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fonction d'estime

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

à la même fréquence.

English translation:

(wash them) with the same frequency / whenever you wash one, you should wash the other

Added to glossary by kironne
Feb 28, 2007 22:06
17 yrs ago
French term

à la même fréquence.

French to English Other Textiles / Clothing / Fashion
La matière est très fragile. L'adoucissant est interdit. Si le client achète le haut et le bas, il est conseillé de les laver à la même fréquence.

Is this refering to settings on a washing machine? Or frequency of washing??? Or something else?!
Proposed translations (English)
5 +6 (wash them) with the same frequency / whenever you wash one, you should was the other
3 +3 always wash together
4 +1 both at the same frequency
4 +1 at the same washing machine cycle
4 +1 at the same time
3 +1 At the same frequency
4 equally often
4 at the same temperature

Proposed translations

+6
22 mins
Selected

(wash them) with the same frequency / whenever you wash one, you should was the other



Hi MSH,

They are saying these pieces are so delicate, that whenever you wash one piece, you should wash the other, so that as a result, there is no difference in colour, brightness, or even texture of the fabric. In fact, you can't even use softener on them.

Hope this helps!
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M
6 mins
Merci, Tony M
agree Natasha Dupuy
52 mins
Merci, Natasha
agree Gabrielle Bannard
4 hrs
Merci, AWOE
agree Assimina Vavoula
7 hrs
Merci, Assimina
neutral CMJ_Trans (X) : just a thought - doesn't it mean rather: as often as each other, rather than actually together or at the same time ? there is a nuance there
9 hrs
that's what "same frequency" conveys, no need to split hairs, thanks
neutral Marc Glinert : most certainly with you CMJ - say one article is dark and the other light you would not wash them together but they could still be a set
10 hrs
this is precisely why I'm not suggesting to wash them together, no need to split hairs, thanks
agree cmwilliams (X) : yes, this is the idea, and as far as I can see, you aren't actually saying they should be washed together.
12 hrs
Yup., thanks
agree MatthewLaSon : Yes, "at the same time" as you suggest in second translation. English can express the idea of same frequency by saying "at the same time", even if the latter's face-value meaning is less important than its underlying one (same frequency).
1 day 2 hrs
EXACTLY! Thank you!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks!!! :o)"
+1
7 mins

both at the same frequency

wash both pieces at the same frequency

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Note added at 8 mins (2007-02-28 22:15:23 GMT)
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or 'with' the same frequency
Peer comment(s):
agree Simon Charass
12 mins
thanks Simon
neutral Gabrielle Bannard : more like "with the same frequency"
4 hrs
as I mentioned in my note...thanks for the feedback
neutral B D Finch : With equal frequency - though I think Melzie's answer, even though not a literal translation, may be best.
14 hrs
I'm not sure I agree with 'equal frequency' but thanks for the feedback
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+3
7 hrs

always wash together

*
Peer comment(s):
agree Claire Chapman : http://www.uniquebatik.com/customer_service/clothingcare.htm
42 mins
neutral CMJ_Trans (X) : same doubt as above
2 hrs
neutral Marc Glinert : if this is what is meant, than this is what the source text would say
3 hrs
agree cjohnstone : simplest! no frequency here, interval if need be! but your idea is best provided same colour
3 hrs
agree B D Finch : Yes, this is what one sees written on wash labels and it is admirably concise.
7 hrs
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+1
12 hrs

At the same frequency

I also think it means wash them both the same amount of times.
Peer comment(s):
neutral writeaway : don't think this is it and this answer looks very similar to the very first one posted
1 hr
agree MatthewLaSon : You definitely have the right meaning. I'd say "at the same time" or "the same number of times." Literally it means, "the same number of times", but as I've posted in my answer, "at the same time" is fine as well.
14 hrs
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17 hrs

equally often

I think the purchaser would need to wash the two parts equally often.

I'm with ICETRANCE - the word frequency doesn't sound right.
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+1
19 hrs

at the same washing machine cycle

this could translate as long or short, hot or cold cycle
Peer comment(s):
agree Jacqui Audouy : I think that's where we were going with temperature - see my response to Marc G
17 mins
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+1
7 hrs

at the same time

Hello,

When you wash one, you should wash the other one.

I don't like "frequency" in English in this context. It sounds awkward.

My translation:

It is recommended that you wash them at the same time.

Make it simple and clear.

I hope this helps.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2007-03-02 00:40:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

CMJ_Trans has raised an interesting point. But, the bigger question here: How does English naturally express this idea.

It is unlikely that we'd say: It is recommended that they are both washed at the same frequency (perfectly understandable in English)

"À la même fréquence" literally means "wash both articles of clothing at the same time." That should please Marc Glinert and CMJ_Trans. LOL.

Full Translation:

It is recommended that that both pieces (of clothing) be washed the same number of times.

That would suit the best translation semantically, but, that doesn't make "wash at the same time" an inaccurate one. Why? Because English can express the idea of same frequency by saying "at the same time", even if the latter's face-value meaning is less important than its underlying one (same frequency).

I don't have a preference between the two translations I've given. But, I will agree that "wash the same number of times" is literally what the French is saying. However, one could easily justify using "at the same time."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2007-03-02 00:46:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I made two typos above. Please disregard them.

Corrections:

"À la même fréquence" literally means "wash both articles of clothing THE SAME NUMBER OF TIMES." That should please Marc Glinert and CMJ_Trans. LOL.

That would be the BEST translation semantically....


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Note added at 1 day3 hrs (2007-03-02 01:07:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

but, because language only exists in context, we have other options to compensate for this non-contextual semantic inaccuracy This context allows us to say "at the same time", even if it's not the exact meaning. The underlying meaning is what's important. English washing instructions can easily use this to mean "at the same frequency." I've never seen "at the same frequency" as far as washing instructions are concerned in English.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Marc Glinert : simple clear and accurate ICETRANCE. Refer kindly to comments from CMJ and myself on the other replies
2 hrs
Whether or not they are washed exactly at the same time is not the point. The idea is that they are to be washed at the same frequency. The bigger question: How does English normally express this? "At the same time" does not imply "to be washed together"
agree cmwilliams (X) : This could also work. At the same time doesn't necessarily mean together.
4 hrs
Thanks, cmwilliams. You're absolutely right.
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10 hrs

at the same temperature

My initial reaction, having beena member of a French family for 30 years, was that it reffered to temperature, but the other answers made me doubt, so I asked some French friends and their immediate reaction was the same as mine. Although I can of course see the logic of the other answers

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Note added at 3 days15 hrs (2007-03-04 13:45:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Next lot of French people I asked(my life is sooo boring!) were of divided opinion, and completely stymied by use of 'fréquence' in the text anyway, thought it must have been translated from Chinese! So I give up with gallic shrug of shoulders!
Peer comment(s):
neutral Marc Glinert : How on earth do they (and you) get to temperature from fréquence?
5 hrs
Faux-amis???? I've since asked other French people, who are all in agreement that it definitely isn't frequency in the sense the others have understood it (NB all native ENGLISH not French speakers)...another possible suggestion was 'cycle'.
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