Translation-question for the norwegian word prektig

[jollyhumper]

technically it ain't a noob-question, I've had english as a second language for 40 years, but I didn't know where to put it.

My dictionaries are unavailable atm (we're about to move) and I can't seem to remember a good word for this.

Prektig.
That's a Norwegian word which describes (usually) a girl that is hard to get, with high morals, pretty much the opposite of dirty.
( a christian girl would usually act as being "prektig". It's what we see when we meet her, it doesn't necessarily describe what's she's like when you finally got her behind the locked (green?) door... )

translate.google claims "Stately" is a good translation, but that sounds weird to me.

Any suggestions?

Jolly

[jollyhumper]

I rewrote it a bit and used the word chastity instead, but I would still love to hear a suggestions

Jolly

[Pagan]

I would probably translate that as 'elusive', playing on the hard to get aspect more than the sexual chase. It's a bit more mysterious as well. Perhaps a little more of how you were using it would help? Single words are so hard to get the exact right word for, especially ones that don't exactly translate.

[jollyhumper]

Originally Posted by Pagan

I would probably translate that as 'elusive', playing on the hard to get aspect more than the sexual chase. It's a bit more mysterious as well. Perhaps a little more of how you were using it would help? Single words are so hard to get the exact right word for, especially ones that don't exactly translate.

Thanks for your answer, I did try to explain the usage, but probably didn't do a good job. Writing a blog post about an asian girl, acting shy and hard to get in the sense of "I'm way to a good girl for this kind of stuff".
Like a prom-queen maybe, she's that blond girl that would never sleep with anyone before marriage (I'm not to familiar with that, but think of them as how I see them described in movies)

I'm not satisfied with the text in this one, but here is what I rewrote the thing to, so I used the word chastity instead

Jolly

[Greenguy]

I call a woman like that a cunt

[jollyhumper]

Originally Posted by Greenguy

I call a woman like that a cunt

HAHAHAHA!

"She acted all shy, unreachable and cunt!"

You know, I have to try this one, it comes close to the logic of "is this the right room for an argument?"



Jolly

[Pagan]

It would be 'chaste' in that case... and I would say, "She acted all shy, like an unreachable cunt" to the above. Pure is another synonym for it. Purity and chastity are states of being -- you are those "virtues", but you don't act that way. You act chaste or pure. Does that make sense?

[Greenguy]

Small correction in your example:

"She acted all shy, unreachable and cunty!"

[geirlur]

My norwegian dictionary says
"excellent, noble, fine"

Out of those I would go for noble. I always think about prestedatter(preachers daughter) when I hear the word prektig..

[Pagan]

A lot of times the dictionary definition doesn't match the connotation. Sad, because it makes language harder to use. Noble carries a totally different image most. If the girl had truly been noble, she would even have thought about doing something so tawdry as having casual sex.

[jollyhumper]

Originally Posted by geirlur

My norwegian dictionary says
"excellent, noble, fine"

Out of those I would go for noble. I always think about prestedatter(preachers daughter) when I hear the word prektig..

I agree Geirlur (you're norwegian?)

But I visited the library two days ago and took the opportunity to search for this word. Prektig was, in the dictionaries I checked, translated as
"grandios, magnificent" etc.
I've come to the point that the word might not be easily translated.
Maybe how we use it isn't quite up to what it actually means?
Prestedatter is prektig. Thats for sure. (at least should be )

Originally Posted by Pagan

A lot of times the dictionary definition doesn't match the connotation. Sad, because it makes language harder to use. Noble carries a totally different image most. If the girl had truly been noble, she would even have thought about doing something so tawdry as having casual sex.

That's why I have come to agree with Pagan as well.
I think Prektig isn't really easy to translate.

Thanks for the answers though.
It's much appreciated and I will still be grateful for any suggestions.
And I will also continue to search for the perfect translation. Why?
Because now I have to know.

Jolly

(Maybe we should start the hunt for the english translation for "luremus" )

[Pagan]

Hmm.. Google Translate has prektig as "stately". Is that the flavor you want?

Luremus is a fun one.. I get cocktease or pricktease in my searches. I think this is another word that doesn't translate completely. One colorful way I heard it expressed in Texas was that 'She was all tease and no please'.

[jollyhumper]

Originally Posted by Pagan

Luremus is a fun one.. I get cocktease or pricktease in my searches. I think this is another word that doesn't translate completely. One colorful way I heard it expressed in Texas was that 'She was all tease and no please'.

Hehe, they're all spot on Actually
Cool, I can probably use all of those when I'll write new blog-posts!

Jolly

[Simon]

Here are a few others that may work for you...

Girl Next Door

Goody Two-Shoes

Good Girl

[geirlur]

Originally Posted by jollyhumper

I agree Geirlur (you're norwegian?)

Yes I am.. but that really doesn't help on this subject.
Eventhough I understand what the word means I would have a hard time explaining it even in my own language