These "Untranslatable" Foreign Phrases Have Me Questioning Why English Is So Limited, And I'm About To Call Merriam-Webster
Recently, @saba posed a question on Twitter (X), asking for examples of words in other languages that "can't be perceived in English," saying "there's a beauty in a word only being understood through the soul." Here are 27 extremely gorgeous, interesting, or just plain useful responses:
1."Saudade"
Related:
2."Ya'aburne"
3."Varen"
4."Backpfeifengesicht"
5."Sayang"
6."فديتك"
7."тоска"
8."نعيما"
Related:
9."Estrenar"
10."Apapacho"
11."Fernweh"
12."Kilig"
13."Gunnen"
Related:
14."Sobremesa"
15."Obhimaan (অভিমান)"
16."Zerliebt"
17."Pasalubong"
18."Hiraeth"
19."Smacznego"
20."Pogodnie"
Related:
21."Koi No Yokan (恋の予感)"
22."Üşenmek"
23."Tương (醬)'
24."Zawiść"
25."Drengskapr"
26."Jhuta (झूठा)"
27.And finally, "tresno"/"katresnan."
Now, I have to know: If you speak a language other than English, do you have any favorite words that don't quite translate over? Let us know in the comments.
Also in Internet Finds:
Also in Internet Finds:
Also in Internet Finds:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
On This Day, July 13: Live Aid concerts raise $125M for famine relief
1 of 5 | Singer Bob Geldof, pictured in 2005 at the Live 8 Concert in Hyde Park in London, organized the benefit concert Live Aid held July 13, 1985, in London and Philadelphia. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo July 13 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1863, opposition to the Federal Conscription Act triggered New York City riots in which at least 120 people died and hundreds were injured. In 1898, Guglielmo Marconi was awarded a patent for wireless telegraphy -- the radio. In 1943, one of the largest tank battle in history -- which happened as part of the Battle of Kursk -- ended along the Eastern Front in the Soviet Union when German dictator Adolf Hitler redeployed his troops to the south. In 1960, Democrats nominated Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts for president against GOP Vice President Richard Nixon. John F. Kennedy (R) and Richard Nixon debate on October 21, 1960. UPI File Photo In 1977, a state of emergency was declared in New York City during a 25-hour power blackout. In 1985, musicians and celebrities gathered at arenas in London and Philadelphia to hold a 16-hour Live Aid concert, raising more than $125 million in famine relief for Africa. In 1992, Yitzhak Rabin became Israel's new prime minister, ending the hard-line Likud Party's 15-year reign. Rabin embraced Israeli-Palestinian relations and helped establish peace between Palestinians and Jordanians. He faced criticism for his views and in 1995 was assassinated. In 1998, Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto resigned, a victim of the country's economic woes. In 2005, a judge in New York sentenced former WorldCom Chief Executive Officer Bernard Ebbers to 25 years in prison for his part in what was described as the largest fraud in U.S. corporate history. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI In 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a plan to save major government-backed mortgage companies known as Fannie Mac and Freddie Mac with billions of dollars in investments and loans. In 2013, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was acquitted in the 2012 shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in a gated community in Florida. The case provoked a national debate on "stand your ground" laws and racial profiling. In 2019, Simona Halep became the first Romanian to win a Wimbledon singles title after beating Serena Williams. In 2024, Donald Trump was grazed on the ear by a bullet during a presidential campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, also killed a member of the audience and injured two more. Law enforcement shot and killed Crooks. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
These "Untranslatable" Foreign Phrases Have Me Questioning Why English Is So Limited, And I'm About To Call Merriam-Webster
Many of us native English speakers are familiar with (and regularly use) words like "schadenfreude" (German), which don't have a direct English translation, but there are actually a ton of similar words out there. Recently, @saba posed a question on Twitter (X), asking for examples of words in other languages that "can't be perceived in English," saying "there's a beauty in a word only being understood through the soul." Here are 27 extremely gorgeous, interesting, or just plain useful responses: 1."Saudade" Related: 2."Ya'aburne" 3."Varen" 4."Backpfeifengesicht" 5."Sayang" 6."فديتك" 7."тоска" 8."نعيما" Related: 9."Estrenar" 10."Apapacho" 11."Fernweh" 12."Kilig" 13."Gunnen" Related: 14."Sobremesa" 15."Obhimaan (অভিমান)" 16."Zerliebt" 17."Pasalubong" 18."Hiraeth" 19."Smacznego" 20."Pogodnie" Related: 21."Koi No Yokan (恋の予感)" 22."Üşenmek" 23."Tương (醬)' 24."Zawiść" 25."Drengskapr" 26."Jhuta (झूठा)" finally, "tresno"/"katresnan." Now, I have to know: If you speak a language other than English, do you have any favorite words that don't quite translate over? Let us know in the comments. Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds:
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
27 Words In Other Languages With No English Translation
Many of us native English speakers are familiar with (and regularly use) words like "schadenfreude" (German), which don't have a direct English translation, but there are actually a ton of similar words out there. Recently, @saba posed a question on Twitter (X), asking for examples of words in other languages that "can't be perceived in English," saying "there's a beauty in a word only being understood through the soul." Here are 27 extremely gorgeous, interesting, or just plain useful responses: "Saudade" "Ya'aburne" "Varen" "Backpfeifengesicht" "Sayang" "فديتك" "тоска" "نعيما" "Estrenar" "Apapacho" "Fernweh" "Kilig" "Gunnen" "Sobremesa" "Obhimaan (অভিমান)" "Zerliebt" "Pasalubong" "Hiraeth" "Smacznego" "Pogodnie" "Koi No Yokan (恋の予感)" "Üşenmek" "Tương (醬)' "Zawiść" "Drengskapr" "Jhuta (झूठा)" And finally, "tresno"/"katresnan." Now, I have to know: If you speak a language other than English, do you have any favorite words that don't quite translate over? Let us know in the comments.
