Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

ya que no cabía en el asombro

English translation:

he couldn't believe what he saw when he woke up

Added to glossary by Eileen Brophy
Dec 15, 2021 09:02
2 yrs ago
20 viewers *
Spanish term

ya que no cabía en el asombro

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Literature.
I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well. This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.


Here is the full paragraph for your review:

Cuando llegó al lugar en el que Alí Babá dormía, el ladrón se puso a rebuscar entre las montañas de oro algún saco para llevarse, y con el ruido Alí Babá se despertó.
Tuvo que restregarse varias veces los ojos ya que no cabía en el asombro al ver las grandes montañas de oro que allí se encontraban, no era gravilla lo que había estado pisando sino piezas de oro, rubíes, diamantes y otros tipos de piedras de gran valor.
Change log

Dec 20, 2021 23:10: Eileen Brophy Created KOG entry

Proposed translations

+2
2 hrs
Selected

he couldn't believe what he saw when he woke up

Another option

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Note added at 3 hrs (2021-12-15 12:02:19 GMT)
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He had to rub his eyes several times because when he woke up, he couldn't believe what was all around him (another way of saying what I have posted above)
Note from asker:
Thanks Mrs. Eileen.
Peer comment(s):

agree Simone Taylor : He could hardly believe could sound more dramatic.
1 hr
Thank you very much Simone
agree Marian Vieyra : Or - he could hardly believe his eyes
2 hrs
Thank you very much Marian
neutral philgoddard : They've already said he woke up.
4 hrs
Thank you for the comment Phil
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
46 mins

he looked around in awe

A possible translation for this sentence could be: He blinked his eyes several times and (then) looked around in awe,...
Note from asker:
Thanks a lot.
Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard
6 hrs
Thank you, Phil
Something went wrong...
+1
3 hrs
Spanish term (edited): ya que no cabía en el asombro

because he could not believe his astonishment ...

... rub his eyes several times because he could not believe his astonishment at seeing the great mountains of gold ...

The answer is already here is one of your previous questions:
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/poetry-literat...
Note from asker:
Thanks Miss Dalglish!
Peer comment(s):

agree Simone Taylor : He could hardly believe could sound more dramatic.
1 hr
Thank you. Yes, that would be a good choice.
neutral philgoddard : No, you're effectively saying he was astonished by his astonishment.
3 hrs
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/poetry-literat... answered in a previous question. Effectively? I did not say he was astonished by his own astonishment.
Something went wrong...
7 hrs

since he could hardly believe the astounding view...

...of the huge mounds of gold
Note from asker:
Thanks Miss Peters.
Something went wrong...
1 day 14 hrs

because he could not believe his eyes when he saw...

If you cannot believe your eyes you are placing emphasis on the fact that you are extremely surprised or angry about something you have seen or heard.
Note from asker:
Muchas gracias po vuestra ayuda Carla.
por vuestra ayuda. Perdon.
Something went wrong...
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