"Die Grüße kommen per Vogel zu uns."

Translation: The greetings come to us via bird.

[Sk8rMom]

Maybe it should be "per owl" like in Harry Potter! :-)

[philster043]

Or Rabe (raven) as in the Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones) ;)

[babykage]

maybe pigeons as well, more realistic=]

[JeanGrey]

That's what I thought as well.

[GregTrotter]

Prepositions are tricky, as they do not always directly translate, as English speakers would use a different preposition to a German speaker. In this case, per Vogel might be the correct way to say it in German, but we would say by bird. I don't think per bird should be accepted, as it is incorrect English, but users need to be aware of what contexts German speakers use certain prepositions in that differ from us.

[melissatate]

So does this connote that the greeting was "on" the bird, as in tied to it? Or does per mean here the more general "via" (which doesn't specify HOW the bird was carrying the message, but merely that it did).

[SelphieB]

No, I think 'per' has the same meaning as 'via' or 'by', it doesn't specify how it was carried, could be tied to the leg, held in the beak, or the bird memorised the greeting and told the recipients.

[rcabreu]

That's not correct English.. "per bird"

[Tom.Miles]

the alternative solution given is not correct English: you can't say "per bird" in English

[amyhansen]

what are they trying to say - per bird? I don't understand the meaning of the sentence...

[SelphieB]

I imagine it's referring to carrier pigeons.

[chithewanderer]

"via bird" is kind of unusual too. they should come "by bird."

[philster043]

That's what I typed and it was accepted.

[JeanGrey]

I imagine "per Vogel" is also pretty uncommon in German.

[androbroznic]

"Bird brings us the greetings" is maybe better?

[titipan]

I agree with you..that must be the correct translation

[kovaribalint]

I have never heard this expression in English before :)