Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Finnish term or phrase:
kipunapoika
English translation:
errand boy
Added to glossary by
Owen Witesman
Feb 11, 2011 00:51
13 yrs ago
Finnish term
Real English // Oikea englanti
Native in: English
Works in: Finnish to English, Estonian to English, English, and 1 more.
kipunapoika
Finnish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Sounds like kipinäpoika to everyone I ask, but that doesn't help much either. Had someone check Virittäjä, but haven't been able to look myself. This is from ch 2 of Rautatie:
Oli olevinaan pieni poikanen, semmoinen kuin oli ennen kipunapoikana ollessaan ollut pappilassa entisen rovasti vainajan aikana.
Oli olevinaan pieni poikanen, semmoinen kuin oli ennen kipunapoikana ollessaan ollut pappilassa entisen rovasti vainajan aikana.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +1 | errand boy |
Outi Pollari
|
| 2 | fireboy |
Jonna Elomaa (X)
|
Proposed translations
+1
7 hrs
Outi Pollari
Finland
Finland
Native in Finnish
Finland
Quality translations are my aspiration
Native in: Finnish 
Works in: Russian to Finnish, Finnish to Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
errand boy
The Nykysuomen sanakirja explains kipunapoika as 'asiapoika'. So, the 'kipuna' here doesn't seem to refer to the actual fire sparks as in 'kipinämikko', which is the name for the person, responsible for guarding and keeping up the fire in the fireplace or stove, but to the supposed speed and diversity of his errands. Asiapoika may have several translations with varying stylistic nuances. Thus it can be translated as an errand boy, messanger boy, gofer (gopher), dogsbody or just a runner.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2011-02-11 08:38:26 GMT)
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The Nykysuomen sanakirja has marked this word entry with specification "kans. harv.", which is certainly correct. The dictionary gives that very sentence from "Rautatie" as a literary example. The word is definitely not in modern usage and I think it would sound appropriate only in context of 19th century or early 20th century Finland.
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Note added at 7 hrs (2011-02-11 08:38:26 GMT)
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The Nykysuomen sanakirja has marked this word entry with specification "kans. harv.", which is certainly correct. The dictionary gives that very sentence from "Rautatie" as a literary example. The word is definitely not in modern usage and I think it would sound appropriate only in context of 19th century or early 20th century Finland.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jonna Elomaa (X)
4 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
7 hrs
fireboy
Kipuna is indeed another word for kipinä according to the Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish. Would something quite self-explanatory and transparent like a fireboy do here?
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Note added at 11 hrs (2011-02-11 12:42:23 GMT)
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Please note this answer was based only on the first word of the compound.
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Note added at 11 hrs (2011-02-11 12:42:23 GMT)
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Please note this answer was based only on the first word of the compound.
Reference:
http://english-center.dk/Files/Billeder/PDF/pdflongman/PenguinReaders%20Easystart/AK-Fireboy.pdf
Discussion