Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
l'heure bleue
English translation:
the "blue hour" (the magical hour of twilight in Paris)
Added to glossary by
Nick Lingris
Aug 23, 2005 12:16
18 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
l'heure bleue
French to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
fragrance
Another interview with an artist who is asked to say what he feels symbolizes l'esprit parisien. His answer:
Marcher le nez au vent dans les rues de Paris en respirant "l'heure bleue".
Now, I know l'heure bleue is an old Guerlain fragrance (came out around 1912) and I just read that it was named for "the gentle blue-hued twilight of pre-World War 1 Paris, a time of relative innocence."
I'd like to somehow convey this, because I think simply leaving the name of the fragrance will be lost on most English readers, but I need a much shorter explanation (space limitations).
Alas, my deadline is in a few hours, so any suggestions are more than welcome,
TIA
Mara
Marcher le nez au vent dans les rues de Paris en respirant "l'heure bleue".
Now, I know l'heure bleue is an old Guerlain fragrance (came out around 1912) and I just read that it was named for "the gentle blue-hued twilight of pre-World War 1 Paris, a time of relative innocence."
I'd like to somehow convey this, because I think simply leaving the name of the fragrance will be lost on most English readers, but I need a much shorter explanation (space limitations).
Alas, my deadline is in a few hours, so any suggestions are more than welcome,
TIA
Mara
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | "blue hour" Paris twilight |
Nick Lingris
|
| 3 +2 | the soft twilight hours |
suezen
|
| 5 | inhaling the scent of the blue Parisian twilight |
Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
|
| 4 | the gloaming |
Priscilla Whitaker
|
Change log
Dec 22, 2010 10:39: Stéphanie Soudais changed "Term asked" from "l\'heure bleue URGENT" to "l\'heure bleue "
Proposed translations
9 mins
Nick Lingris
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
The word is my oyster
Native in: Greek 
Works in: English to Greek, Greek to English, Greek
Related KudoZ points
:
28
French term (edited):
l'heure bleue
Selected
"blue hour" Paris twilight
pale blue-light that diffuses itself throughout the city
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Note added at 13 mins (2005-08-23 12:30:09 GMT)
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http://www.weimax.com/bob's_paris.htm
I'd say "the pale blue light of Paris at nightfall / at twilight" and forget about the pre-war years.
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Note added at 30 mins (2005-08-23 12:46:49 GMT)
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I don't think it means he's breathing in the Guerlain fragrance, but he's just soaking up the light, the atmosphere of that special time of day.
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Note added at 13 mins (2005-08-23 12:30:09 GMT)
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http://www.weimax.com/bob's_paris.htm
I'd say "the pale blue light of Paris at nightfall / at twilight" and forget about the pre-war years.
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Note added at 30 mins (2005-08-23 12:46:49 GMT)
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I don't think it means he's breathing in the Guerlain fragrance, but he's just soaking up the light, the atmosphere of that special time of day.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks to everyone who answers. Many of the suggestions could have worked equally well here. Points go to Nick for being the first to suggest "soaking up", which was also very helpful."
+2
11 mins
French term (edited):
l'heure bleue URGENT
the soft twilight hours
the gentle/soft atmosphere of early evening
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Note added at 12 mins (2005-08-23 12:29:03 GMT)
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the gentle hue of early evening
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Note added at 46 mins (2005-08-23 13:03:04 GMT)
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As Brigitte says, the explanation is too long but you could maybe say soaking up/enjoying/ taking in 'l'heure bleue', the soft/romantic twilight of early evening etc.
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Note added at 12 mins (2005-08-23 12:29:03 GMT)
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the gentle hue of early evening
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Note added at 46 mins (2005-08-23 13:03:04 GMT)
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As Brigitte says, the explanation is too long but you could maybe say soaking up/enjoying/ taking in 'l'heure bleue', the soft/romantic twilight of early evening etc.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
BrigitteHilgner
: dreamline twilight hours
16 mins
|
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thanks Brigitte
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| agree |
RHELLER
: it's an atmosphere, feeling, ambience (breathing in the soft twilight air)
1 hr
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thanks Rita :-)
|
5 hrs
French term (edited):
l'heure bleue URGENT
inhaling the scent of the blue Parisian twilight
see the color blue in Magritte's paintings!
5 hrs
Priscilla Whitaker
France
France
Native in English
France
Eloquent and Persuasive Communication
Native in: English
Works in: French to English
French term (edited):
l'heure bleue URGENT
the gloaming
Twilight is the clear reference, and is the most straightforward translation. However, gloaming is the poetic equivalent and implies a much greater sense of mystery and the unknown. Or, you might want to embellish "twilight" with "deepening" or "hushed" or "silently falling" or "soulful".
Discussion
Breathing in "L'heure bleue", the Guerlain fragrance named after the "Blue Hour", that pale blue light of Paris at nightfall...
Or does that sound too wordy?