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

Pat's Sunday Paper Review May...

00:17:34

Pat's Sunday Paper Review May 10th

The Pat Kenny Show

00:17:34


The Age Code: The New Science...

00:11:05

The Age Code: The New Science of Food and How It Can Save Us

The Pat Kenny Show

00:11:05


Living Lives: A Biographer's J...

00:13:37

Living Lives: A Biographer's Journey by Anne Chambers

The Pat Kenny Show

00:13:37


Shane Ross on his new book - R...

00:15:02

Shane Ross on his new book - RTÉ: Saints, Scholars and Scandals

The Pat Kenny Show

00:15:02