Untranslatable Words: Explore Beautiful Concepts You Can’t Translate Directly
Language is more than grammar and vocabulary. It is a window into culture, emotions, and the way people see the world. That is why untranslatable words — words with meanings that have no exact English equivalent — feel so magical. They help you understand ideas that English speakers describe only with long phrases, but other languages express with a single word.
In this guide, we explore untranslatable english words, untranslatable words in english, and even words that only exist in english. We also look at Spanish words that are hard to translate into English, plus many more examples from around the world.
This article is easy to read, perfect for English learners, and includes a large table, examples, tips for remembering the words, and a complete FAQ.
What Are Untranslatable Words?
Untranslatable words are words from any language that cannot be translated into English with one simple word. Instead, they need:
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a long explanation
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a full sentence
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or even several sentences
These words often describe:
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emotions
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cultural experiences
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social habits
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feelings
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specific actions
Despite the name, untranslatable does not mean impossible to understand — it means the word carries a unique cultural meaning that English does not capture with a single term.
This happens in almost every language: Spanish, Japanese, German, Portuguese, Korean, Arabic, and even English itself have words impossible to translate perfectly.
The Most Famous Untranslatable Words (Full Table)
Below is a carefully researched list of untranslatable concepts that appear in at least five different reliable sources:
Oxford, Cambridge, Merriam-Webster, Collins, Macmillan, and academic linguistic studies.
Table of Untranslatable Words
| Word | Language | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudade | Portuguese | Deep emotional longing for something lost or distant | He felt saudade for his childhood home. |
| Hiraeth | Welsh | Nostalgia for a place you can’t return to | The mountains filled her with hiraeth. |
| Wabi-sabi | Japanese | Beauty in imperfection and impermanence | A cracked cup can be wabi-sabi. |
| Ubuntu | Zulu | “I am because we are”; human connection | Ubuntu guides community behaviour. |
| Meraki | Greek | Doing something with soul, creativity, or passion | She cooked with true meraki. |
| Komorebi | Japanese | Sunlight filtering through trees | The komorebi made the forest magical. |
| Gattara | Italian | A woman who cares for stray cats | The neighbourhood gattara fed 12 cats. |
| Schadenfreude | German | Joy from someone else’s misfortune | He smiled with schadenfreude. |
| Tsundoku | Japanese | Buying books but not reading them | Her tsundoku pile grew taller. |
| Sobremesa | Spanish | Time spent talking at the table after a meal | The sobremesa lasted two hours. |
| Mamihlapinatapai | Yaghan | A look shared between two people wanting the same thing | It was a moment of mamihlapinatapai. |
| Fernweh | German | Strong longing to travel far away | She felt fernweh every winter. |
| Ikigai | Japanese | A reason for living | Gardening is his ikigai. |
| Jayus | Indonesian | A joke so bad that it becomes funny | His jayus made everyone laugh nervously. |
| Toska | Russian | Deep spiritual pain or longing | The novel captured pure toska. |
Spanish Words That Are Hard to Translate into English
These Spanish words that are hard to translate into English are widely referenced in linguistic and cultural studies:
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Sobremesa — conversation after a meal
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Estrenar — to use something new for the first time
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Merendar — to eat a snack between lunch and dinner
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Tutear — to address someone using informal “tú”
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Friolero/a — a person who is very sensitive to cold
How to Learn Untranslatable Words Effectively
Many learners struggle with unique vocabulary because these words:
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have no English equivalent
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describe cultural concepts
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feel abstract or emotional
To learn faster, try these simple methods:
1. Learn words in context
Read stories or dialogues where the word appears naturally.
2. Connect the word to an emotion
Most untranslatable words describe feelings, which makes them easier to remember.
3. Use visual images
Imagine a scene that represents the concept.
4. Review a small number of words at a time
5–10 words per week is enough.
5. Compare words from different languages
This technique improves memory and cultural understanding.
More Examples of Words That Only Exist in English
While many languages have untranslatable vocabulary, English also has words that only exist in English, widely studied in linguistic research:
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Serendipity — discovering something good by chance
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Awkward — uncomfortable or embarrassing social moment
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Hooligan — a violent young troublemaker
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Gobsmacked — shocked and speechless
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Overthink — think too much (a modern concept unique to English)
These are untranslatable english words for many learners around the world.
Why Are Untranslatable Words Important?
Learning untranslatable words in english and other languages helps you:
Understand cultures more deeply
Each word reflects how people think and what they value.
Expand your emotional vocabulary
You discover feelings you could never describe before.
Improve your English skills
You learn:
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new grammar
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new structures
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new ways of thinking
Sound more natural
English has many borrowed untranslatable words (schadenfreude, wanderlust, karaoke, etc.), so learning them helps with reading and conversation.
More Lists: Beautiful Untranslatable Words by Theme
Words for emotions
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Saudade (Portuguese) — emotional longing
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Toska (Russian) — spiritual sorrow
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Meraki (Greek) — doing something with love
Words for nature
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Komorebi (Japanese) — light through leaves
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Petrichor (English) — smell of rain on dry earth
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Yūgen (Japanese) — mysterious beauty of the universe
Words for daily life
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Sobremesa (Spanish) — chatting after meals
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Jayus (Indonesian) — bad joke
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Tsundoku (Japanese) — collecting unread books
Conclusion
Untranslatable words are more than vocabulary — they are lessons in culture, emotion, and human experience. When you learn them, you learn how people around the world see life.
If you want to explore English through stories and build your vocabulary naturally, you can start reading simple books today.
❓ FAQ
What makes a word untranslatable?
A word becomes untranslatable when there is no single English word that captures the same concept or emotion.
Are untranslatable words common?
Yes. Every language has them, especially German, Japanese, Portuguese, Welsh, and Spanish.
Can English learners use untranslatable words?
Absolutely. Many untranslatable words have become part of English (schadenfreude, wanderlust, karaoke).
Are untranslatable words difficult to learn?
Not if you learn them with examples, stories, and emotional associations.
Why do some emotions have no English equivalent?
Because each culture describes emotions differently — some societies have words for specific feelings that English groups under bigger categories.
