This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Portuguese to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

"a necessidade o havia ensinado algo"

English translation: Necessity is the mother of invention

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:"a necessidade o havia ensinado algo"
English translation:Necessity is the mother of invention
Entered by: Marian Vieyra

21:11 Apr 15, 2021
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Literature
Portuguese term or phrase: "a necessidade o havia ensinado algo"
Hey! I am translating a book and, in this passage, the characters implies he learned to be more organized because he needed to do it since he had lost many stuffs. Anyway, I'm not sure if "need has taught him something" makes any sense, but I like how the author expressed her idea. Do you have any suggestion?
Aline Moura
United States
Local time: 16:27
Necessity is the mother of invention
Explanation:
This is common English proverb that reflects the sense of your phrase. You may be able to fit into your sentence.
Selected response from:

Marian Vieyra
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:27
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5because necessity had taught him something
Barbara Cochran, MFA
3 +4Necessity is the mother of invention
Marian Vieyra
5His needs have taught him something.
Ramom Nério
4Needs must when the devil drives
Nick Taylor
3poverty/urgency/urge gave him a lesson
Felipe Tomasi


Discussion entries: 10





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
because necessity had taught him something


Explanation:
Had taught him that it was necessary to become more organized, for whatever reason or reasons.

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 16:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Katarina Peters
13 mins
  -> Thanks, Katarina.
agree  Leonardo Faria
1 hr
  -> Obrigada, Leonardo.
agree  Lara Barnett
18 hrs
  -> Thanks, Lara.
agree  Verginia Ophof
18 hrs
  -> Thank you, Verginia.
agree  Liane Lazoski
22 hrs
  -> Thansk, Liane.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
poverty/urgency/urge gave him a lesson


Explanation:
Opções.

Felipe Tomasi
Brazil
Local time: 17:27
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Needs must when the devil drives


Explanation:
Needs must when the devil drives

Nick Taylor
Local time: 21:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 98
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Necessity is the mother of invention


Explanation:
This is common English proverb that reflects the sense of your phrase. You may be able to fit into your sentence.


    https://grammarist.com/phrase/necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention/
Marian Vieyra
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Adrian MM.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Adrian.
agree  Mark Robertson: "Necessity being the mother of invention" might be better.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Mark. Agree, the gerund would be a better fit.
neutral  Lara Barnett: This is a great idea, but until we see more context (surrounding text), we are not to know how well it will fit into the context.
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Lara.
agree  Julia Caldana
13 hrs
  -> Thanks, Julia.
agree  Bett: agree
15 hrs
  -> Thanks, Bett.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

25 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
His needs have taught him something.


Explanation:
Suas necessidades o ensinaram algo.
Poderia ser também "his needs ended up teaching him something". (suas necessidades acabaram lhe ensinando/acabaram por lhe ensinar algo)
Isso, é claro, dependendo do estilo/nível de formalidade do livro em questão.

Ramom Nério
Brazil
Local time: 17:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search