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In episode 5 of the anime Hellsing Ultimate, the leader of the best organisation in the world in slaying vampires is surrounded by vampires 🧛‍♂️. She isn’t nervous one bit. She then gives her right-hand man, her butler named Walter, the command “ Walter, to work.” Walter then kills all the vampires surrounding her.

I very much would like to know how to say the command “..., to work.” in French. Does anybody know? enter image description here

I first thought that “Walter, to work.” is short for “Walter, off to work.”. But I don’t think this is true because I feel like the command “Walter, to work.“ is formal whereas the command “Walter, off to work” is not. I feel that this is true because the sentence “I’m off to work.” isn’t formal at all.

Lol so again 😅, how do I say the formal command “Walter, to work.” in French?

Thank you for your help! 😊

Side notes:

(1) Her family is and has been extremely rich for generations.

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  • Would you say she means "Get to work" in this context?
    – livresque
    Nov 5, 2020 at 3:33
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    You could simply say "Au travail !" or "Au boulot !" but I fear I'm answering in a comment now :/ It's maybe not the register you're looking for.
    – livresque
    Nov 5, 2020 at 3:43
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    @livresque I saw your comment after having answered. I thought about au boulot and not au travail like you. I modified my answered and I included au travail as well. If you want you can transform your comment into an answer and I will erase mine. It's up to you:-)!
    – Dimitris
    Nov 5, 2020 at 10:12
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    @livresque Thank you so much for your answer! 😊
    – SFR
    Nov 5, 2020 at 23:36
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    @Dimitris Ce n'est pas grave mais d'accord, c'est bien gentil.
    – livresque
    Nov 5, 2020 at 23:38

3 Answers 3

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No native speaker. Just my two cents:

Walter, au boulot ! Au boulot, Walter !

or even better (following user @jlliagre suggestion)

Walter, au travail ! Au travail, Walter !

(see the comments of users @livresque and @jlliagre).

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  • You should also add Livresque's Au travail ! which would be my preferred choice.
    – jlliagre
    Nov 5, 2020 at 10:07
  • @jlliagre Thanks. I saw livresque's comment after having given my answer.
    – Dimitris
    Nov 5, 2020 at 10:10
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As I mentioned in a comment and then neglected, you can simply say:

« Walter, au travail ! »

« Walter, au boulot ! »

Au travail is probably the more formal, but not by much. Both would work.

Thanks to @Dimitris and the community for the nudge.

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  • Out of your two constructions and LPH’s 3 constructions, which is the most formal? Or are all 5 as formal as each other?
    – SFR
    Nov 5, 2020 at 23:57
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    There isn't much more to add; I agree with the other comments. Boulot is a little more colloquial than travail, but it seems like tone and keeping it short are what convey the most meaning here.
    – livresque
    Nov 6, 2020 at 0:21
  • Thank you for your help! 😊
    – SFR
    Nov 6, 2020 at 21:08
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Here are some possibilities.

  • Mets-toi à l'œuvre, Walter !

  • À l'œuvre, Walter ! — , Walter, à l'œuvre !

  • Walter, mets-toi à la tâche !

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  • Walter, au boulot ! Il convient, non ?
    – Dimitris
    Nov 5, 2020 at 9:52
  • @Dimitris Ça dépend du registre de langue que vous voulez ; « boulot », c'est pop.
    – LPH
    Nov 5, 2020 at 9:58
  • @LPH Thank you so much for your help!!! 😊 Which is the most formal or are they all as formal as each other?
    – SFR
    Nov 5, 2020 at 17:34
  • @CubbyKushi There is not at stakes in this usage (yours) a question of formality; both are equally formal and should not be used for a common purpose, such as for instance setting out to wash up the piles of dishes after a dinner party. The idea is that the formal term conveys a notion of poise in the approach to the task, the notion of something done in an efficient, cold and unrepentant manner. This is so only because of the particular task at hand; speak about a sculptor starting a new statue and that is not at all inferred any more.
    – LPH
    Nov 5, 2020 at 17:59
  • @LPH Thank you for responding!😊 (1) I don’t understand what “There is not at stakes in this usage (yours) a question of formality...” means. (2) Also, are you saying that the three constructions you gave are as formal as “Au-travail.” and “Au-boulot.”?
    – SFR
    Nov 5, 2020 at 18:04

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