Untranslatable - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Untranslatable refers to a word, phrase, or concept that cannot be fully or accurately translated into another language without losing its original meaning, nuance, or cultural significance.
Definition:
Impossible to express or translate accurately in another language.
Synonyms:
inexpressible, undefinable, incommunicable
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
translatable, expressible, definable
Common Collocations:
untranslatable words, untranslatable concept, untranslatable phrase
Derivatives:
untranslatability, untranslated
Usage Tips:
Use "untranslatable" to describe words or ideas that lose meaning when converted to another language.
Common Phrases:
lost in translation, beyond words, culturally specific term
Etymology:
Derived from "un-" (not) + "translatable," from Latin "translatus" (carried across).
Examples:
- 1. The word "schadenfreude" is considered untranslatable in English.
- 2. Some emotions are untranslatable because they lack equivalent terms in other languages.
- 3. Poetry often contains untranslatable nuances that defy direct conversion.
- 4. The concept of "hygge" is nearly untranslatable outside Danish culture.