30 Untranslatable Words From Other Languages (Illustrated).

We know for a fact that language and culture are intricately intertwined that one influences the other in tremendous, and sometimes amazing, ways. It is this intertwining that makes translations from one language to another extremely difficult. You can only translate words and concepts that exist in both cultures. Cultural subtleties that are not shared by other cultures will often get lost in translation. This is why other languages will always have untranslatable words that your language doesn’t and vice versa.

Taking English as a reference, New Zealand-based designer Anjana Iyer compiled an amusing list of words that do not have an equivalent in English. She even drew lightheaded illustrations to help us understand what they mean beyond words. Have a glance and let us know what you think.


1.  Fernweh (German)

2. Komorebi (Japanese)

3. Tingo (Pascuense)


4. Pochemuchka (Russian)

5. Gökotta (Swedish)

6. Bakku-shan (Japanese)


7. Backpfeifengesicht (German)

8.  Aware (Japanese)

9. Tsundoku (Japanese)

10. Shlimazl (Yiddish)

11. Rire dans sa barbe (French)

12. Waldeinsamkeit (German)


13. Hanyauku (Rukwangali)

14. Gattara (Italian)

15. Prozvonit (Czech)

16. Iktsuarpok (Inuit)

17. Papakata (Cook Islands Maori)

18. Friolero (Spanish)


19. Schilderwald (German)

20. Utepils (Norwegian)

21. Mamihlapinatapei (Yagan)

22. Culaccino (Italian)

23. Ilunga (Tshiluba)

24. Kyoikumama (Japanese)


25. Age-otori (Japanese)

26. Chai-Pani (Hindi)

27. Won (Korean)

28. Tokka (Finnish)

29. Schadenfreude (German)

30.  Wabi-Sabi (Japanese)


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  1. Pingback: 14 Untranslatable Words Turned Into Charming Illustrations. - The Language Nerds

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