A common reason to learn untranslatable words is because they vividly explain things that cannot be explained in any other way. Some languages have developed words for concepts, actions, feelings, and things that other languages don't necessarily have words for. Perhaps they are ahead of the curve when other languages will follow suit, but the fact is that these words have essential meanings that other words in other languages do not have. It captures the
Additionally, untranslatable words add depth to your vocabulary. These are interesting and dynamic, and using them will definitely make an impression and make others wonder about your words.
5 untranslatable words that help explain the complexity of life
schadenfreude
Language: German
Explanation: Schadenfreude is the joy derived from someone else's misfortune. Schadenfreude is perhaps the most well-known of the untranslatable words, thanks to the popular musical Avenue Q, which dedicated an entire song to the word (contains adult content). It has become one of the words.
example:
– Why do you want to go to the park? It has just begun to rain.
– Because there are a lot of people out there on forest trips and seeing them frantically packing their bags is the best schadenfreude.
visually
Language: Inuktitut (the Inuit language of the Arctic regions of central and eastern Canada)
Description: The feeling of anticipation when you wait for someone to arrive and keep checking to see if that person has arrived.
Example: Too many seizures. I decide to wait by the window until he arrives.
regret
Language: Czech
Description: A feeling of sudden awareness of one's own shortcomings or despair. It's a combination of humiliation, regret, and self-pity.
Example: Blair posted on social media about her 5-star restaurant trip in France. My most memorable recent meal was last week when the food truck's refrigerator broke and they had a seafood sale. I don't know which is worse, litost or food poisoning.
profit
Language: Kiribira (Austronesian language spoken in the Trobriand Islands of Papua New Guinea)
Explanation: Everyone knows it, but no one discusses it.
Example: I want to know where Sharon got her new calf implants, but I can't find anyone to ask. This is Mokita.
Trebverter
Language: Yiddish
Description: A witty comeback that seems too late.
Example: Five minutes after she told me my shoes were ugly, I finally came up with the third verse. “Well, at least I have soles.”
