This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
By now you should know the benefits of, and reasons for, hiring a professional service to translate your website, eLearning course, business materials, and legal documentation.
Translation professionals understand languages and all the quirks and differences that set them apart from each other. And we’re here to tell you, some words and phrases just do not translate.
When that happens, good translators use their vast knowledge to choose an appropriate word that conveys the meaning of the original word or phrase they were trying to get across.
To really drive this point home, we decided to show you words from languages all around the world that are either untranslatable, or at least really tough to translate with accuracy.
• Toska
This is a Russian word that the English language cannot quite grasp the meaning of. It is a word that describes spiritual anguish and, although one could try to use words like nostalgia, love-sickness, boredom, restlessness, a longing without anything to really long for, etc., none of these quite does justice to this beautiful word.
• Litost
This Czech word is used to describe a state of pain and torment caused by a glimpse into one’s own misery. Now, wouldn’t that be hard to translate into English?
• Jayus
This is an Indian term that refers to a joke that is so poorly told that you can’t help but to laugh. While we have this happen in the English speaking world all the time, we do not have a specific word for it.
• Age-otori
This Japanese word describes something that has surely happened to us at least once. It means to look worse after a haircut.
• L’esprit de l’escalier
This is a French phrase that refers to the act of thinking of a witty comeback after it is too late.
• Iksuarpok
An Inuit word that describes the act of going outside to check if anyone is coming. It’s interesting to see how in one language, only one word is used for something that would need a sentence or two in another. Imagine if something like this needed translating into English, and you only tried to replace iksuarpok with one word. Imagine the confusion!
• Backpfeifengesicht
This German word refers to a face that is in need of a fist, a face you just can’t help wanting to punch We’re not sure many businesses would need this translated, but who among us hasn’t run across a Backpfeifengesicht before?
• Guanxi
This is a Mandarin word and, in order to understand its meaning, you would need to know some history of Chinese society. In traditional Chinese culture, you create good guanxi for yourself by giving gifts to people, paying for dinner, etc. However, you can also take away or use up your guanxi when you expect for one of your favors to be repaid.
• Gigil
This Filipino word is pronounced like gheegle and is used to describe the urge people get to pinch something that they find absolutely adorable, such as a baby.
• Tartle
This Scottish word is used to explain the unfortunate event of forgetting someone’s name when you introduce him or her. It more specifically means the hesitation you experience when you are about to introduce someone whose name you’ve suddenly forgotten.
• Nunchi
This Korean term refers to the art of listening to someone to determine his or her mood, and then to decide what you should or shouldn’t say or do. Someone who cannot seem to master this would be called a nunchi eoptta, which means they are absent of nunchi.
In academia, the English term that closely relates to this would be emotional intelligence. Even though it has a loose translation in English, it isn’t a word that is easily recognizable, and it doesn’t hold quite the same meaning.
• Prozvonit
This is another Czech word that also has a similar meaning that translates into Spanish. In Czech, it means that you call a cell phone and let it ring once, in hopes the person calls you back to save you money.
In Spanish the similar phrase “Dar un toque” translates to “to give a touch.”
• Meraki
This Greek word is pronounced may-rah-kee and explains the act of putting yourself into what you’re doing. Think in terms of artists, writers, and musicians. They tend to perform his or her craft with love, soul and/or creativity.
This is just a small sampling of the different words and meanings that could cause confusion and possibly lose you business customers or associates, if not handled with care. Learn from this that, when you need a translation service, always rely on professionals who know the true meaning behind the words in their native language, and who know how to translate.
