With high tech applications like google translator that can literally translate any word into another language, a belief has developed that there exists no such thing like an ‘untranslatable’ word for google. However, exploring the dictionary of foreign languages gives us some interesting foreign words that don’t have an exact equivalent in English language. Here are some interesting untranslated foreign words along with an explanation of their origin.
Gezellig
The Dutch word Gezellig is a term that has a difficult meaning and is rather hard to understand through a single English word. Gezelling can be used when you’re having breakfast with your family or at a pub, partying with friends. Even being in a living room can be called gezellig. Hence, with so many uses, getting the exact meaning of gezellig becomes fairly difficult. Gezelling is derived from gezel that means companion or a friend. Thus, the meaning of the word can be interpreted to close, intimate, sociable, or homey in context of where it is being used. Moreover, it can be used to refer to the general sense of togetherness or a nice atmosphere as well.
Saudade
The Portuguese word saudade is often referred to as an untranslatable word. Saudade is used to describe the feeling of missing someone or something that makes it similar to nostalgia, but not equivalent. Saudade’s definition according to Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is ‘longing, melancholy, nostalgia, or as a supposed characteristic of Portuguese or Brazilian temperament’. The term Saudade is chiefly used in songs or poetry to describe feelings.
тоска
The Russian word тоска (toska) is quite similar to the Portuguese saudade, but exudes more pensiveness. Тоска is frequently specifically used to describe the Russian condition. There are many possible translations for the term Tocka in English such as anguish, boredom, ennui, melancholy, nostalgia, and yearning.