Nov 10, 2010 23:33
13 yrs ago
Arabic term
fineesh
Arabic to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Old Egyptian Book
This was a speech from an Arabian burglar that was stealing a tomb in Egypt. When he went inside the tomb, he saw a mummy that was buried in a hurry, an the mummy was on the side, then he said "Bury great hurry, he no 'mafish', no 'fineesh'. "
Proposed translations
(English)
| 1 +3 | finish? |
Nesrin
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| 4 | fineesh (leave as is) |
Frensp
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| 2 | I can not |
Lamis Maalouf
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Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Selected
finish?
While Lamis's answer is correct for some Arab countries, it's not really used in Egypt in the sens of "I can not".
Although I don't get what he's saying (is it a joke?) I think it might be English word "finish" as pronounced by someone who doesn't speak English, and maybe used in the sense of "it's over"...
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-11-11 00:50:46 GMT)
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...Interesting answer by Frensp! Why would Ali Baba say "Mafish fineesh" for good-bye? Sounds to me like something the author of Cleopatra made up cause it sounded funny to him!
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-11-11 00:59:58 GMT)
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I just read (on the Google Books link provided by Frensp), pages 2-4 of the Cleopatra novel which I think you're reading too. The boy Ali is the one repeating mafish and fineesh almost randomly. At one point he says "Him very funny mummy. Him not mafish when him go in there". The narrator replies "Nonsense! Whoever heard of a live mummy!"
I think the author wants to say that Ali is using "mafish" (which really means "there is none") to mean "dead" - the mummy was still alive when they put it in the coffin. Similarly, I think Ali is meant to be using "fineesh" (the English word "finish") in the same sense as mafish, in your quote "Bury great hurry, he no 'mafish', no 'fineesh'. "
Ali then goes on to say "mafish fineesh" in the sense of "good-bye". Methinks the author just ran out of "Arabic" words to use!!!
Although I don't get what he's saying (is it a joke?) I think it might be English word "finish" as pronounced by someone who doesn't speak English, and maybe used in the sense of "it's over"...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-11-11 00:50:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
...Interesting answer by Frensp! Why would Ali Baba say "Mafish fineesh" for good-bye? Sounds to me like something the author of Cleopatra made up cause it sounded funny to him!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-11-11 00:59:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I just read (on the Google Books link provided by Frensp), pages 2-4 of the Cleopatra novel which I think you're reading too. The boy Ali is the one repeating mafish and fineesh almost randomly. At one point he says "Him very funny mummy. Him not mafish when him go in there". The narrator replies "Nonsense! Whoever heard of a live mummy!"
I think the author wants to say that Ali is using "mafish" (which really means "there is none") to mean "dead" - the mummy was still alive when they put it in the coffin. Similarly, I think Ali is meant to be using "fineesh" (the English word "finish") in the same sense as mafish, in your quote "Bury great hurry, he no 'mafish', no 'fineesh'. "
Ali then goes on to say "mafish fineesh" in the sense of "good-bye". Methinks the author just ran out of "Arabic" words to use!!!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Samir Sami
: Partially agree with your explanation. The word is quite used nowadays in Egypt e.g. نفنش
7 hrs
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Yeah, adopted from the Gulf countries where it's customary to say فنش for "to fire someone from work" i.e. finish their contract.
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| agree |
TargamaT team
10 hrs
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| agree |
Amal Al-Arfaj
: This is exactly what I thought too. I was going to post an answer that fineesh = finish but then thought it's better to leave it to Egyptians. They'd know better.
11 hrs
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But you knew better too! :-))
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
48 mins
Lamis Maalouf
United States
United States
Native in Arabic
United States
D.D.S, Education plus experience
Native in: Arabic 
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, Arabic
Related KudoZ points
:
57
I can not
I can't. I wonder why "can't" gets messed up.
I am not sure about Egyptian, but this is the translation of this word which is said in other neighboring countries.
I will be willing to remove this answer if a better one is posted.
Salaam,
Lamis
I am not sure about Egyptian, but this is the translation of this word which is said in other neighboring countries.
I will be willing to remove this answer if a better one is posted.
Salaam,
Lamis
1 hr
Frensp
Specializes in field
fineesh (leave as is)
This story has already been published in English (Cleopatra, by H. Rider Haggard) and I found your excerpt as is, as well as:
"Good-bye, 'Mafish*Fineesh*, as Ali Baba always said."
I guess the deceased was not given any farewell...
"Good-bye, 'Mafish*Fineesh*, as Ali Baba always said."
I guess the deceased was not given any farewell...
Reference:
Discussion