Honi soit qui mal y pense

Gregory B.Kwiziq community member

Honi soit qui mal y pense

Laura Lawless' translation of this Anglo-Norman maxim ("Honi soit qui mal y pense") from about.com, cited on the relevant Wikipedia page, is, "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it" or, more usually, "Shame on anyone who thinks evil of it". 

How might one say in Anglo-Norman, "Shame on anyone who thinks no evil of it"? Add "ne" after "mal", perhaps?  

Asked 1 year ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Gregory, 

I haven't been able to get an answer from Laura so it would be best if you contact her directly via her own website -

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/expressions/honi-soit-qui-mal-y-pense/

 

If I hear in the meantime, will let you know.

This is how Collins translates it -

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/honi-soit-qui-mal-y-pense

 

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Gregory, 

Can you let us know which page you are referring to as this is too vague.

Gregory B.Kwiziq community member

Sure thing. The Wikipedia page is en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honi_soit_qui_mal_y_pense, and the very first reference links to an about.com page archived in 2015, in which Ms Lawless translates the expression, web.archive.org/web/20150722174009/http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/honi-soit-qui-mal-y-pense.htm . Thank you.

LauraNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Bonjour Gregory, as far as I know, no one here speaks Anglo Norman, so we can't answer that question. But as a guess, I'd say you're right: Honi soit qui mal n'y pense.

Btw, as you can see my old work is archived and has been inaccessible since I left in 2014. Please visit my new site instead: https://www.lawlessfrench.com

Honi soit qui mal y pense

Laura Lawless' translation of this Anglo-Norman maxim ("Honi soit qui mal y pense") from about.com, cited on the relevant Wikipedia page, is, "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it" or, more usually, "Shame on anyone who thinks evil of it". 

How might one say in Anglo-Norman, "Shame on anyone who thinks no evil of it"? Add "ne" after "mal", perhaps?  

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