Every language is unique. It doesn't matter if it has the same roots (e.g. Spanish and Portuguese), each language developed its own unique phrasing, words and meanings. If you're bi-lingual, and you've ever tried to translate from one language to the other, you probably had at least a few times said: "This can't really be translated.", because each language does have words that just don't have a parallel in other languages. Here are 30 fine examples of some truly great words that just can't be translated into another language. |
1. Fernweh (German) |
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2. Komorebi (Japanese) |
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3. Tingo (Pascuense) |
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4. Pochemuchka (Russian) |
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5. Bakku-shan (Japanese) |
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6. Gökotta (Swedish) |
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7. Backpfeifengesicht (German) |
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8. Aware (Japanese) |
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9. Tsundoku (Japanese) |
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10. Shlimazl (Yiddish) |
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11. Rire dans sa barbe (French) |
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12. Waldeinsamkeit (German) |
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13. Hanyauku (Rukwangali) |
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14. Gattara (Italian) |
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15. Prozvonit (Czech) |
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16. Iktsuarpok (Inuit) |
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17. Papakata (Cook Islands Maori) |
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18. Friolero (Spanish) |
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19. Schilderwald (German) |
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20. Utepils (Norwegian) |
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21. Mamihlapinatapei (Yagan) |
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22. Culaccino (Italian) |
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23. Ilunga (Tshiluba) |
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24. Kyoikumama (Japanese) |
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25. Age-otori (Japanese) |
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26. Chai-Pani (Hindi) |
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27. Won (Korean) |
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28. Tokka (Finnish) |
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29. Schadenfreude (German) |
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30. Wabi-Sabi (Japanese) |
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