Expert: Maria - 11/1/2006

Question

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Hi again, so sorry to bother you again as I am sure you are busy. Just to check, the translation you kindly provided me with for the phrase "Laugh Now, Cry Later" [Nunc ride, serius luge] is in the context of laughing now, crying about it later i.e. Don't worry about things now, laugh things off and worry about them later?

Thank you again Maria

Regards

Steve

The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi, I hope you can help me. Could you possibly help me with a latin translation for the phrase "Laugh Now, Cry Later".

A website gave me the translation of "rideo risi risum iam vox laxus" but when you put that translation back through the website from Latin to English, it doesn't translate the same way. Can you help provide a definitive answer?

Kind Regards
S Gowland
-----Answer-----
Hello,

The correct translation of  "Laugh Now, Cry Later" is as follows:

“Nunc ride, serius luge”.

Also, you could say : “Nunc ride, lugebis serius”, meaning literally “Laugh now, you will cry later”.
In Latin in fact we can use the indicative future instead of the imperative present when the action will happen later, as in this case.
Anyway both these translations are correct. So choose what you prefer.

As for "rideo risi risum iam vox laxus", it is absolutely wrong, of course, because automated online translators are worthless, especially  with inflected languages such as Latin and Greek, but also with other languages.

Finally note that:

-Laugh = RIDE (imperative, 2nd.person singular of RIDEO)

-Now = NUNC

-Cry = LUGE (imperative, 2nd.person singular of LUGEO) /LUGEBIS ( indicative future, 2nd.person singular )

-Later = SERIUS (comparative of the adverb SERO)

Best regards,
Maria
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Latin word order can be different from English, as you can see.

Answer
Hi again,

no problem. I am glad to help you.

So, both “Nunc ride, serius luge” and “Nunc ride, lugebis serius” are “in the context of laughing now, crying about it later i.e. Don't worry about things now, laugh things off and worry about them later”, as you say.

Best regards,
Maria