# Translation into Latin help, please

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-into-latin-help-please/693509>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 19, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-into-latin-help-please/693509 "2014-07-19T04:03:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-into-latin-help-please/693509/1 "2014-07-19T04:03:06Z")

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I am trying to get a definitive translation of an English phrase into Latin. I have been trying with Google Translate. I put the English phrase in, and then try to translate the Latin phrase back into English to check it.

I have gotten three different phrases so far!

Here is what I want to say:

**You are the best thing that I have ever made.**

It’s for an important occasion. (son’s 21st birthday) Please help. Thank you!

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**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-into-latin-help-please/693509/2 "2014-07-19T05:42:28Z")

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> [@brujaja](#):
>
> You are the best thing that I have ever made.

For starters, how about:

_Tutemet optimus quem umquam fēcī es_.

Technically, for “best thing,” you’d want _optimum_, but I think if you’re talking to a man you should probably not use the neuter.

It sounds odd in Latin, though. Someone else will have a better suggestion.

Edit: _tutemet_ (emphatic form of _tū_) is grammatically unnecessary: I just thought it would give the sentence a little emotional heft. You might want to add a nice _Ō filī_ “O son” on the front, as well.

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-into-latin-help-please/693509/3 "2014-07-19T11:57:27Z")

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All I’ll say is that [you should not say this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=414213) if you have other children.