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

Is VAR Ruining Football?

00:27:19

Is VAR Ruining Football?

Newstalk Daily

00:27:19


Gulliver's Travels at 300

00:40:58

Gulliver's Travels at 300

Talking History With Patrick Geoghegan

00:40:58


The power of a prompt

00:14:07

The power of a prompt

Alive And Kicking With Clare McKenna

00:14:07


100 Years of Fianna Fáil

00:16:23

100 Years of Fianna Fáil

The Pat Kenny Show

00:16:23