Language is a beautiful medium through which people can communicate their expressions and thoughts to other native people. However, there are certain words in every language whose equivalent aren’t available in foreign languages. These are untranslatable words, and they are used in their original form even in other languages. We have collected the ten words that don’t have equivalents in another language.
1. Saudade (Portuguese): Describes a melancholic longing for something that is lost or may never have existed. This word shows emotions such as nostalgia, yearning, and bittersweet remembrance. It’s the ache for a childhood home that no longer stands, the faint echo of an unfinished love story. The Portuguese celebrate a day dedicated to Saudade, a testament to its profound impact on their culture.
Why it is Untranslatable: This word encompasses a nuanced blend of emotions—nostalgia, yearning, and bittersweet remembrance. A single English word fails to capture this complex tapestry.
2. Mångata (Swedish): The shimmering path created by moonlight reflecting on water. Mångata paints a picture of tranquility, a hushed world bathed in silver light. Imagine gliding on a calm lake, the moonbeams dancing around you, and that feeling you capture – that’s Mångata.
Why it is Untranslatable: Mångata describes a specific visual phenomenon – the moonlit path on water. While we can describe the scene in English, the word itself shows a unique sensory experience.
3. Kintsugi (Japanese): The art of repairing broken pottery with gold, highlighting the cracks instead of hiding them. Kintsugi shows the beauty of imperfection, the idea that flaws become part of an object’s story, adding to its value. It’s a philosophy that extends beyond pottery, embracing the scars and experiences that shape us.
Why it is Untranslatable: This word embodies a cultural philosophy of embracing flaws. Directly translating it misses the deeper meaning and the connection to the Japanese aesthetic. This word might be untranslatable, but you can get the Accurate Japanese Translation Services for your business from Somya Translators.
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4. Waldeinsamkeit (German): The feeling of solitude and oneness with nature experienced while being alone in the woods. Waldeinsamkeit captures the quiet joy of being surrounded by trees, the hushed whispers of leaves, the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. It’s a feeling of belonging, of being a part of something much larger than oneself.
Why it is Untranslatable: Waldeinsamkeit captures a specific feeling of solitude and oneness with nature in the woods. There’s no single English word that conveys the tranquillity and connection to the environment it represents.
5. Torschlusspanik (German): The fear of missed opportunities, the dread of closing doors in life. Torschlusspanik speaks to the anxieties we all face, the worry that time is slipping away and we haven’t grasped all that life has to offer. It’s a poignant reminder to seize the moment and chase our dreams.
Why it is Untranslatable: Torschlusspanik refers to anxiety about missed opportunities. An English translation wouldn’t capture the urgency and existential dread associated with the word.
6. Duende (Spanish): A heightened state of emotion, a passionate intensity that transcends technique in art, music, and dance. Duende is that raw, electrifying feeling you get when witnessing a truly captivating performance, the inexplicable spark that ignites our souls.
Why It’s Untranslatable: Duende describes a heightened emotional state in art. It’s a subjective experience that defies a literal translation and is best understood through witnessing such a performance.
7. Hiraeth (Welsh): This word shows a deep longing for a home that may no longer exist or never was, a yearning for a romanticized past. It shows a sense of melancholic nostalgia, a yearning for something just beyond reach. For example, feeling sad by remembering a childhood home gone or the pain of a simpler time that may never have been.
Why it is Untranslatable: Hiraeth expresses a deep longing for a home that may not exist. The concept of a romanticized past and the melancholic yearning it evokes is difficult to translate directly.
8. Gigil (Tagalog): The irresistible urge to pinch or squeeze something cute. It captures that adorable awkwardness we feel when encountering something incredibly endearing. It’s the playful affection we have for fluffy animals, chubby babies, or anything that sparks a desire for a gentle cuddle.
Why it is Untranslatable: Gigil describes the irresistible urge to pinch something cute. This playful affection is specific to Tagalog culture, and an English translation wouldn’t capture the full nuance.
9. Wabi-Sabi (Japanese): The appreciation of the beauty of imperfection and impermanence. Wabi-Sabi celebrates the natural world and the passage of time, finding beauty in worn, weathered, or incomplete objects. It’s a philosophy that teaches us to embrace life’s fleeting nature and find solace in the simple, imperfect present.
Why it is Untranslatable: Wabi-Sabi is a complex philosophy of appreciating imperfection. A direct translation wouldn’t convey the cultural context and the specific aesthetic it represents.
10. Meraki (Greek): Putting something of yourself, your soul, creativity, or love into your work. This word is about infusing your passion and whole being into whatever you create. It’s the dedication of a painter pouring their emotions onto canvas, the love a chef weaves into their dishes.
You have read the untranslatable words from the world, but you should also understand the vital pillars of accurate translation, which are important in the translation industry.
Why do Untranslatable Words Exist in a Language?
There are several reasons why untranslatable words exist in a language:
1. Cultural Specific: Some words capture unique concepts or experiences specific to a particular culture.
2. Emotional Nuance: Languages evolve to express the emotions and experiences of a culture.
3. Sensory Details: Certain words describe specific sensory experiences that might not have a direct equivalent in another language.
4. Historical Context: Languages are shaped by history and social experiences. These words might reflect a specific historical event or cultural memory that doesn’t have a parallel in another culture.
5. Figurative Language: Some untranslatable words are rooted in cultural metaphors or figures of speech.
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Concluding Words
There are many words which are untranslatable words and they are used as they are in other languages. These words offer a unique perspective on the world. It’s always advisable to take assistance of a Professional Translation Service, such as Somya Translators who can help you decode the real meaning of these words.