header print

Beautiful Words that Cannot Be Translated

Every language is unique. It doesn't matter if it has the same roots (e.g. Spanish and Portuguese), each language developed its own unique phrasing, words and meanings. If you're bi-lingual, and you've ever tried to translate from one language to the other, you probably had at least a few times said: "This can't really be translated.", because each language does have words that just don't have a parallel in other languages.

Here are 30 fine examples of some truly great words that just can't be translated into another language.

1. Fernweh (German)
untranslatable words

2. Komorebi (Japanese)
untranslatable words

3. Tingo (Pascuense)
untranslatable words

4. Pochemuchka (Russian)
untranslatable words

5. Bakku-shan (Japanese) 
untranslatable words

6. Gökotta (Swedish) 
untranslatable words

7. Backpfeifengesicht (German)
untranslatable words

8. Aware (Japanese)
untranslatable words

9. Tsundoku (Japanese)
untranslatable words

10. Shlimazl (Yiddish)
untranslatable words

11. Rire dans sa barbe (French)
untranslatable words

12. Waldeinsamkeit (German)
untranslatable words

13. Hanyauku (Rukwangali)
untranslatable words

14. Gattara (Italian)
untranslatable words

15. Prozvonit (Czech)
untranslatable words

16. Iktsuarpok (Inuit)
untranslatable words

17. Papakata (Cook Islands Maori)
untranslatable words

18. Friolero (Spanish)
untranslatable words

19. Schilderwald (German)
untranslatable words

20. Utepils (Norwegian)
untranslatable words

21. Mamihlapinatapei (Yagan)
untranslatable words

22. Culaccino (Italian)
untranslatable words

23. Ilunga (Tshiluba)
untranslatable words

24. Kyoikumama (Japanese)
untranslatable words

25. Age-otori (Japanese)
untranslatable words

26. Chai-Pani (Hindi)
untranslatable words

27. Won (Korean)
untranslatable words

28. Tokka (Finnish)
untranslatable words

29. Schadenfreude (German)
untranslatable words

30. Wabi-Sabi (Japanese)  
untranslatable words
 
Next Post
Sign Up for Free Daily Posts!
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Sign Up for Free Daily Posts!
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy