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

Movies and TV: Spider-Man, The...

00:13:57

Movies and TV: Spider-Man, The Dink, 72 Hours

The Hard Shoulder

00:13:57


Glen Hansard Vigil on Grafton...

00:06:39

Glen Hansard Vigil on Grafton Street - Emily Keegan Reports

The Hard Shoulder

00:06:39


US launches new wave of strike...

00:09:59

US launches new wave of strikes on Iran - latest updates

The Hard Shoulder

00:09:59


Why do we love to gossip?

00:11:26

Why do we love to gossip?

The Hard Shoulder

00:11:26