I’ll copypaste this thing I wrote under another comment:
This is a bad translation because the English word “to come” has a double meaning (it also means ejaculation or having an orgasm), while in Latin it doesn’t. There’s a big risk of a misunderstanding, so “I arrived” is a much better translation IMO.
Has nothing to do with being “better” or not. “Veni, vidi, vici” is very commonly translated to “I came, I saw, I conquered”. While you’re correct that is not accurate in translation, it’s irrelevant to the colloquial saying and translation.
So again, it’s a very simple and likely easily understood meaning for which translation is meant.
I wouldn’t call it “understanding” if you assume a meaning to a word that doesn’t have that meaning.
It’s funny in the same way as native Americans saying “ugh”. If you’re ignorant, you laugh. If you aren’t, you facepalm. A joke that just makes its teller look like an ignorant idiot who is happy to trample other cultures is not a joke that should me made.
You’re not wrong, “I arrived” is the better translation, “I came” is just (to my knowledge) the more common one people recite in the context of “veni vidi vici” and what this joke was playing off of.
I’ll copypaste this thing I wrote under another comment:
This is a bad translation because the English word “to come” has a double meaning (it also means ejaculation or having an orgasm), while in Latin it doesn’t. There’s a big risk of a misunderstanding, so “I arrived” is a much better translation IMO.
Why do you think “I came” would be better? 🙃
Has nothing to do with being “better” or not. “Veni, vidi, vici” is very commonly translated to “I came, I saw, I conquered”. While you’re correct that is not accurate in translation, it’s irrelevant to the colloquial saying and translation.
So again, it’s a very simple and likely easily understood meaning for which translation is meant.
I wouldn’t call it “understanding” if you assume a meaning to a word that doesn’t have that meaning.
It’s funny in the same way as native Americans saying “ugh”. If you’re ignorant, you laugh. If you aren’t, you facepalm. A joke that just makes its teller look like an ignorant idiot who is happy to trample other cultures is not a joke that should me made.
You’re not wrong, “I arrived” is the better translation, “I came” is just (to my knowledge) the more common one people recite in the context of “veni vidi vici” and what this joke was playing off of.