Expert: Maria - 6/15/2011

Question
I have been searching the internet for the correct english to Latin translation for: Never forget, never regret

Never regret is refering to: to remember with a feeling of loss

would the translation be different if the 4 words are together or never forget as one set and never regret as another?

I have been unable to find a translation I trust, but am hopeful you can help. Thankyou so much for taking the time to read and answer my question

Jodi

Answer
Hello,

Thanks for clarifying your thought.

So,” Never forget, never regret” in the sense you said, can be translated as follows:

-“Umquam oblivisci noli, umquam desiderare noli”

Note that this Latin sentence is in the 2nd.person singular which is used in Latin when the command is addressed to only one person, not to many persons.

Differently from English, Latin imperative has in fact different endings, according to the person the command is addressed to.

Finally  I have to point out that the translation of “Never forget, never regret”  is not different if the 4 words are together or ‘never forget’ as one set and ‘never regret’ as another.

Best regards,
Maria
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Note that:

-Never =  UMQUAM

-forget = OBLIVISCI NOLI (literally, “don’t want to forget”, as  OBLIVISCI is the infinitive of the verb OBLIVISCOR, I forget,  and  NOLI (don’t want) is the imperative, 2nd.person singular, of NOLO (I do not want).  

-never= UMQUAM

-regret= DESIDERARE NOLI  (literally, “don’t want to regret) as DESIDERARE is the infinitive of the verb DESIDERO, I regret, and NOLI (don’t want) is the imperative, 2nd.person singular, of NOLO (I do not want)