Some words defy dictionaries — and even the most seasoned translators. They’re linguistic gems that capture, in a single word, a whole way of living, feeling, or seeing the world. At Hasting Traducciones, we love exploring those untranslatable nuances that reveal how cultures think and connect, because that’s where the true richness of language lies.
In this article, we invite you to discover twenty untranslatable words that reflect the identity and spirit of the people who use them. From the Danish hygge to the Japanese yūgen, each one tells a story about what it means to be human — and about the subtle art of translating meaning beyond words.
- Cafuné (Portuguese, Brazil) – Running your fingers through a loved one’s hair.
- Desenrascanço (Portuguese) – The ability to untangle oneself from a tough situation without a clear plan.
- Forelsket (Norwegian) – The euphoria you feel when falling in love.
- Gökotta (Swedish) – Waking early to go hear the first birds sing.
- Gezelligheid (Dutch) – A cozy, friendly, pleasant atmosphere.
- Hanyauku (Rukwangali, Namibia) – Walking on tiptoes across hot sand.
- Jayus (Indonesian) – A joke so unfunny it becomes funny.
- Jijivisha (Hindi) – The strong desire to live and thrive.
- Kilig (Tagalog, Philippines) – The fluttery feeling of romantic excitement.
- Komorebi (Japanese) – Sunlight filtering through trees.
- Kummerspeck (German) – Weight gained from emotional eating; literally “grief bacon.”
- Lagom Lagom (Swedish) – Just the right amount; balanced living.
- Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan, Chile) – A look shared by two people who both want something but are reluctant to act.
- Meraki (Greek) – Doing something with soul, creativity, or love.
- Otukwanuka (Luganda) – Walking in the hot sun.
- Schadenfreude (German) – Pleasure from another’s misfortune.
- Tingo Tingo (Pascuense, Easter Island) – Borrowing items one by one from a friend’s house until there’s nothing left.
- Tsundoku (Japanese) – Buying books and letting them pile up unread.
- Ubuntu Ubuntu (Bantu, Zulu) – “I am because we are”; a philosophy of human connection.
- Yūgen Yūgen (Japanese) – A deep, subtle awareness of the universe that evokes an emotional response.
Translation isn’t always about finding an exact match — sometimes it’s about understanding an emotion, a habit, or an entire worldview. Untranslatable words remind us that every language holds its own way of experiencing life, and that a translator’s true task is to build bridges between those perspectives.
At Hasting Traducciones, we believe that what’s “untranslatable” is not a barrier but an invitation to creativity. Translating the untranslatable means conveying the very essence of human experience.
And you — which word would you add to the list?
