How would you render the proverb “The acorn falls not far from the tree”?
I Googled just “acorn” and came up with at least a half-dozen possibilities. I have no idea which is most appropriate.
Do you want to translate the sentence, or the proverb (= find a Latin proverb with equivalent meaning). I found Vertit eo caudam, qua decidit arbore, malum. I’m not sure about this one’s literal meaning—the apple which falls from the tree turns from its tail? Anyway, from here, though there’s a typo in their Latin (they’re missing the first T).
I’ve heard the proverb both ways, but I’d prefer to use my version since it’s for a motto on a coat of arms with acorns.
I’d also like a more literal and concise translation.
The acorn falls not far from the tree:
Glāns nōn procul ab arbore cadit.
Glāns circiter arborem cadit.
The first is, literally, “The acorn not far away from the tree falls,” while the second is “the acorn near the tree falls,” but is more succinct. Someone with better Latin than mine may be along to correct.
(And I think the other one I quoted is “The apple turns its tail from the tree from which it has fallen,” which if correct is the opposite meaning from what you want, anyway. It’s the “eō. . . quā arbore” that’s confusing me in the translation.)
Thank you.
I’m wondering if “turns its tail” could in this context mean “takes its lead (direction, orientation)” from the tree.
For the proverbial meaning, how about Ut pater ut filius - As the father so the son?
However, since you want to literally include acorns, how about Glans pater glans filius?
Blech. I forgot to use the genitive case. That latter should be Glans patri glans filii.
I don’t think that makes much sense: “The father’s acorn [is] the son’s acorn” sounds more like it’s about inheritance. *Ut quercus ut glāns *might work: “As the oak, so the acorn.” Or “like oak, like acorn” if you prefer.
Not qualified to speak about Latin, but. . .
That seems to be a less common, though still well known, rendering of the concept.
I found 87K hits on Gooogle with ‘acorn,’ 3 million with ‘leaf,’ and 39 million with ‘apple.’
FWIW.
I like this.
I think this is good!
I like it too. It meets all of the above requirements. Well done!