Hi there,
I need the following phrase translated into latin.

  "Always loyal to my true love"

I already know that always is "Semper", loyal and true are both
"Fidelis" and love is "Amor".
The translation that I worked out myself is:
  
  "Semper Fidelis Tenus Meus Fidelis Amor"

I want to make sure this is correct in grammar and translation.
A couple of options with explanations would be appreciated!

  Thanks

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Clarification of Question by agough-ga on 22 May 2006 18:09 PDT

Just to clarify, I know the grammar of my translation is wrong and I
am also sure that "Tenus" is the wrong word.

Dear agough-ga;

Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. Here
are some versions that I think fit your requirements nicely:

?Semper Fidelis tibi, amator?
?Always faithful to you my love? [lover]

Alternatively, for your consideration perhaps...

?Semper Fidelis, Semper Amemus?
?Forever faithful, forever in love?

?Amore fidelis?
?Faithful in love?

"Quos amor verus tenuit, tenebit"
?Those whom true love has held, it will go on holding?

?Ubi amor ibi fides? 
?Where there is love, there is faith?



I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher



INFORMATION SOURCES

TRAVLANG
http://dictionaries.travlang.com/LatinEnglish/dict.cgi?query=amator&max=50

LATIN QUOTATIONS
http://www.copywritersworld.co.uk/latin.htm

HERALDRY AND CRESTS
http://www.heraldryandcrests.com/Mottos.htm

SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

Latin

Dictionary

Love

Faithful

Lover

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Request for Answer Clarification by agough-ga on 23 May 2006 21:21 PDT

Hi tutuzdad-ga!

I was hoping to retain the format that uses fidelis twice as it going
to be a tattoo and that allows it to keep it's symmetry.
I was also hoping for a pretty much direct translation of:
  
  "Always loyal to my true love"

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 24 May 2006 06:37 PDT

Dear agough-ga;

I believe this translation is as close as you will get to the context
of your original phrase:

?Semper Fidelis tibi, amator?
?Always faithful to you my love? [lover]

The dynamics of latin quite frequently prohibit a word-for-word
literal translation from American English to Latin. I fear that if you
insist on using the fidelis-fidelis "format", as you called it, the
phrase will lose it's meaning. Otherwise I would simply have confirmed
that what you already had as sufficient enough. While there may be
other ways to express this sentiment Latin I believe the one I
provided is the most accurate. Please allow for some additional time
while I consult someone more knowledgeable just to be certain. I will
get back to you.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 24 May 2006 09:20 PDT

Update:  I have sent a number of emails to highly regarded authorities
on the subject. I expect something back soon (fingers crossed). I will
get back to you as soon as I learn more.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 24 May 2006 14:40 PDT

I havent forgotten you. I've gotten a good response and one source in
particular is working on the phrase and is consulting some text. I
should have something for you tomorrow which may include the dual
"fidelis" phrase you requested.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by agough-ga on 24 May 2006 16:28 PDT

Hi tutuzdad-ga,
  Thanks for your efforts, it is greatly appreciated.
  Sorry to be a pain, I just want to make sure it's perfect as once
it's done there's no going back!

Best Regards,
  Aaron Gough

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 24 May 2006 17:18 PDT

I certainly understand that and I want it to be right as well. I've
been in contact with a variety of University Professors around the US
who are well versed in Classical Studies and Latin language. I've
gotten two responses back but one of them was on the fly and the
Professor asked me to be patient until tomorrow when he can verify his
work. I should know something in the morning.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 25 May 2006 07:06 PDT

Ok?Here?s the verdict. I?ve been in contact with a number of
Professors who are leading instructors or department directors at Duke
University, the University of Iowa and Vanderbilt. Keep in mind that
because of the nature of Latin language construction there are many
ways to convey virtually any given phrase. This answer should provide
you with enough information to make your own selection as to which
phrase best suits your purposes depending on whether the ?beloved? is
male, female or neutral (in general) and the context of the phrase
(i.e. love for love?s sake, love for passion sake, love for lust?s
sake, etc.):

GENDER NON-SPECIFIC: 
Semper fidelis fidelibus amoribus.
Semper fidelis fidelibus deliciis.

ASSUMING THE BELOVED IS FEMININE:
Semper fidelis fideli amatae. (Most applicable phrase) 
Semper fidelis fideli amicae.
Semper fidelis fideli puellae.

ASSUMING THE BELOVED IS MASCULINE:
Semper fidelis fideli amato. (Most applicable phrase)
Semper fidelis fideli amico.
Semper fidelis fideli puero. 

OTHER SUGGESTED VARIATIONS ARE:

ASSUMING THE BELOVED IS FEMININE:
fideli amatae meae semper fidelis ? (always faithful to my faithful beloved) 

ASSUMING THE BELOVED IS MASCULINE:
fideli amatori meo semper fidelis (always faithful to my faithful lover)

STILL OTHERS:

ASSUMING THE BELOVED IS FEMININE:
Semper fidelis puellae fideli

ASSUMING THE BELOVED IS MASCULINE:
Semper fidelis puero fideli

AMBIGUOUS, SOMEWHAT CHASTE, DIRECTED TO A GENDER NON-SPECIFIC BELOVED
Semper fidelis amori vero 

OVERTONES OF LUST, DIRECTED TO A GENDER NON-SPECIFIC BELOVED
Semper fidelis amoribus [or "deliciis"] fidelibus

So, as it turns out it was a very good idea to consult someone more
knowledgeable than myself. You now have at your disposal a variety of
choices, each of which were painstakingly constructed and deemed
accurate in both translation and context by leading authorities in
this field of study. I?d like to extent my gratitude and special
thanks to the wonderful geniuses at the following universities who
generously aided me in this research:

DUKE UNIVERSITY
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
http://www.uiowa.edu/

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/


Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by agough-ga on 25 May 2006 17:13 PDT

Tutuzdad-ga:
Thank you very much for the extra effort you went to!
Some of those phrases look like they should be perfect, just a matter
of choosing one now.
Greatly appreciated mate!

Cheers,
agough-ga

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 25 May 2006 17:50 PDT

You betcha! Thanks a bunch for the generous tip!

Dad

Excellent work!

I think a possible translation might be
 "Semper fidelis ero mei veri amori" 
That, literally, would mean "I will always be loyal to my true love"
but i think is fine. Else you can say "Semper fidelis mei veri amori"
but i think the first is more correct.
Anyway i'm not a researcher so i don't think i can be paid...
Bye
sergio

Alanna-ga is probably consulting her Latin professor.

I expect that Sergio's suggestions need adjustment if the loved one is female.

Thanks sergiodf-ga!
That translation looks quite nice!
Am I correct in thinking that "ero mei" means "to my"?
As I said above I was hoping to use the word "fidelis" twice as it has
a nice broad meaning: faithful/loyal/true which I like and which
reflects our feelings.

Myoarin-ga:
Thanks for the heads-up, it would be interesting if I was referring to
my girlfriend with a masculine pronoun! Do you know what needs to be
changed?

By the way:
The translation need not include "I", as in "I will always", because
the "I" is kind of implied given that I am getting it permanently
tattooed on myself! :p

  Thanks for your help guys!
  Greatly appreciated!

I like Tutuzdad's clarification, but believe that if the loved one is
female, "amator" should be the feminine form "amatrix" in the same
case as "tibi,"
perhaps "amatrici" (?)