Sometimes, when learning a foreign language, we encounter words that are difficult or even impossible to translate into our own language. These untranslatable words often carry cultural or emotional nuances. In this blog post, we will explore some of these fascinating words and look into why it is so challenging to convey their meaning in other languages.
Saudade – Portuguese
Saudade refers to a deep, melancholic feeling of longing for something or someone that is lost or far away. In many cases what someone longs for is either unattainable or irretrievable. It expresses a mix of sadness and a sense of bittersweet joy over the beautiful memories one has of the absent person or situation.
Hygge – Danish
It describes a feeling of coziness, well-being, and inner peace, often associated with small, pleasant moments in everyday life. Hygge embraces the art of enjoying simple things such as during a cozy gathering with friends, a warm drink on a cold winter evening, or the enjoyment of candlelight and good company.
Sobremesa – Spanish
The word describes the time spent at the table after a meal, chatting, relaxing, and enjoying the moment. It refers to the socializing that often follows a shared meal. This time offers an opportunity to nurture relationships and appreciate the time together and is an important part of everyday life.
Nunchi – Korean
Nunchi (눈치) is a Korean term that refers to the art of interpersonal sensitivity. It describes the ability to quickly and subtly grasp the thoughts and emotions of others to adjust one’s own behavior accordingly. Nunchi could be described as a form of social intuition or empathy. This skill is highly valued in Korea, as it is seen as key to harmonious social interactions.
Abbiocco – Italian
Abbiocco describes the pleasant, drowsy feeling experienced after a hearty meal. It is a feeling closely linked to the enjoyment and coziness that a good meal can bring. When you experience Abbiocco, it’s not just sleepiness, but a kind of contented laziness and serenity, as if the body and mind are slipping into a state of well-being.
Wabi-Sabi – Japanese
Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese concept that appreciates the aesthetics of the imperfect, the transient, and the incomplete. It is based on the idea that beauty lies in imperfection and simplicity, and that the transience and natural aging process of an object are part of its beauty.
Fernweh – German
In contrast to homesickness, which describes the desire to return home, Fernweh is the urge to leave familiar surroundings and explore the world. It is a kind of positive longing that motivates many people to travel, experience new cultures, and broaden their perspectives.
Serendipity – English
Essentially, Serendipity describes the joy and surprise of stumbling upon a positive discovery without actively searching for it. The term captures the magic of chance when one encounters something that turns out to be especially significant, often while focused on something entirely different or searching for something else.
Why are these words so hard to translate?
The difficulty in translating these words often lies in the deeply rooted cultural and emotional nuances they carry. Many of these terms are closely linked to the traditions, values, and way of life of the societies in which they originated. They describe feelings, experiences, or concepts that may be less prominent in other cultures or for which there are no equivalent terms.
How do translators deal with this challenge?
Translators face the challenge of conveying these untranslatable words while preserving the cultural context and emotional subtleties. They often resort to paraphrasing or explanations to make the meaning of the word clear. Sometimes, they use loanwords, the original terms, to retain authenticity, often accompanied by footnotes or additional information. Translating such terms requires a particular sensitivity to capture the core meaning of the original and make it understandable in the target language.
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