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

In conversation with Dermot Ba...

00:13:17

In conversation with Dermot Bannon

The Anton Savage Show

00:13:17


Why some wounds won’t heal

00:31:04

Why some wounds won’t heal

Futureproof With Jonathan McCrea

00:31:04


Are we alarmist when it comes...

00:11:40

Are we alarmist when it comes to social media?

The Anton Savage Show

00:11:40


Simon Coveney on the future of...

00:19:42

Simon Coveney on the future of EU/US relations

The Anton Savage Show

00:19:42