# French translation for tattoo- help **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2015, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045 "2015-08-27T10:52:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ellcieb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ellcieb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellcieb)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045/1 "2015-08-27T10:52:17Z")
Hi ! I need help with a tattoo phrase. I have this translation, courtesy of google translate, " Om et Salutations a Ganesha Dieu du renouveau" The meaning behind it is that Ganesh is the God of new beginnings and the remover of obstacles both seen and unseen. He is evoked before undertaking any new task. The mantra is used to clear your path or when embarking on a new stage in life. My priorities are that I include spiritual-sounding words, and that the translation be accurate. I’m not attached to those specific words, but rather, the idea behind them. Thanks so much for your help everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045/2 "2015-08-27T12:49:41Z")
First rule of translation : you need to give us the English phrase you want translated, boss 😉 ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045/3 "2015-08-27T14:19:14Z")
Your phrase means “Om and greetings from Ganesh, God of Renewal”. Is that what you are trying for? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045/4 "2015-08-27T16:45:46Z")
Tattoo in French is “tatouage,” which becomes redundant if the tat is of Audrey Tatou. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045/5 "2015-08-27T17:04:22Z")
> [@ellcieb](#): > > Hi ! > I need help with a tattoo phrase. > I have this translation, courtesy of google translate, " Om et Salutations a Ganesha Dieu du renouveau" > > The meaning behind it is that Ganesh is the God of new beginnings and the remover of obstacles both seen and unseen. He is evoked before undertaking any new task. > The mantra is used to clear your path or when embarking on a new stage in life. > > My priorities are that I include spiritual-sounding words, and that the translation be accurate. I’m not attached to those specific words, but rather, the idea behind them. > > Thanks so much for your help everyone! > [@Kobal2](#): > > First rule of translation : you need to give us the English phrase you want translated, boss 😉 I’m guessing the underlined part is what he wants translated. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045/6 "2015-08-27T17:38:17Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Tattoo in French is “tatouage,” which becomes redundant if the tat is of Audrey Tatou. And where did Tattoo get it? Illinois. “Des Plaines! Des Plaines!” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045/7 "2015-08-27T19:42:38Z")
I find French prepositions difficult, so I can’t definitively say whether “de” works better here, but I can say that you probably want “à” here, not “a”. > [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Tattoo in French is “tatouage,” which becomes redundant if the tat is of Audrey Tatou. [Tatoué! Jérémie!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jbXLo1GCY) > [@Ethilrist](#): > > And where did Tattoo get it? Illinois. “Des Plaines! Des Plaines!” Groan. Get. Out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-translation-for-tattoo-help/729045/8 "2015-08-28T00:44:40Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Your phrase means “Om and greetings from Ganesh, God of Renewal”. Is that what you are trying for? “. . . Greetings _ **to** _ Ganesh . . .”, surely?