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

First Up 3rd December 2025

00:06:03

First Up 3rd December 2025

First Up – A GoLoud Original By Newstalk

00:06:03


Does Irish Tourism Live Up to...

00:26:32

Does Irish Tourism Live Up to Its Luxury Prices?

Newstalk Daily

00:26:32


Reactions to Zelenskyy’s Irish...

00:13:17

Reactions to Zelenskyy’s Irish visit

The Hard Shoulder

00:13:17


The Bookshelf with Karen Koste...

00:15:12

The Bookshelf with Karen Koster

The Hard Shoulder

00:15:12