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

 Met Eireann have warned of a...

00:03:51

 Met Eireann have warned of a "treacherous start" to this morning

Newstalk Breakfast

00:03:51


Breakfast Briefing Newspaper R...

00:07:53

Breakfast Briefing Newspaper Review 5th January 2026

Breakfast Briefing

00:07:53


First Up 5th January 2026

00:06:20

First Up 5th January 2026

First Up – A GoLoud Original By Newstalk

00:06:20


A look at the year ahead in ba...

00:06:09

A look at the year ahead in banking

Breakfast Business With Joe Lynam

00:06:09