Eunoia

Words That Don't Translate

Eunoia was built in 24h by Steph. Search 700+ untranslatable words by 80+ languages and 60+ tags, or click refresh to see a new batch. Enjoy!


Word Definition Language Tags Audio
Oxymoron Figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction English attribute confusion
Akihi The forgetfulness felt immediately after being given directions Hawaiian stress confusion travel
Haiku (俳句) A form of Japanese poetry, usually just 17 syllables long (with lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables), involving the sudden juxtapositions of ideas or images, and often focused on natural (e.g., seasonal) phenomena. Japanese art
Pomicione A man who seizes any chance of being in close contact with a woman Italian attribute
Aka'aka'a Skin peeling or falling off after either sunburn or heavy drinking Hawaiian physical adverse
Wanderlust A strong desire to travel German travel adventure
Eldsjäl This noun is literally ‘fire-soul’, but the actual meaning is ‘enthusiast’ or ‘driving spirit’. Swedish strength
Lagom Not too much and not too little Swedish measurement
Athazagoraphobia The fear of forgetting, being forgotten or ignored, or being replaced English reflection thinking
Adroit Lit. according to right; skilled, resourceful; dexterous. French attribute
Jijivisha The strong, eternal desire to live and to continue living Hindi philosophy life awareness
Vergüenza ajena Shame or embarrassment felt as a result of the actions of others Spanish adverse feeling
Te quiero Similar to "I love you" in a lower level, something that you say to someone and maybe someday it will be "love". For example, It's used with close co workers or in the classroom. Spanish feeling
Baadastoor Unaltered, or unchanged, for something that is habitual Urdu change habits
Firgun (פירגון) Ungrudging and overt (expressed) pride and happiness at other's successes. Hebrew happiness
Jia You (加油) Literally translated to mean "add oil", Jia You means something along the lines of "give'er hell", used in the same way "good luck" is often applied in English Chinese strength interaction
Qì (氣) Lit. air, breath; ‘life force/energy’. Chinese health awareness
Latah Uncontrollable habit of saying embarrassing things Indonesian habits
Kabelsalat Tangled up cables; literally “cable-salad" German funny physical
Rocambolesco Stunning action that requires extreme audacity; literally means "there's no need" as in "there's no need to thank you" Italian extreme surprise
uḷaṟu (உளறு) To say something that should not be or to say somethng nonsensical or unrelated Tamil awareness adverse
Capicua A number that doesn't vary if the numbers are inverted. Also it can be called a palindrome, but the word capicua refers especially to the numbers Catalan measurement
Beau geste A gesture noble in its nature or intention but ultimately meaningless in substance French action
Chantepleurer Singng and crying simultaneously French action
Fernweh To have a yearning to see distant places German travel thinking
Schlimazel A chronically unlucky person Yiddish attribute adverse
Retrouvailles Lit. 'rediscovery'; a reunion (e.g., with loved ones after a long time apart). French friends family
Irusu Pretending to be out when someone knocks at your door Japanese event funny
Schnapsidee An idea so stupid the person must have thought of it while drunk German funny thinking creative
Formacja A state of mind and its own culture of a generation Polish society change




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