11 UNTRANSLATABLE WORDS FROM OTHER CULTURES

The relationship between words and their meaning is a fascinating one, and linguists have spent countless
years deconstructing it, taking it apart letter by letter, and trying to figure out why there are so many feelings
and ideas that we cannot even put words to, and that our languages cannot identify.
The idea that words cannot always say everything has been written about extensively -- as Friedrich
Nietzsche said, "Words are but symbols for the relations of things to one another and to us; nowhere do they
touch upon the absolute truth."
No doubt the best book we've read that covers the subject is Through The Language Glass by Guy
Deutscher, which goes a long way to explaining and understanding these loopholes -- the gaps which mean
there are leftover words without translations, and concepts that cannot be properly explained across cultures.
Somehow narrowing it down to just a handful, we've illustrated 11 of these wonderful, untranslatable, if
slightly elusive, words. We will definitely be trying to incorporate a few of them into our everyday
conversations, and hope that you enjoy recognizing a feeling or two of your own among them.

1 | German: Waldeinsamkeit
A feeling of solitude, being alone in the woods and a connectedness to nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson even
wrote a whole poem about it.
2 | Italian: Culaccino
The mark left on a table by a cold glass. Who knew condensation could sound so poetic?
3 | Inuit: Iktsuarpok
The feeling of anticipation that leads you to go outside and check if anyone is coming, and probably also
indicates an element of impatience.
4 | Japanese: Komorebi
This is the word the Japanese have for when sunlight filters through the trees -- the interplay between the
light and the leaves.
5 | Russian: Pochemuchka
Someone who asks a lot of questions. In fact, probably too many questions. We all know a few of these.
6 | Spanish: Sobremesa
Spaniards tend to be a sociable bunch, and this word describes the period of time after a meal when you
have food-induced conversations with the people you have shared the meal with.
7 | Indonesian: Jayus
Their slang for someone who tells a joke so badly, that is so unfunny you cannot help but laugh out loud.
8 | Hawaiian: Pana Poo
You know when you forget where you've put the keys, and you scratch your head because it somehow
seems to help your remember? This is the word for it.
9 | French: Dpaysement
The feeling that comes from not being in one's home country -- of being a foreigner, or an immigrant, of
being somewhat displaced from your origin.
10 | Urdu: Goya
Urdu is the national language of Pakistan, but is also an official language in 5 of the Indian states. This
particular Urdu word conveys a contemplative 'as-if' that nonetheless feels like reality, and describes the
suspension of disbelief that can occur, often through good storytelling.
11 | Swedish: Mngata
The word for the glimmering, roadlike reflection that the moon creates on water.

PALABRAS SIN TRADUCCIN AL ESPAOL

Ruso: Toska
De acuerdo a la definicin de Vladimir Nabokov, el autor de varias novelas escritas en ruso, y de otra
decena de ellas en ingls (como Lolita, su trabajo ms clebre), la palabra toska no tiene equivalente en
otro idioma y significa lo siguiente: En su acepcin ms profunda y dolorosa, describe la sensacin de una
enorme angustia espiritual, generalmente sin motivo especfico. En un sentido menos mrbido, puede
designar un apagado dolor en el alma, un anhelo incierto, sin objeto, un nauseabundo languidecimiento, una
vaga agitacin o deseosas agonas mentales.
Japons: Kyoikumama
Una madre que incansablemente presiona a su hijo para que alcance el xito acadmico.
Bant: Ilunga
Esta palabra del idioma bant es utilizada en Congo y ha sido designada por los lingistas como la
palabra ms difcil de traducir. Ilunga describe a una persona dispuesta a perdonar cualquier abuso por
primera vez y a tolerarlo una segunda vez, pero nunca una tercera vez.
Checo: Prozvonit
Concepto que muchos sin dudas manejan cotidianamente, pero que en la Repblica Checa lograron
designar con una sola palabra, Prozvonit. Es la accin de llamar a un telfono mvil pero cortar antes de
que la otra persona atienda, de manera de informar algo al receptor sin tener que gastar dinero en una
llamada.
Alemn: Torschlusspanik
Traducida literalmente esta palabra significa miedo al cierre de las puertas y proviene de la Edad Media,
cuando los campesinos teman que las puertas del castillo fueran cerradas debido a un ataque enemigo. En su
significado ms contextual, describe el miedo a tener menos oportunidades a medida que uno envejece.
Rapa Nui: Tingo
El acto de ir tomando objetos prestados gradualmente de la casa de una amigo, hasta eventualmente
tomar todos los que haba.
Dans: Hyggelig
En esta nica palabra, el idioma dans rene varios conceptos, tales como agradable, amistoso, acogedor,
confortable, cmodo, genial y hogareo. Se utiliza habitualmente para designar una velada junto con
amigos o personas queridas, mientras se disfruta de una rica comida, un buen trago y una clida fogata.
Checo: Litost
Estado de agona y tormento provocado por la repentina revelacin de la propia miseria.
Escocs: Tartle
El acto de dudar al momento de presentar a una persona porque momentneamente has olvidado su
nombre.
Portugus: Cafun
En Brasil, el verbo cafun describe la accin de pasar delicadamente los dedos por el cabello de otra
persona.
Alemn: Schadenfreude
Famosa palabra de origen alemn que designa el sentimiento de alegra o felicidad surgido de presenciar
el sufrimiento o la infelicidad de otra persona. Por ejemplo, esa risa inevitable que nos surge cuando vemos a
alguien caer de manera estrepitosa. En espaol, se podra traducir como regodeo, aunque no es un trmino
tan especfico.