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

How can you spot a liar?

00:04:17

How can you spot a liar?

Newstalk Breakfast

00:04:17


John Simpson on the crisis in...

00:05:40

John Simpson on the crisis in the Middle East

Newstalk Breakfast

00:05:40


Celbridge primary school close...

00:06:01

Celbridge primary school closes over safety concerns

Newstalk Breakfast

00:06:01


384 passengers arrived home fr...

00:11:24

384 passengers arrived home from Dubai last night

Newstalk Breakfast

00:11:24