translate
ego solum felicem esse volo
to english
2006-10-13 11:05:32 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
There is a subtle point being missed by translators here..
Felix esse volo = I wish to be happy
The person wishing is the same as the one being happy
Felicem (eum) esse volo = I wish him to be happy
The person wishing is different from the one being happy
As the phrase in the question is emphatically using "ego" and "solum" could be an adverb or an adjective, there are two possibilities..
I am the one who only wishes him to be happy
I am the one who wishes him alone to be happy
Also "him" could just as easily be "her" as there is no other indicator of gender.
2006-10-15 02:41:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I just want to be happy!!!
Ego=I
Solum= only, just
felicem= happy in acusative case
esse=to be, infinitive conjugation
volo=i want
But it would be more proper to say:
Solum iucundus esse volo
or even:
Beatus quam esse solum volo
2006-10-13 11:12:51 · answer #2 · answered by Dominicanus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Literally translated, it says: I wish only that I were happy. The accusative plus infinitive format is a clause.
zlevad is right, I knew something looked off there. I thought it was odd that it said felicem instead of felix - I just figured someone didn't know their Latin very well. The accusative case indicates a change in subject. (kicking myself)
2006-10-14 04:55:29 · answer #3 · answered by Jeannie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I only want to be happy/All I want is to be happy
2006-10-13 11:17:01 · answer #4 · answered by Lady G. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only i want to be happy
2006-10-14 06:15:46 · answer #5 · answered by koneko 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"I land lucky to be I want"
I'm a bit rusty!
2006-10-13 11:10:07 · answer #6 · answered by Never say Never 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋