15 Words With So Unique Meanings in Other Languages ​​They Have No Translation

Languages ​​are a fascinating thing and with many special elements, no matter which one we are talking about. One of the most curious things are those words that only exist in one language and cannot be literally translated into another, as is the case of saudade and cafuné, in Portuguese. But this is not something exclusive to our language and there are many other “untranslatable” words and expressions around the world.

we, from awesome.club, we also love these trivia and have brought you some of the words that cannot be literally translated in other languages ​​and what they mean. Check out!

This word is in Czech, the official language of the Czech Republic. Basically, prozvonit translates as the act of calling someone’s cell phone, but not letting them answer, but just ringing, in the hope that they will call back and so the caller doesn’t have to spend on the call.

Dépaysemente is a French word that means the uncomfortable feeling of not being in your home country. It is used to describe more than missing the homeland, but for the feeling that the person does not belong or feels out of place.

Have you ever been in the situation of taking time to remember someone’s name? It happens to everyone. But did you know that there is a word to describe that strange and somewhat embarrassing moment in which we stop to think until, finally, we can remember the person’s name? Yeah, in Scotland they call it a tartle.

Hygge is a Danish word that is sometimes translated as cozy. However, for speakers of this language, it means much more than that. It’s a sense of well-being related to being around loved ones or just relaxing, doing something you enjoy.

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese expression that conveys more than a feeling, but a way of seeing the world. It basically means finding beauty, or perfection, in something that is imperfect or unfinished. It’s accepting that not everything in life is perfect and it’s okay to be that way.

We even have this word in Portuguese, but in Spain it doesn’t mean that sweet thing you eat after a meal. There, dessert is a period of time after lunch or dinner, reserved only for resting and talking with the people you are with.

Originating from Russian, the word toska means something like very great anguish. It’s a feeling that can be nostalgia, longing for something you don’t know exactly what it is and that brings frustration.

Yuánfén is a word in Mandarin, one of the languages ​​spoken in China, which is used to describe that two people met by the actions of fate. This relationship, which can be friendship or love, was destined to happen.

When walking down the street or in nature, have you ever noticed that sunlight casts shadows on the ground as it passes through the leaves of the trees? This effect has a unique word to describe it in Japanese, komorebi.

Have you ever found yourself waiting for someone to arrive and constantly looking outside, feeling frustrated with the situation? There is a word for it in Inuit, iktsuarpok, which describes this anticipation of someone’s arrival.

Shadenfreude, from German, is one of those words that doesn’t have a literal translation, but it describes a feeling that many have felt, at least once in their lives. It means feeling satisfaction or joy when seeing something bad happen to someone else.

When placing a cold or wet glass on a wooden surface, such as a table, have you ever noticed that the bottom forms a circular mark? The Italians have a specific name to describe this: culaccino.

Hiraeth is a word in Welsh, the native language of Wales, which is sometimes understood to be similar to our longing. However, it is used to describe a feeling of nostalgia for a place, or time period, that you won’t be able to revisit because it’s gone.

Niksen is a Dutch word that represents, not something concrete, but a concept. It means doing nothing or doing something that has no purpose. It can be sitting and watching life through the window of your house, but not focusing on any thoughts or actions.

You know that feeling of butterflies in your stomach when you’re falling in love? In Norwegian there is the word forelsket, which means precisely that euphoria we feel at the beginning of passion.

So, do you know any other “untranslatable” words or is there an expression like that in your region? Share with us in the comments!