Thread: Please translate or explain the phrase

The phrase from "Planet of the Apes":
"Was the Homo Sapiens mean to you again?"

Originally Posted by pranki

The phrase from "Planet of the Apes":
"Was the Homo Sapiens mean to you again?"

Home Sapiens are what Humans are called in a scientific form.

That quote is what the gorillas said towards the humans.

"mean to you again" being "mean" is causing harm to another person mentally.

Hope that helps

Thanks! I was confused with this "mean", but now I've figured it out.

Originally Posted by pranki

Thanks! I was confused with this "mean", but now I've figured it out.

Your welcome.

I might have been wrong with "mean"

it can be both mentally and physically depeding on how and when it is used.

well your right but not fully correct, to be mean is to be the opposite of nice, meaning to do harm to someone both mentally, physically or directly, indirectly... basically just to hurt someone in some way, mannor or form.

mean = mistreat

Originally Posted by pranki

The phrase from "Planet of the Apes":
"Was the Homo Sapiens mean to you again?"

I will add one thing, for grammar.

Homo Sapiens = humans (plural)

Tak, the sentence should be "Were the Homo Sapiens mean to you again."

But, in American "street talk", using "was" instead of "were" is considered normal and strong, tough...because of the bad grammar.
Tak, here, using "Was" instead of "Were" sounds tough, and mean in American collequial English.

Originally Posted by Dobry

I will add one thing, for grammar.

Homo Sapiens = humans (plural)

Tak, the sentence should be "Were the Homo Sapiens mean to you again."

But, in American "street talk", using "was" instead of "were" is considered normal and strong, tough...

American street talk has nothing to with this. It's just that on this particular occasion, this term was used to refer to one person rather than to the humankind, hence the singular verb form.

Originally Posted by translations.nm.ru

Originally Posted by Dobry

I will add one thing, for grammar.

Homo Sapiens = humans (plural)

Tak, the sentence should be "Were the Homo Sapiens mean to you again."

But, in American "street talk", using "was" instead of "were" is considered normal and strong, tough...

American street talk has nothing to with this. It's just that on this particular occasion, this term was used to refer to one person rather than to the humankind, hence the singular verb form.

Then it should have been "was the homo sapien". No 'S'.

Originally Posted by Dogboy182

Then it should have been "was the homo sapien". No 'S'.

"Homo sapiens" is a Latin phrase meaning "sentient man". It's singular. In English, when it refers to humans as a species, it is often used with plural verbs, but it is singular nevertheless.

SO. You can't say "A homo sapien" ?

Originally Posted by Dobry

Originally Posted by pranki

The phrase from "Planet of the Apes":
"Was the Homo Sapiens mean to you again?"

I will add one thing, for grammar.

Homo Sapiens = humans (plural)

Tak, the sentence should be "Were the Homo Sapiens mean to you again."

But, in American "street talk", using "was" instead of "were" is considered normal and strong, tough...because of the bad grammar.
Tak, here, using "Was" instead of "Were" sounds tough, and mean in American collequial English.

Hmm...I've never considered someone who uses "was" where "were" should be tough...

Originally Posted by Dogboy182

SO. You can't say "A homo sapien" ?

No, "sapien" is not a word.

Originally Posted by translations.nm.ru

Originally Posted by Dogboy182

SO. You can't say "A homo sapien" ?

No, "sapien" is not a word.

Well if there's one thing i learned from a month in australia is that it is OK to make up your own words. So its a word to me !

Dogboy182 wrote:
SO. You can't say "A homo sapien" ?

translations.nm.ru wrote:
No, "sapien" is not a word.

I used to hear "A homo sapien" in high school quite a bit. It was used generally by teenage girls as an insult to boys as in, "You're such a homo sapien, Johan" or "He's such a homo sapien."

I think they meant primitive or barbaric. You know what teenage girls can be like.

In any case, that's my two cents worth.

Originally Posted by Johan

Dogboy182 wrote:
SO. You can't say "A homo sapien" ?

translations.nm.ru wrote:
No, "sapien" is not a word.

I used to hear "A homo sapien" in high school quite a bit. It was used generally by teenage girls as an insult to boys as in, "You're such a homo sapien, Johan" or "He's such a homo sapien."

I think they meant primitive or barbaric. You know what teenage girls can be like.

In any case, that's my two cents worth.

Well, I don't know how much literal value we can get from teenage girls and their word usage. I mean, just because a teenage girl says it, it doesn't make it right...

kalinka_vinnie, my apologies. I was a little off topic by providing that little anecdote. It was not intended to be taken as correct or formal usage of English.

Apology accepted, gift-wrapped and ready to be put under christmas trees!

Originally Posted by translations.nm.ru

Originally Posted by Dobry

I will add one thing, for grammar.

Homo Sapiens = humans (plural)

Tak, the sentence should be "Were the Homo Sapiens mean to you again."

But, in American "street talk", using "was" instead of "were" is considered normal and strong, tough...

American street talk has nothing to with this. It's just that on this particular occasion, this term was used to refer to one person rather than to the humankind, hence the singular verb form.

Hmm, I would tend to disagree, being intimately familiar with "street talk" from the cities. And the incorrect use of grammar in order to create a certain feeling or mood.

Originally Posted by saibot

Originally Posted by Dobry

Originally Posted by pranki

The phrase from "Planet of the Apes":
"Was the Homo Sapiens mean to you again?"

I will add one thing, for grammar.

Homo Sapiens = humans (plural)

Tak, the sentence should be "Were the Homo Sapiens mean to you again."

But, in American "street talk", using "was" instead of "were" is considered normal and strong, tough...because of the bad grammar.
Tak, here, using "Was" instead of "Were" sounds tough, and mean in American collequial English.

Hmm...I've never considered someone who uses "was" where "were" should be tough...

Ohhhh, yea, ya betcha....u was served, u was owned!