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FR/AMP
Nória
May 30, 2023 18:36
12 mos ago
43 viewers *
Portuguese term

só se for

Portuguese to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me understand this expression (full phrase is “…Só se for o fato de casamento do meu pai…”). The context is a fictional novel and the current chapter is describing the first day at a vocational college. The students are expected to dress formally, not necessarily in a suit or tie, but in something you might wear to a job interview. I've included the lines before and after the phrase for context.

"Para a maioria dos rapazes, a recomendação para usarem fato nos dias de Conferência, era algo que eles desconheciam.
“…Só se for o fato de casamento do meu pai…” pensava o caloiro franzino de cabelo em pé pelo excesso de gel, enquanto brilhava no rosto um sorriso sarcástico.
- … Estes dias são especiais … como futuros profissionais, devem ter outra apresentação diferente daquela que é o vosso dia - a - dia, em aulas… Reiterava a diretora, reforçando que a imagem era muito importante para atingir o sucesso."

Thank you!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 only if I wear my father's wedding suit
4 +2 unless
4 +1 only if it's
5 unless I wear my father's suit...?
4 Only with father's tuxedo, perhaps
4 ...Only if it is my father's wedding tuxedo...
4 In that case, It'll have to be
4 Sure... why don't I just wear my dad's wedding tuxedo then...
3 I can only use the wedding suit of my father.
3 maybe the suit my father got married in...
3 My dad's wedding suit will have to do then...

Discussion

Simone Taylor May 31, 2023:
Unless, I wear my father's suit, oh yeah, that's an idea, I will do that.
Simone Taylor May 31, 2023:
Só se = Suggestion!
Unless we... = Suggestion! What if we did this?
Simone Taylor May 31, 2023:
I will give you an example of a dialogue with the expression ''Só se'':
- Vamos ao cinema?
- Estou sem grana.
- Só se a gente for na praia então.
Simone Taylor May 31, 2023:
I think the issue here is not English but Portuguese. You misinterpreted the original. ''Só se'' is an expression that means I wonder if, a suggestion to myself, I just had this idea, it just occurred to me, it does not mean I can only do this or I will only wear. You misinterpreted the original and was rude to me for no reason. I am not trying to teach you English but it would do you good to have some lessons in Portuguese and manners.
Simone Taylor May 31, 2023:
I wonder if you have seen an episode of How I Met your Mother where Barney uses a dozen of ''unless'' in a row at the beginning of the sentence to introduce future scenarios and possibilities. Unless, of course, you don't watch that type of show.
jack_speak May 31, 2023:
Only v. Unless The kid said to himself: "I WILL only wear a suit if it's the suit my father wore at his wedding." (emphasis added)

If you want to use the word "unless," you would have to rewrite the phrase saying that the kid said to himself: "I will NOT wear a suit unless it's the one my father wore at his wedding." (emphasis added)

Proposed translations

+3
25 mins
Selected

only if I wear my father's wedding suit

My collab.
Peer comment(s):
agree Cauê Eduardo
33 mins
agree jack_speak
5 hrs
agree Érika Lima
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
12 mins

only if it's

...my father's wedding suit
Peer comment(s):
agree jack_speak
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
8 mins

I can only use the wedding suit of my father.

:)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2023-05-30 18:50:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In fact he didn't have any suit and was thinking what could be done
Peer comment(s):
neutral Oliver Simões : “Use” is inappropriate for this context. “Wear” is a better choice for pieces of garment!
1 day 13 hrs
Yes, thanks Oliver
Something went wrong...
+2
5 mins

unless

Unless I wear the...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2023-05-30 18:43:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The idea here is ''unless'' in the sense of just having an idea, something just occurred to me.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2023-05-30 18:58:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

From Cambridge Dictionary: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/unl...

In speaking, we use unless to introduce an extra thought or piece of information:

He didn’t even know about the crash – unless he’d heard about it on the radio.

A:
Oh look. Neil next door’s got a new car.

B:
Unless they’ve got a visitor.
Peer comment(s):
agree Paulo Melo
1 hr
Thank you, Paulo!
agree Mario Freitas :
3 hrs
Cheers, Mario!
disagree jack_speak : It doesn't fit in this context. Don't try to teach me English.
5 hrs
Hi, Jack, it's an informal way of introducing an idea or suggestion, especially if it is in your mind to yourself, so it actually fits perfectly in this situation. Check out the example from the Cambridge Dictionary above.
agree philgoddard : Yes it does.
11 hrs
Thank you, Phil.
Something went wrong...
25 mins

maybe the suit my father got married in...

maybe the suit my father got married in...
Something went wrong...
29 mins

My dad's wedding suit will have to do then...

Menos literal.
Something went wrong...
37 mins

Only with father's tuxedo, perhaps

I think it may be natural to just say "father's" instead of "my father's", but both are acceptable. "Tuxedo" is also more common than wedding suit, so overall, I think something close to the suggestion above should sound a little more natural.
Something went wrong...
8 hrs
Portuguese term (edited): “…Só se for o fato de casamento do meu pai…”

...Only if it is my father's wedding tuxedo...

'Only if' é uma expressão bastante utilizada na língua inglesa.
Example sentence:

Only if it's for you to leave, otherwise I won't do it.

Something went wrong...
15 hrs

In that case, It'll have to be

Taking a logical step
Something went wrong...
6 days

Sure... why don't I just wear my dad's wedding tuxedo then...

I believe the character's snarky smile is letting us know that he doesn't intend to wear any formal attire. So, for the reader to follow this line of reasoning, and because we are talking about a fictional novel, I would study the possibilities of a less literal translation, something like:

"Sure... why don't I just wear my dad's wedding tuxedo then..."
Something went wrong...
8 days

unless I wear my father's suit...?

This is the narrator reflecting on a new idea which comes into his mind---searching for solutions--and then he remembers, as a kind of hypothesis--what if I wear, or unless I wear my father's suit! He's reflecting on this as a choice.
Something went wrong...