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

U2 surprise concert in Dublin

00:12:41

U2 surprise concert in Dublin

The Hard Shoulder

00:12:41


Survivor of conflict-related s...

00:11:55

Survivor of conflict-related sexual violence

The Hard Shoulder

00:11:55


Orange Order granted permissio...

00:13:40

Orange Order granted permission for Drumcree parade

The Hard Shoulder

00:13:40


Stop the game rally

00:08:53

Stop the game rally

The Hard Shoulder

00:08:53