"Please take off your shoes" in... well, lots of languages

[schnuffichen]

Hey linguaphiles

Comments

[stellarichards6]

Si prega di togliersi le scarpe = in Italian.

[schnuffichen]

Thank you! :)

[ninchia]

That is more formal, the singular imperative, informal would be:
Togliti le scarpe!

[schnuffichen]

Ooh okay, that's good to know! And fascinating to figure out the syntax behind the two different phrases. Thanks! :)

[ninchia]

Dutch: Doe je schoenen uit, alsjeblieft.

[schnuffichen]

Dankjewel! :)

[lacunaz]

You could also say "Veuille enlever tes chaussures".

[schnuffichen]

Thank you! :)

[cafecomics]

Formal alternatives :

Veuillez enlever vos chaussures
Veuillez vous déchausser

(also "veuille enlever tes chaussures" sounds wrong wrong wrong to this (almost) native speaker. I much prefer "enlève tes chaussures, s'il te plaît".)

[teacoat]

Japanese: 靴を脱いでください is pretty neutral, but more towards the polite side. 靴を脱いでね is more informal, but to my ears sounds more like something you'd say to a kid.

[schnuffichen]

Ah okay, thanks! Yeah, I struggle with even deciding for German (my own native language) - there is something that seems somewhat formal but the informal options seems slightly patronizing/directed to a child.

[pne]

I probably would have gone with "Bitte die Schuhe ausziehen!" with no overt subject.

"Bitte ziehen Sie die/Ihre Schuhe aus" / "Bitte zieht eure Schuhe aus" / "Bitte zieh deine Schuhe aus" sounds a bit odd to me for a sign. (Though fine for something said directly to someone.)

I guess I'm not used to signs addressing me directly.

[schnuffichen]

Yeah, I went with "Bitte Schuhe ausziehen" - though I was pondering to use the determiner there. I'm still not sure which version I like better.

But I totally agree, somehow the imperative isn't really used for signs. Possibly to the surprise of many non-German speakers, given our reputation with rules and such. ;)

[muckefuck]

Irish: Bain na bróga díot, le do thoil. (Lit. "Take the shoes from-you, with your will.")

[schnuffichen]

Oooh yay, thank you! I thought it'd be harder to get one of the more "exotic" ones of the bunch. Also, thanks for the gloss - I should have a look at Irish, it seems so much fun!

[muckefuck]

Speaking of which, which variety of Frisian did you want? I know someone who's competent in three different dialects.

[schnuffichen]

Hmmm... I didn't even know there were that many dialects, how fascinating!
The Frisian girl was born and raised in Giekerk (and lived for a while in Leeuwarden)... does that help?