Untranslatable words from around the globe

If you’ve ever tried to learn a language,then you’ll know that translating is not always an easy task. There are over 7,000 languages in the world and just as many words and ideas that get ‘lost in translation’.

By taking a closer look at some untranslatable words from around the world, they can give us a glimpse into different cultures and belief systems. These are some of them:

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Fernweh describes the desire to leave everything you know to go and travel the world. It’s made up of Fern, meaning ‘far’, and weh, ‘woe’, so could be translated as a longing for distant places.

Komorebi describes the dances of shadow and light, particularly when sunlight shines through the leaves of trees.

To wake up early in the morning with the purpose of going outside to listen to the birds sing.

Toska was described by Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov as “a sensation of spiritual anguish without any specific cause. A dull ache of the soul. A longing with nothing to long for.”

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Mamihlapinatapei is described as “the wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.”

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A joke so bad or unfunny that one cannot help but laugh.

Taarof refers to not accepting easily what others offer to you. It’s a polite back-and-forth when giving and receiving gifts, food, money or an invitation.

This word refers to the cultural habit of many Spanish-speaking countries of sitting at the table long after they’ve finished eating, to let food settle and keep conversations going.

Literally translated to “you bury me”, this morbid but beautiful word is a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person because of how difficult it would be to live without them.

Similar to “nostalgia”, this word refers to the feeling of longing for something that you love and which is lost or out of reach. Fado music, a type of mournful singing, relates to saudade.

The act of hestitating while introducing someone because you’ve forgotten their name.

This untranslatable Basque word describes the euphoria and happiness felt when catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a long time.

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A sarcastic term for false hope. It literally means ‘horse’s egg’, therefore representing something that doesn’t exist or can’t happen.

The Chinese word ‘ré nao’ is usually translated as ‘lively’ or ‘bustling,’ but its true meaning goes beyond these adjectives. It refers to a fun, lively place with an inviting vibe that makes you want to be there.

This word describes the emotional warmth created by relaxing in the company of loved ones such as good friends and family.’Hygge’ usually involves spending the evening at home, and getting cozy by candlelit with warm blankets, and maybe some alcohol.

This Dutch word talks about going out in windy weather, particularly into nature, in order to refresh and clear one’s mind. ‘Uitwaaien’ comes from ‘uit’, which means ‘out’ and‎ ‘waaien’, ‘to blow’, of wind.

‘Kaamos’ is the word for ‘polar night’, the season with no sunrise that happens in northern Finland. However, the term also  describes the longing for sunshine, and a lack of motivation and enthusiasm.

‘Psithurism’ is the rustling sound of leaves in the wind. It comes from the Greek ‘psithuros’, meaning ‘whispering, slanderous.’

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This Hebrew term and concept is used in Israeli culture to describe genuine and sincere happiness for another person’s accomplishments without any ulterior motives.

‘Gluggaveður’ literally means ‘window-weather’ but the term refers to weather that looks pleasant from your window but is actually so cold that you need a jacket.

‘Flâner’ is a verb meaning ‘to stroll’, so a ‘flâneur’ is a person who enjoys wandering the streets and soaking in the city. The term was first coined in the 19th century to describe an intelectual of a certain social class, who would spend his time exploring the streets of Paris.

A lot has been written about this Japanese life teaching, but it can be summarized as a way of living that focuses on finding beauty in the simple things and accepting the natural life cycle of growth and decay.