Translation - Μετάφραση

Translation Assistance => Other language pairs => English→Ancient Greek Translation Forum => Topic started by: younggreek on 09 Oct, 2009, 09:39:10

Title: live life! → ζῆθι
Post by: younggreek on 09 Oct, 2009, 09:39:10

hello im 18 and in honor of my grandparents who have both recently passed away and for my father (who are all greek) i am going to get a tattoo saying "live life" i plan on getting the tattoo soon but seeing as its permanent i want to make sure without a doubt that its written correctly. can anyone help me please? every translator i use gives me a different translation, and i need help. i would really like for it to be translated to ancient greek if it is possible? thank you for your time and please hurry
-live life

Title: Re: live life!
Post by: billberg23 on 09 Oct, 2009, 14:02:10

I can't do better than recommend the ancient word ζῆθι, "live!"  See
https://www.translatum.gr/forum/index.php?topic=5017.0.

Title: Re: live life! → ζῆθι
Post by: younggreek on 09 Oct, 2009, 20:32:31

is there anyone else that could help me possibly? and thank you for your help and quick response! see i traveled to greece 2 years ago and when i was there i asked about how to say live life as well (ive wanted the tattoo for about 3 years)  and a man running the hotel i stayed at told me it was sorry idk how i can use the greek fonts or texts on here so i have to tell you it was BETA - IOTA - OMEGA - SIGMA - EPSILON   space  BETA - IOTA - OMICRON is this correct? or what does this mean?
thanks for your time

Title: Re: live life! → ζῆθι
Post by: billberg23 on 09 Oct, 2009, 23:47:45

Your innkeeper was evidently saying βίωσε βίο, his modern Greek for "live life."  In ancient Greek, however, βίος had a more specialized meaning, something like "life style" or "manner of living."  In Plato, for example, βίον βιοῦν means "live life" in the sense of living a particular sort of life, or living in a certain manner or fashion.

By contrast, your "live life!" seems to relate more to the act of living itself, to being "lively," rather than to content or style of life.  For that, ancient Greek would need the more "biological" verb that I gave you as an imperative, ζῆθι.  And it has the added spice that it's spelled with the ancient numbers for the hours when you could really get out and "live."

Title: Re: live life! → ζῆθι
Post by: younggreek on 10 Oct, 2009, 02:38:55

ok but  ζῆθι. just means live correct? is it possible to use ancient writing for live and modern greek for life? if so what would it be?

Title: Re: live life! → ζῆθι
Post by: billberg23 on 10 Oct, 2009, 03:04:12

Quote from: younggreek on 10 Oct, 2009, 02:38:55

ok but  ζῆθι. just means live correct?

It's an emphatic "live!"  Greek didn't have to specify "life," because what else can you live?

Quote

is it possible to use ancient writing for live and modern greek for life?

No.  If you want correct modern Greek for "live life," go back to the Modern Greek → English forum and ask specifically for modern Greek.

Title: Re: live life! → ζῆθι
Post by: younggreek on 11 Oct, 2009, 00:40:05

ok thank you for all of the help!

Title: live life → Ζῆ or ζῆθι?
Post by: greekyboi on 18 Aug, 2010, 12:10:47

Hi, I searched here and found some answers but just wanted some clarification please. Searching the term 'Live Life' and have found on here both Ζῆ and ζῆθι
Which is correct? Or are they interchangable?
thanks so much.

Title: Re: live life! → ζῆθι
Post by: spiros on 18 Aug, 2010, 13:29:53

It would be better if you answered on the relevant topic. Now they are merged and I think it is quite clear.

Second person imperative of present tense is "Ζῆ".

Title: Re: live life! → ζῆθι
Post by: greekyboi on 18 Aug, 2010, 13:59:03

Thanks Spiros!