Latin and Family Mottos

Re: Wake up and smell the coffee

Posted By: Cornelius
Date: Wednesday, 22 June 2005, at 12:50 p.m.

In Response To: Wake up and smell the coffee (Simon)

The phrase "Wake up and smell the coffee" would translate as something like:

Expergiscere et odorare fabam arabicam.
(lit. "wake up and smell the Arabic bean")

Coincidentally, both the verbs "to wake up" and "to smell"(transitive.) are deponentia, which accounts for the odd imperative forms.
There is an alternative and perhaps slightly more usual verb ('olfacere') meaning "to smell", but this would negate the symmetry of the abovementioned imperatives, considering that its respective form would be "olfice". Hence, I have not used it.

A few more alternatives should be mentioned. The word "et" can naturally be replaced by "ac" or "atque" (the nuances are irrelevant in this particular sentence) and, lastly, you might choose to replace the term "fabam arabicam" with the less metonymical "potionem arabicam", which means "the Arabic brew". Use of capital letters is possible, but arbitrary, since the Romans knew only capitals. A final alternative:

"EXPERGISCERE AC ODORARE POTIONEM ARABICAM"

Messages In This Thread

Wake up and smell the coffee
Simon -- Tuesday, 14 June 2005, at 10:17 p.m.

Re: Wake up and smell the coffee
Cornelius -- Wednesday, 22 June 2005, at 12:50 p.m.