Thread: English to Russian Translation Help

Hello all,

Can someone help me translate this into Russian?
----------------------------
Dearest Lenka,
Merry Christmas to a beautiful flower with a beautiful soul.
-----------------------------
Thanks in advance!

Merry Christmas to all!

Hmm.....a bit flowery! ........Why don't you just write, "Dear Bitch, Merry stinking Christmas" that's what I do.

trying to convey a different message this christmas.

Can someone help me translate?

thanks in advance!

Well, I'm surprized that someone hasn't helped you yet. I'd do it myself but there would bound to be a mistake in it or two.

Well, I am not a poet and think I would have mistakes too. So complicated. Even don't know ...

"Lenka" (which is a very informal form of "Yelena") clashes with the rest of your message. Especially with
"dearest." But if you want it that way, here you go:

Дражайшая Ленка!
Счастливого Рождества прекрасному цветку с прекрасной душой!


But I must warn you that it sounds a bit comical in Russian.

PS. How about "Sweet Lenochka" (Милая Леночка) instead of "Dearest Lenka"?

Wow ... poets exist ...

How about
Дорогая Ленка!
Милая Ленка!
Russian speakers often use diminutive forms of words where we have to use a separate word. Maybe something like that would be appropriate here?

Sorry, translationsnmru, did not read the bottom of your post!

Originally Posted by translationsnmru

Дражайшая Ленка!
Счастливого Рождества прекрасному цветку с прекрасной душой!

Oh thank you Trans! I was not sure if it would have been customary to use the Dative Case to convey this thought or not.

This is perfect example of why those here at Master Russian should not be afraid to translate these corny little love massages for people. The exercise helps us all!
....and this is as nice as I ever want to be.........I need to wash my typing fingers now!

Originally Posted by DDT

I was not sure if it would have been customary to use the Dative Case to convey this thought or not.

Yes, Dative is often used in season or birthday greetings, although you could also say something like

"Счастливого Рождества, о прекрасный цветок с прекрасной душой."
But that would sound even more flowery .

Not sure what to use.
What does Дорогая and Милая mean?

I always call her Lenka. I don't want it to sound too formal or serious but I'll use whatever is more correct in the Russian language.

Just wanted to write something nice and in Russian but not too much in the flowery romantic love sense. I'm not too sure how it would be received and I might be getting myself into trouble.

I just wanted to tell her how I think of her and not getting myself in trouble at the same time.

Thanks for everyone's help

"Дорогая" means simply "dear." It is very commonly used in letters etc., including official ones, where it competes with other forms of address.
"Милая", on the other hand, is a bit more personal, and it means that you find someone nice, sweet, charming, graceful, etc.

And I belive that it won't clash with "Lenka" quite as bad as "dearest" does.

Anyway, here comes the second edition, amended and revised:

Милая Леночка!
Ты - прекрасный цветок с прекрасной душой!
Счастливого тебе Рождества!

Let's wait and see what the female forum regulars will have to say about it.

Originally Posted by aagouti

Just wanted to write something nice and in Russian but not too much in the flowery romantic love sense. I'm not too sure how it would be received and I might be getting myself into trouble.

I just wanted to tell her how I think of her and not getting myself in trouble at the same time.

Thanks for everyone's help

You can even send it with one of these! http://cards.yandex.ru/card.xml?card_id=4104

Originally Posted by translationsnmru

Anyway, here comes the second edition, amended and revised:

Милая Леночка!
Ты - прекрасный цветок с прекрасной душой!
Счастливого тебе Рождества!

Let's wait and see what the female forum regulars will have to say about it.

I think that's the best variant.
(aagouti, I am a female forum regular )

I want to thank everyone for their help!!!

Especially translationsnmru for the translating, explaining, and revising

I'll go with the last revision, after Оля's approval

Now off to practicing some writing...I only have one Christmas card.

Wow aagouti! You've got quiet a reply here as compared to the other forum where you posted the same translation request
And I like the choice of the word "прекрасный" more than "красивый". It's more poetic.