Advertisement

What are ‘untranslatable’ words?

Language necessarily evolves to accommodate new ideas, new concepts and new cultural paradigms. B...

Share this article

15.22 26 Mar 2025


What are ‘untranslatable’ words?


Listen to this episode


Share this article

15.22 26 Mar 2025


Language necessarily evolves to accommodate new ideas, new concepts and new cultural paradigms.

But, what happens when a word exists in one language, but not another?

There are lots of so-called ‘untranslatable’ words in English, and some Irish ones have been added to the latest version of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Fiona McPherson is Senior Editor at the Oxford English Dictionary and joins Seán to discuss.


Read more about

Moncrieff Highlights

Related Episodes

TV on the Radio: The Revenge C...

00:16:39

TV on the Radio: The Revenge Club, Irish Blood, Man vs Baby

TV On The Radio

00:16:39


Newstalk’s 25 of 25: Best Acto...

00:13:15

Newstalk’s 25 of 25: Best Actor

Moncrieff

00:13:15


Should the Gardaí have tasers?

00:13:18

Should the Gardaí have tasers?

Moncrieff

00:13:18


Coming home for Christmas as a...

00:18:38

Coming home for Christmas as an adult - Henry McKean Reports

Moncrieff

00:18:38