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מחותן

English translation: in-law

11:39 Jan 3, 2022
Hebrew to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general) / Anti Trust - Monopolies
Hebrew term or phrase: מחותן
There is no direct equivalent term for this in English. The intention (in this case) is to the father-in-law of the person's son. I know growing up in South Africa we would either use the equivalent Yiddish expression "machatense" which is basically the same as the Hebrew, or alternatively we would use the term "Mapoti" which is from the Sesotho, since neither English nor Afrikaans have an equivalent. How would you translate this term in this sense in the most elegant way?
Frank Mayers
Israel
Local time: 16:21
English translation:in-law
Explanation:
In Hebrew people say, "ביקרנו את המחותנים שלנו"
In English that translates quite well as "We visited our in-laws." Reverso, in fact, translates the term that way.
Now then, "Bikarnu et hamechutan sheli" - in the singular - is not identical, but if I translate that "We visited my in-law," people will understand that. In context they will understand that I am probably not referring to a collection brother and sister-in-laws, but more likely to the fellow who gave me his daughter whe I gave him my son.
Selected response from:

Raphael Blumberg
Israel
Local time: 16:21
Grading comment
First validated answer (validated by peer agreement)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3in-law
Raphael Blumberg
5Your son or daughter's present or future father-in-law when making a wedding.
Geoffrey Black


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
in-law


Explanation:
In Hebrew people say, "ביקרנו את המחותנים שלנו"
In English that translates quite well as "We visited our in-laws." Reverso, in fact, translates the term that way.
Now then, "Bikarnu et hamechutan sheli" - in the singular - is not identical, but if I translate that "We visited my in-law," people will understand that. In context they will understand that I am probably not referring to a collection brother and sister-in-laws, but more likely to the fellow who gave me his daughter whe I gave him my son.

Raphael Blumberg
Israel
Local time: 16:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
First validated answer (validated by peer agreement)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  REUVEN COHEN: There is apparently a term "co-parents-in-law" which refers precisely to this. I can't believe that people actually use it, so I would agree with Raphael.
1 day 23 hrs
agree  Omri Ofek Luzon
7 days
agree  Geoffrey Black: "In-law" sounds right.
30 days
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30 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Your son or daughter's present or future father-in-law when making a wedding.


Explanation:
A wedding in Hebrew is a חתונה. A מחותן is somebody you make a wedding with, i.e. the other side, generally the parents of the other side. They are both from the same root letters, ח.ת.ן.

Example sentence(s):
  • משה כהן הוא המחותן שלי. הבן שלי נשוי לבת שלו.

    https://milog.co.il/%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9D
    https://hebrew-academy.org.il/keyword/%D7%9E%D6%B0%D7%97%D6%BB%D7%AA%D6%BC%D6%B8%D7%9F/
Geoffrey Black
Israel
Local time: 16:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16
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