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

Why are we seeing a rise in AD...

00:07:54

Why are we seeing a rise in ADHD medication prescriptions?

The Hard Shoulder

00:07:54


How to do Stuff: Avoiding push...

00:09:54

How to do Stuff: Avoiding pushy parenting

The Hard Shoulder

00:09:54


FAI executives appear before O...

00:10:53

FAI executives appear before Oireachtas over Israel games fallout

The Hard Shoulder

00:10:53


Tech Takeover: Lidl’s new mobi...

00:08:01

Tech Takeover: Lidl’s new mobile plan

The Hard Shoulder

00:08:01