Monday, February 6, 2012

I need a Latin translation of the phrase "Love cannot be sold or bought."?

Would someone please be able to translate this for me into Latin? Preferably a student or teacher of the language, as I don't trust machine translations at all.I need a Latin translation of the phrase "Love cannot be sold or bought."?
Amorem neve vendere neve emere potest.I need a Latin translation of the phrase "Love cannot be sold or bought."?
amor nec vendi nec emi potest



or



amor aut vendi aut emi nequit



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"amor": nominative form of "amor" = "love"; the nominative form makes it the subject of the sentence.



"vendi" and "emi": passive forms of "vendere" = "to sell", and "emere" = "to buy". Passive form is used because the subject, love, is *being* bought (or sold).



"potest": 3rd person singular present tense of "posse" = "to be able; can".



"nec...nec": this combination translates to "neither...nor", such that a literal rendition translates to: "love can neither be sold nor be bought.



"nequit": 3rd person singular present of "nequire" = "to be unable; cannot". Note that the second suggestion simply *inverts* the semantics (but not the sentiment) of the first; see following note.



"aut...aut": this translates to "either...or". A literal translation yields, "love cannot either be sold or be bought".

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