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Via falsa
k-te Glied

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

flüsterleise

English translation:

susurrating, whisper-quiet, ultra-quiet

Added to glossary by Woodstock (X)
Dec 7, 2012 13:33
11 yrs ago
German term

flüsterleise

German to English Tech/Engineering Automotive / Cars & Trucks Marketing
This is in a marketing brochure for a new car model:
"Der XXX lässt nicht nur unser üppiges Skigepäck im Kofferraum. verschwinden, er macht uns the ganze Fahrt mit seinem Hightech-Fahrwerk, dem *flüsterleisen* Dieselmotor und der warmen Sitzheizung hochkomfortabel.

Of the options I have found, "ultra-quiet" would seem the most appropriate, but I'm not convinced there's not a better solution. Other options which I have considered and basically discarded are:
- whisper-quiet (this has a LOT of Google hits, which surprised me)
- super-silent
- super-quiet
- etc. - you get the idea.

I would like to hear your opinions and/or ideas.
TIA
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 susurrating
3 +3 whisper-quiet
Change log

Dec 9, 2012 08:46: Usch Pilz changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

PRO (3): BrigitteHilgner, Nicole Schnell, Usch Pilz

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Discussion

Lancashireman Dec 8, 2012:
Hum yes, purr no We have all happily hummed along to a well-known melody. A purring sound may, however, presage an attack by a tiger.
Lancashireman Dec 8, 2012:
Purr yes, hum no Everyone loves a purring cat. Hums drive you mad. See the Paul Simon lyrics for 'Changing Opinions' (Songs from Liquid Days): http://www.glasspages.org/liquidlyrics.html
Woodstock (X) (asker) Dec 8, 2012:
Thanks, everyone for your help, which has given me yet another idea. The main reason I posted here is that feedback leads to new thoughts. Some variant using "hum" would work nicely, too, come to think of it. Off to sleep on it and will let the 24-hour period lapse before I decide. Feel free to post as an answer. Points are there to be given away! Can't give 'em to meself, you know.
Michael Martin, MA Dec 8, 2012:
@Andrew Damn decent of you. I am touched ;-)
Lancashireman Dec 7, 2012:
PS "softly purring" also sounds quite good.
Lancashireman Dec 7, 2012:
Hello Woodstock I think you should go with “whisper-quiet”. I know you had already “basically discarded” it, but hey, peer pressure is at work here. Trudy likes it and Irene Koukia (METAFRASMA?) thinks it’s the wadergo. So, I definitely think the 4 points should be awarded to “whisper-quiet”, which was what you always, in your heart of hearts, wanted to put anyway.
Michael Martin, MA Dec 7, 2012:
@Woodstock I think you're on to something here... "softly purring engine" might work.. "The result is a softly purring engine that is a pleasure to the senses"
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/DOCUMENT/PDF/TECHNOLOGY/tech...
Woodstock (X) (asker) Dec 7, 2012:
@Andrew - onomatopoeic, yes. I like it, but since the target audience is car buyers and not engineers, I'm afraid the term would cause more head-scratching than wonderment.
@Michael - No idea why I dislike the "whisper-quiet" option, but I'll rethink it. Another idea popped into mind - what do you all think of working in something with "purring" or "gentle/soft/etc. purr"... ?

Proposed translations

+3
11 mins
Selected

susurrating

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/susurration
su·sur·ra·tion (ss-rshn) also su·sur·rus (s-sûrs, -sr-)
n.
A soft, whispering or rustling sound; a murmur.

One Google hit for "susurrating engine"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2012-12-07 13:48:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hey, it's even onomato... omonatop...
erm, it sounds like what it means.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days11 hrs (2012-12-11 00:49:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

barely audible [engine]

http://drivingtorque.com/tag/range-rover/
http://www.computeroutpost.com.au/groups/group.asp?group=6&m...
http://www.4x4overlandtravel.com/t875-designing-and-building...
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/tag/246/cars/page-26/
http://www.press-startnews.com/review-need-for-speed-most-wa...

Note from asker:
Thanks for participating, Andrew. I chose your term mostly for the KudoZ glossary, but ended up going with "muted purr", which fit the marketing text best.
Peer comment(s):
agree Richard Stephen : This would certainly be the more learned solution.
1 hr
Thanks, Richard. Most engineers do indeed have at least an O Level in Latin.
agree franglish : sweet susurration...
1 hr
agree Helen Shiner : I'd buy a car that did this.
21 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I chose this answer for a couple of reasons: a) The term is a good one and not common, ergo b) I hadn't come up with it myself, and c) Andrew was first."
+3
24 mins

whisper-quiet

Example from second link below:

"The light steering, whisper-quiet diesel engine and seat comfort make the driving experience of the A6 like that of a smaller car."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 Min. (2012-12-07 13:59:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Don't see any reason to disregard it..

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 Stunden (2012-12-07 15:42:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Other options:

- quiet as a mouse

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 Tage10 Min. (2012-12-09 13:43:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

- quietly humming
Reference:

https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=321&aid=1679&lid=651994

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/cars/review/audi-a6-30-tdi-quattro-se-tiptronic/34465/

Note from asker:
I didn't use any of the terms suggested, actually, but thanks for the suggestions. The term I ultimately selected was "muted purr".
Peer comment(s):
agree Trudy Peters : I like whisper-quiet. Easily understood! :-)
2 hrs
Yes. Golden rule in this country: make sure an 8th-grader can understand it :-)
agree Irene Koukia : me too
7 hrs
Thanks, Irene.
agree Helen Shiner : A more cliched option but probably just the thing.
21 hrs
Thanks, Helen.
Something went wrong...
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