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Emily's Team Pick: 20 Untranslatable Words From Around the World

Posted byEmily

on December 9, 2010

I will fully admit that I stole this from Taylor's tumblr.

So without further ado I present to you 20 awesomely untranslatable words from around the world. Enjoy.

25 responses to “Emily's Team Pick: 20 Untranslatable Words From Around the World”

Laura (member)
December 9, 2010 at 9:25 am Permalink Reply

this is awesome!

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Carmen (member)
December 9, 2010 at 10:29 am Permalink Reply Report user

I <3 the world.

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segfault
December 9, 2010 at 11:12 am Permalink Reply

this is great! “Saudade” really is a beautiful word, probably my favourite one in portuguese.

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mapped (member)
December 9, 2010 at 11:48 am Permalink Reply Report user

This is amazing. My favourite word (not on the list) is probably 緣份 (yuanfen), which sort of means destiny or fate, but really is so much more than that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuanfen <– go read! It's such a beautiful word.

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BLM (member)
December 9, 2010 at 12:19 pm Permalink Reply Report user

As a translator, I love it!

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Dorothy
December 9, 2010 at 12:45 pm Permalink Reply

My parents spend a lot of time over in Egypt (they’re there right now) and love learning Arabic. Just text them Ya’aburnee. I love languages for this exact reason, there’s so much feeling in a word which I often forget.

Thanks Emily / Taylor!

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Gaines
December 9, 2010 at 12:57 pm Permalink Reply

if you want to say “ya’burnee” directly (You slay/bury me) to yr lady friend if you are a lady, the correct conjugation is ta’bureenee.

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KBaby
December 9, 2010 at 1:23 pm Permalink Reply

<3 this. so much.

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Daphne
December 9, 2010 at 1:59 pm Permalink Reply

“Apartheid” is one of those translatable words too. Really funny said by Texan or any American really.

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1. Ziggy Hreins (member)
  December 10, 2010 at 2:57 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I thought they just called it the good old days.
  
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Daphne
December 9, 2010 at 2:00 pm Permalink Reply

Obvs I mean UN-translatable words.

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Tui
December 9, 2010 at 3:06 pm Permalink Reply

“6. Kyoikumama
Japanese – “A mother who relentlessly pushes her children toward academic achievement” ”

Oh, we have this one – “Ballet Mother”.

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innmari
December 9, 2010 at 4:11 pm Permalink Reply

I tartle all the time:( One time I even forgot my own name.

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bree
December 9, 2010 at 10:29 pm Permalink Reply

me too. it’s awkward for everyone involved.

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1. bree
  December 9, 2010 at 10:32 pm Permalink Reply
  
  that was supposed to be in reply to innmari. oops!
  is there a word for that?
  
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Luisa
December 10, 2010 at 10:36 pm Permalink Reply

i’m quite proud to have 2 words on that list (making it 10%) in my language….Portuguese

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TimeInvariant
December 13, 2010 at 8:30 am Permalink Reply

I’ve struggled to find a word in English for the Irish word ‘flaithuileach’ (my spelling might be a bit off!).

Generally means someone being generous with their money, to the point of being a bit silly about it. Someone who’s quick to throw their money away!

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1. terracottatoes (member)
  December 13, 2010 at 8:39 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I suppose it would be the opposite of a Scrooge, really. Likewise, the first thing I thought of when I read your comment was another literary character: of Henry Sugar, the main guy in a wonderful short story by Roald Dahl.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Story_of_Henry_Sugar_and_Six_More#The_Wonderful_Story_of_Henry_Sugar
  
  So, perhaps we should hereby coin henrysugarism?
  
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  1. TimeInvariant
    December 13, 2010 at 8:48 am Permalink Reply
    
    I second that!
    
    I had totally forgotten about that book, until you mentioned it. I used to read those stories over and over. As a kid, it totally convinced me thta I could learn to read through cards, if I just tried hard enough.
    
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    1. terracottatoes (member)
      December 13, 2010 at 8:52 am Permalink Reply Report user
      
      YOU DON’T KNOW HOW LONG I STARED AT CANDLE FLAMES FOR.
      
      ahahaha, oh the joys of impressionable childhood.
      
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      1. TimeInvariant
        December 13, 2010 at 9:04 am Permalink Reply
        
        OMG, candle flames! I still find myself doing that, absentmindedly. Roald Dahls books were fantastic for kids with over-active imaginations!
        
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        Marika
        December 13, 2010 at 11:18 am Permalink Reply
        
        I’M SO GLAD OTHER LESBIANS WERE SUPER INTO THAT STORY
        
        I read it so many times.
        
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        terracottatoes (member)
        December 13, 2010 at 12:51 pm Permalink
        
        omg you guys we should form a club
        
        THE LESBIAN ROALD DAHL APPRECIATORS’ CLUB.
        
        i am making membership cards as we speak.
        
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2. Tui
  December 14, 2010 at 4:11 am Permalink Reply
  
  As much as I am in favour of the Lesbian Roald Dahl Appreciation Club, I think the word “spendthrift” is pretty close to what you want: via Wikipedia, “A spendthrift (also called profligate) is someone who spends money prodigiously and who is extravagant and recklessly wasteful.”
  
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  1. TimeInvariant
    December 14, 2010 at 4:18 am Permalink Reply
    
    Aha! You are right there, that’s the word I was looking for.
    
    Are we still okay to make badges – I think so
    
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