Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Etat Civil
English translation:
Vital Records Office
Added to glossary by
Salima Post
Oct 4, 2007 17:35
16 yrs ago
43 viewers *
French term
United States
Translation – A matter for an expert.
Native in: French (Variants: Belgian, Cameroon, Canadian, African, Standard-France, Swiss, Moroccan)
Works in: English to French
Etat Civil
French to English
Other
Other
This is part of a birth certificate. It is below the name of the city hall.
Do you leave in French or do you translate it in US English as Public Records Office?
In this website, http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/en/default.html , etat civil was not translated.
Do you leave in French or do you translate it in US English as Public Records Office?
In this website, http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/en/default.html , etat civil was not translated.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 | Vital Records Office |
Lynda Tharratt
|
| 5 +2 | Public Records Office |
laenai
|
Proposed translations
4 hrs
Lynda Tharratt
Native in English
Accurate and Reliable
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
Vital Records Office
These all fall under the category of vital records;
Birth Certificate, Death Record, Marriage License and other Vital ...Birth Record, Certificate, Death Records, Marriage License, Divorce Decree and more... Information about where to obtain vital records from each state, ...
www.vitalrec.com/ - 27k - Cached - Similar pages
Birth - www.vitalrec.com/birthcertificates/
California - www.vitalrec.com/ca.html
New York - www.vitalrec.com/ny.html
Death - www.vitalrec.com/deathrecord/
More results from www.vitalrec.com »
I usually use the translation "Vital Records Office" rather than Public Records.
Just my two cents...and yes, it should be translated.
Birth Certificate, Death Record, Marriage License and other Vital ...Birth Record, Certificate, Death Records, Marriage License, Divorce Decree and more... Information about where to obtain vital records from each state, ...
www.vitalrec.com/ - 27k - Cached - Similar pages
Birth - www.vitalrec.com/birthcertificates/
California - www.vitalrec.com/ca.html
New York - www.vitalrec.com/ny.html
Death - www.vitalrec.com/deathrecord/
More results from www.vitalrec.com »
I usually use the translation "Vital Records Office" rather than Public Records.
Just my two cents...and yes, it should be translated.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you"
+2
1 hr
Public Records Office
I always translate this by 'Registry Office' but that is UK English - if you are looking for US English then that would be 'Public Records Office' as you say :)
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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-10-04 21:19:17 GMT)
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yes - I would translate it :)
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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-10-04 21:19:17 GMT)
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yes - I would translate it :)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jennifer Levey
3 mins
|
| agree |
liz askew
2 hrs
|
| neutral |
Michael H G (X)
: Il me semble que Public Records Office veut dire 'Les Archives Nationales' et ce n'est pas aux Archives Nationales où l'on se rend pour enregistrer les naissances.
11 hrs
|
|
It does in the UK where we call this place a 'registry office' but answer quoted is US English
|
Discussion
I believe either one would be fine. It is indicating where the certificate is coming from, so, it is issued by the Vital Records Office, etc. etc. or just Vital Records.
You are all right depending on where you are. In my case, this document birth certificate in written in French (because it was registered in Ivory Coast) and will be used in the USA. In the USA, it looks like that they use more the translation that Lynda provided which is "Vital Records Office". My new question is: should I add the word "office" on the birth certificate as well or just "Vital Records"? Obviously, it is the not place where I need to go and get the birth certificate. It is written of it with then the names of the baby who was just born. Thanks for your help.
See below the French version:
REPUBLIQUE DE COTE D'IVOIRE
______
VILLE D'ABIDJAN
______
MAIRIE DE MARCORY
(blason)
ETAT CIVIL
..............................................
Nº 123456 du Registre
NAISSANCE DE
Pierre Andre Lapin/
REPUBLIC OF IVORY COAST ______
CITY OF ABIDJAN
______
CITY HALL OF MARCORY
(coat of arms picture)
ETAT CIVIL
..............................................
Nº of the Register
BIRTH OF
Do you still translate it as Public Records Office, or leave it in French? How can you translate in that instance? Thanks.