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

Inside the Noah Donohoe Inques...

00:23:49

Inside the Noah Donohoe Inquest

Newstalk Daily

00:23:49


Movies and TV: The Muppet Show...

00:15:41

Movies and TV: The Muppet Show, Shrinking and Season Two of Sisters

The Hard Shoulder

00:15:41


Calls for the government to in...

00:11:47

Calls for the government to introduce paid miscarriage leave

The Hard Shoulder

00:11:47


Ireland face of against France...

00:06:56

Ireland face of against France tonight: Luke Fitzgerald, former Irish international, joins us to preview the clash

The Hard Shoulder

00:06:56