand you, so don't worry so much! My English is not perfect either!

*lol*! That'd be a long name indeed. XD (Malay sounds cool though X))

I would actually prefer it if they kept the original names in all translated Versions... I mean, what would YOU say if you went to Brazil (just as an example XD) and said "Hi, I'm *insert English name here*" and people would reply "No way, you're *insert Brazil name here*"! ...If you know what I mean. It's weird, names are names. XD

I see that, if there's a special meaning to the name people in that country wouldn't get otherwise, it is necessary to change it. (not really from Lupin to Lupus though o.O what a weird change, since both refer to "wolf" and can be pronounced easily)

Another problem is that, in some countries, people simply can't pronounce the original names correctly by reading it. XD
Taking my country for example, Germany.
There is NO WAY anyone here could pronounce 'Hermione' on their own without hearing it at least once. XD And even then it's just not German, we prounounce most letters (especially the vocals) very differently.
They kept the word "Quidditch" (and I'm glad they did), and my brother misread it over at least the first 2 books and kept saying "Quitticht". *rofl* No idea how he could not have noticed the difference. Anyway, this kinda shows how differently the names are read by foreigners.

Ok, I read some page and I remember now: names are changed because they derive from thinks, for example Snake/Piton dervie from a type of snake, Dumbledore/Silente derive from wisdom, McGongall/McGranitt derive from "strict" and Lupin/Lupus derive from Wolf. Wolf in Italian is "Lupo". This derivations don't derive from laneguages type English or Italian, but latin and other old laneguages.

Ah, so they translate it to give a brief meaning to the characters name then, eh? Okay... thanks for that, Demon!

Oh my god, SHAY-mus?? I didn't know that indeed, thanks for pointing it out. XD; *rubs forehead* I need to remember that, I always thought it was see-mus as well.

I did watch the English version of each movie, but the problem I sometimes have is the British accent of the actors, especially the kids. O_O
The last movie I saw in English was PoA, and in the first scene with Ron and Hermione (when they're fighting), I didn't understand ONE single word. XD;;; I learned English for 7 years in school, and unfortunately, it didn't include accents (only the different ways of writing).
Ehehe. Well, I hope I'll understand everything when I watch the original version a few times more (which is necessary anyway, because they like to cut the German versions >_>).

Dazzo had pointed to this site to help us out with pronounciation... HERE. Take a lookie, I'm sure you'll find lots more... (like me!! )

Just don't want us to get too off-topic now...

In Hungarian, the names are the following:

Hogwarts - Roxfort
Scrabbes - Makesz
Snape - Perselus Piton
Cornelius Fudge - Cornelius Caramel (fugde is karamel in Hungarian)
McGonagall - McGalagony
Muggles - muglik
Quiddich - kvidics
Barty Crouch - Barti Kupor ("kuporodni" means to crouch)
Peeves - Hóborc (i dont know what does peeves refer to)


so, you can see, that names (Prof. Sprout), places (the Leaky Cauldron) that have meanings are translated mostly word by word, while others (DD, Lupin, Sirius) are the same like in the English version

Cool, Roxfort, and Perselus Piton, wow, really cool name's.

I fond out some other names in Norwegian:

Grawp - Gnurgg
Muggles - Gomper
Quidditch - Rumpeldunk
Peeves - Gnav
Cornelius Fudge - Kornelius Blouf
Madam Bines . Madam Beining (Bones=Bein)
Gryffindoor - Griffing
Rawenclaw - Ravnklo
Hufflepuff - Hosblos (The O is actuallly a letter that does not exist in England or the USA so I placed an O instead of this letter 'Å')
Slytherin - Smygard

Zyra, it could be possible that the translators have found out the Secrets behind the names and translated the names in a different way but leaving a hint or just what they think the name could possible mean.

Slytherin - Mardekár
Hufflepuff - Hugrabug
Ravenclaw - Hollóhát
Gryffindor - Griffendél


zyra: i think that the Hungarian translator thought, that if a not native spaker reads f.e. Snape's name s/he wont realize, that it has some meaning

Snape refers to 'sneak', and the Hungarian version "Piton" means piton, which is also a snake

btw, i met the translator, and he said that he changed Hogwarts to Roxfort because he wanted to refer to Oxford...but my first thought was the cheese, when i first read the book (i dont know if you know what i mean, there is a cheese called roxfort in Hungarian, but i think its an international word...)

oh boy! What if Snape really turns to the Dark side like Anakin Skywalker did on Star Wars episode three (really good movie, you must see it, it's your desteniy to see it) will this perhaps mean Snape will betray us and get Harry into a trap or something?

Mr.Filch in norwegian is Herr Nask (Herr=Mr. Fru=Mrs)

The dutch translator has translated most of the names of characters, objects and even spells into others (I'm not saying into dutch because he came up with entirely new names, not just cheap, fake translations of them) Some of them are just minor, Sirius Black became Sirius Zwarts (Black=zwart in dutch), but there al also major translations, like Hermione Granger was made into Hermelien Griffel (griffel=a thing to engrave things with). Or Albus Dumbledore became Albus Perkamentus (perkament=parchment)

I really like it and though there have been some mistakes (I don't know exactly what kind of, but one had to do something with Blaise Zabini) I don't think he should stop with it, because I really like it. The only difficult thing is that sometimes I don't know what one name is in English or Dutch...

I was just wondering whether there have been more of this "creative" translators for other laguages or did they just use the English names?

i'm dutch, but i like the english names better.
ron weasley = ron wemel

and indeed, blaise zabini = bella zabini or something like that. bella is a girls name of course, but it turned out that blaise is a boy...
snape becomes sneep. it's pronounced the same way

flitwick becomes banning

McGonnogal becomes anderling

trelawny = zwamdrift

malfoy= malfidus

tom marvolo riddle = Marten asdom vilijn. This has to do with the fact that his name has te become: mijn naam is voldemort (my name is voldemort, i am lord voldemort)

pansy parkinson = patty parks (i believe, not quite sure about it)

voldemort stays voldemort (thank god...)

binns= kist

mad eye moody = dwaaloog dolleman

I'm really sorry, I know I shouldn't, but I'm laughing so hard here at the moment I have tears running down my face....

Patty Parks? Zwamdrift? Dwaaloog Dolleman?

Oh dear, dear...talk about lost in translation... The rest of them weren't too bad though, in fairness.

Sort of reminds me of a French fanfiction I was working on translating once and it took me absolutely ages to figure out, from the literal translation that 'Imp of Cornwall' was 'Cornish Pixie'... Maybe I'm just slow or something, I don't know...

But no, seriously, I think the names sound much better as they were originally written. That's the problem with translations...they sort of lose the impact they had in whatever language they were originally written in when they're translated.

ok, that was some laughable name up there:P
Here are some in Norwgian:
Dumbledore = Humlesnurr
Snape = Slur
Ron = Ronny
Hermione = Hermine
Flitwick = Pirrewimp
Hagrid = Gygrid
McGonnagoll = McSnurp
Tom Marvolo Riddle = Tom Dredolo Venster



That's some for now.

What do you think?

Okay, got to have a little sigger...

Slur?? I think that one is very cool

Pirrewimp?? That would actually have made a really funny name in English too.

Mc Snurp I dont have much to say on this one, it kinda speaks for itself.

I hope there are more like this.

But I think the weirdest is the translation of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. It's turned into Tovertweelings Topfopshop, which means something like Magical Twins Topjokeshop XD! And S.P.E.W was turned into S.H.I.T but I don't remember what it stands for.

well. In norwegian Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes is Wiltersens verste.
If you translate it it says, the worst of the weasley's, but it sounds completly different in english.

Wormtail = Ormsvans
Peter pettigrew = Petter pittelpytt
Firebolt = Lynkile
Divination = Clairvoyanse
Dementor = Desperant
the marauders map = Ukruttkartet

that's some others for now.

wormtail=wormstaart, wich means completely the same
prongs = gaffel
mooney = maanling
dementor= dementor
peter pettigrew= peter pippeling
firebolt = vuurflits (vuur = fire)
the marauders map = sluipweg wijzer

but what does marauder mean i think i know what it means, but i don't know how to explain it.
i don't know what wheezes means either i feel pretty stupid

bartemius crouch = bartolomeus krenk
ludo bagman = ludo bazuin
filch = vilder
madam pomfrey = madame pleister
cederic diggory = carlo kannewasser
cornelius fudge = droebel (can' t remember his first name)
errrr...
cho chang = cho chang
hagrid = hagrid
lupin = lupos
fleur delacour= fleur delacour
death eaters = dooddoeners wich means death do-ers

i can't remember what S.H.I.T stands for either....so don't ask me

o, lavender brown = belinda broom
krum = kruml
Colin Creevey = kasper krauwel
madame maxime = madame mallemour

I'm french...

Hermione stay Hermione Ron stay Ron , Harry stay Harry, Hagrid stay Hagrid..

Professor Snape: Professeur Rogue
Herbology professor: Professeur Chourave
Tom Riddle: Tom Jedusor

really they did that? I nearly fell of the chair. poor Cedric was turned into a Carlo Krummewasser!!!
In german the names stay the same exept Hermione is Hermine. But the other names stay. They just literally translated some things into german, e.g. the marauders map - die Karte des Herumtreibers ; the leaky cauldron - der tropfende Kessel.

Oh and scappers is Krätze, which is a really ugly name.

Many Dutch people here on VTM

well, S.H.I.T stands for Stichting Huis-elf, voor Inburgering en Tolerantie.
translation: Foundation of House Elves for integration and tolerance

I'll write down some other strange dutch translations:

Fawkes = felix ( a bit confusing now, with the felix felices potion)
Professor Dippet = Professor Wafelaar
Dudley Dursley = Dirk Duffeling
Petunia and Vernon Dursley = Petunia en Herman Duffeling
Errol = egidius
Mundunges Fletcher = Levenius Lorrebos (this one makes no sence)

These are some names translated in italian:

Snape: Piton
Dumbledore: Silente
McGonagall: McGranitt
Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw: Grifondoro, Serpeverde, Tassorosso, Corvonero.
Mad Eye Moody: Malocchio Moody
Trelawney: Cooman
Firenze: Fiorenzo
Parvati Patil: Cali Patil
House-elf: Elfo domestico
Tom Marvolo Riddle: Tom Orvoloson Riddle
Fawkes: Fanny
Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs: Lunastorta, Codaliscia, Felpato, Ramoso
Marauder's map: Mappa del Malandrino
Dementors: Dissennatori
Cornelius Fudge: Cornelius Caramell
Scabbers: Crosta
Crookshanks: Grattastinchi

Yeah, laudine, "Krätze" was the reason I put the German book away. *lol*

I know that everybody else loved it, but I just couldn't go on reading, it really annoyed me!
Sad enough, I finally firgured out that Krätze is the exact translation of Scabbers... Hehe...

It's weird, but some names just lose if you translated them, I don't know.
Mind you, if I ask my daughter "Wo wohnt Snape?" she'll be glad to answer "Im Dungeon!"

I think in the english movie they changed Hermione to Hermine, just like in the German book - didn't they?

Oh, I forgot... Crookshanks is "Krummbein", I guess it means bendy-legged or so. It's a close fit.

And don't forget "Seidenschnabel" - which is not a good translation for Buckbeak... Seidenschnabel would be... hm... Silkbeak, maybe?

Cheers, Flutters

You know, reading this thread, made me think (always dangerous ) how the translations in the various languages must have worked with the anagram of Tom Marvolo Riddle into I am Lord Voldermort...it wouldn't have worked in any other language, would it? How did they manage to get around that one?

I have to agree with razz though - the translators must have had a giggle when they worked out the translation for SPEW I'm sure they *were* aware of what they'd done...

(BTW, Vivi, I love your sig!! Did you make it yourself? I'm a huge FF fan and can't wait for 'Advent Children'. Don't want to get off topic here but there's a FF thread in the Just get away from life forum, if you fancied a chat about it sometime...Bandoth and I get a little lonely in there )

Wow, I finally find a thread into which I can talk about translations. Living in a bilingual area (near Barcelona where we all speak spanish and catalan) and being a translator myself, I've been really interested in the translation of Harry Potter names.

In Spanish most of the names have been left the same thus making most children missing funny things like the fact that professor Sprout teaches herbology. In Catalan some of them have been translated but after reading this thread I see that not as many as in other languages.

Anyway, here are some examples:

Prof. Sprout = Professora Coliflor (this one is literal)
Mad Eye Moody = Ull Foll Murri
Salazar Slytherin = Sirpentin Slytherin
Godric Griffyndor = Nícanor Grifindor
Weasleys Wizzard Weezles = Bromes dels Bruixots Bessons
Tom Marvolo Riddle = Tom Morvodosc Roddlel
Firebolt = Raigdefoc
Cleansweep = Sensepols
The marauders map = el mapa d'amagatotis
The Whomping Willow = El Pi Cabaralla
Peter Pettigrew = Ben Babbaw (which means nothing)
Remus Lupin = Remus Llopins
Oliver Wood = Marc Roure

The list goes on and on...
But the one that disturbs me most is the gryfindor one.
I mean, a lot of people have mentioned that Godric's hollow will be important some time in the future books (namely book 7) but I really don't see how the publishing companies would have let the translator change godric to nícanor if the nema had indeed been meant to turn out important in the end.

Isn't there some control over to what other languages do with names?? It's pretty clear to me that most have meanings, so translators must be given clues as to what they can and can't change, right? Otherwise they could end up spoiling major events.

Any other languages have changed gryfindor's name or just mine (catalan)?????

Now I've just realized I've forgotten to mention that Godric's Hollow was left as "El cau de Godric" and therefor my doubt. Any ideas???

Yes, in italian we've got Gryffindor as Grifondoro. Godric's Hollow is the same in italian.
S.P.E.W is translated in C.R.E.P.A which literally means "die" but in this case it stands for Comitato per la Riabilitazione degli Elfi Poveri e Abbruttiti which means Commitee for the Rehabilitation of Elfs Poor and Brutalized.