This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

1,2,3 Soleil

English translation: what's the time Mr Wolf?

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:1,2,3 Soleil
English translation:what's the time Mr Wolf?
Entered by: Mari O'Keefe

18:43 Apr 27, 2008
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / 1,2,3 Soleil
French term or phrase: 1,2,3 Soleil
How would you translate the above in English? Is it "ready steady go" as in a race or "coming ready or not" as in hide and seek, or neither of these?

It appears as a title above the following text:

Les bébés doivent courir vers leur professeur tant qu’il est tourné. Mais dès qu’il regarde vers eux, ils ne doivent plus faire aucun mouvement. Le premier à franchir la ligne a gagné

Thanks for your help.
Mari O'Keefe
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:08
what's the time Mr Wolf?
Explanation:
According to my six year old and four year old (!) who play this all the time at school, one person stands facing a wall while the others line up at the other end of the playground. The person with their back to the others calls 'un, deux, trois...' while the others creep up on thel. When the person shouts 'soleil' and turns around, all the others have to be as still as statues. If they are seen moving they have to go back to the beginning. The winner is the one who makes it to the wall without being seen moving. The closest I can think (racking my brains back a few years...) is 'What's the time Mr Wolf?' although the rules weren't exactly the same because the wolf had to chase the others when he said 'dinner time'....but something along these lines. Good luck!

Selected response from:

Irene McClure
Local time: 10:08
Grading comment
Thank you for all your suggestions and help. I think this solution works best. Thanks, Irene.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7what's the time Mr Wolf?
Irene McClure
4 +3variation of
French Foodie
4 +1Grandmother's footsteps
Carol Gullidge
41,2,3 Sun appeared
Elene P.
4Ready or not, here I come!
Blake Ferris


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
what's the time Mr Wolf?


Explanation:
According to my six year old and four year old (!) who play this all the time at school, one person stands facing a wall while the others line up at the other end of the playground. The person with their back to the others calls 'un, deux, trois...' while the others creep up on thel. When the person shouts 'soleil' and turns around, all the others have to be as still as statues. If they are seen moving they have to go back to the beginning. The winner is the one who makes it to the wall without being seen moving. The closest I can think (racking my brains back a few years...) is 'What's the time Mr Wolf?' although the rules weren't exactly the same because the wolf had to chase the others when he said 'dinner time'....but something along these lines. Good luck!




    Reference: http://www.petitestetes.com/parents-enfants/sorties/champs/j...
Irene McClure
Local time: 10:08
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you for all your suggestions and help. I think this solution works best. Thanks, Irene.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  French Foodie: same answer at exactly the same time! Great minds... :-) (and exactly same age kids!)
1 min
  -> ta frenchfoodie - they are useful for something eh?
agree  Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
19 mins
  -> cheers nc
agree  Martin Cassell: that's what mine played, too
26 mins
  -> thanks martin
agree  Nathalie Elson: Great, I didn't know this game in English, I'll try it with my kids as a variation to 123 soleil (with playing in English as an added bonus!)
38 mins
  -> thanks nathalie
agree  bcsantos
43 mins
  -> cheers bcsantos
agree  Alanna Wilson-Duff: Yes, I used to play this as a child, the wolf has to count up to different o'clocks until someone tags him and then he has to chase his dinner. I've also called it 'statues' at different points.
5 hrs
  -> thanks alanna
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): exactly: the German equivalent would be: "Mutter, Mutter, wie spät ist die Uhr"?
7 hrs
  -> danke ingeborg
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
variation of


Explanation:
My kids play this game all the time. One person stands against a wall with back to group and counts out 1, 2, 3, as the group moves forward. When s/he yells Soleil!, s/he turns around and the group has to freeze. Whoever is caught moving is out, and the first person to reach the wall wins.

The closest English equivalent to this I believe is "What time is it Mr Wolf?"
google it and you'll get lots of descriptions :-)

Depending on your target audience, you'll have to decide if it's best to adapt the text to the English game, or simply describe the French game.
HTH

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2008-04-27 18:51:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Whoops, of course the title is meant to be:

variation of "What time is it Mr Wolf?

French Foodie
Local time: 10:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Irene McClure: snap!
1 min
agree  Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
20 mins
  -> thanks New Cal
agree  Nathalie Elson
38 mins
  -> thanks Nathalie
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
1,2,3 Sun appeared


Explanation:
This game reminds sun looking from the clouds. Especially as it is a title of some game, I would leave the original name and just provide a translation

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2008-04-27 19:04:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Such game is available I think in any country and there are local names for it. Thus translating you should adopt the name appropriate for the target country. BUT English is widely used.. In my opinion even setting your mind to some equivalent name, I would put it in brackets..

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2008-04-27 19:04:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

1,2,3 Sun appeared [Mr wolf or whatever..]

Elene P.
Georgia
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GeorgianGeorgian, Native in RussianRussian
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Grandmother's footsteps


Language variant: UK version

Explanation:
This is what it's called in UK

Playground fun - RulesThis game is Grandmother's footsteps. Other ways to play · Rules · Album · Facts · Other similar games. Grandmother's footsteps ...
www.playgroundfun.org.uk/GameRules.aspx?gameID=63 - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

Early Learning Centre - Grandmother's footstepsGrandmother's footsteps. Recommended ages: 3 - 6. This is a classic. Enjoy it when there are lots of small people around, but don't forget about it when ...
www.elc.co.uk/play/idea.php?play_id=23 - 13k -


Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 80

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Philippa Smith
12 hrs
  -> thanks Philippa!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Ready or not, here I come!


Explanation:
This is a shout out for an elementary school playgound game. The declaration sets the person who is the center of the game to go and seek, or "freeze" other kids if they get touched by the person who suddenly can run. Similar to what you call out when finished counting in the game of Hide and Seek. Not exactly the same game, but similar. There is are a few other playground games that might be similar: Simon Says, 1,2,3 FREEZE, and even some versions of "Freeze Tag" It was also the title of a French 1990s movie with Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Blake Ferris
Local time: 01:08
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Alanna Wilson-Duff: I know this game too, but I think it's a different one from that described above. We used to call this game "bull rush" and you had to run from one side of the field to another without getting tagged. Thing was everybody ran at once, hence the name.
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search