Sometimes, words aren’t enough. That’s why we’ve started collecting untranslatable words and concepts from different languages and translating them on our Instagram page.
Here are the words we’ve collected so far. Which words did we miss? Comment on one of the Instagram posts below to let us know.
1) Fernweh (German)
2) Komorebi (Japanese)
Welcome to our new #untranslatable series. Every Wednesday, we’ll post a word that can’t be translated, often representing a concept that only exists in that culture. Have a suggestion? Put it in the comments. #Komorebi (Japanese): “The scattered light effect that happens when sunlight shines through trees.” ?☀️ A photo posted by Cultural Vistas (@culturalvistas) on
3) Koselig (Norwegian)
Submitted by Laura Graham (@uwalau), YSEALI Generation: Earth alumna.
4) Waldeinsamkeit (German)
5) Culaccino (Italian)
6) Gufra (Arabic)
7) Bayanihan (Filipino)
Submitted by Jules Guiang (@JULESguiang), YSEALI Generation: Earth alumnus.
8) Torschlusspanik (German)
Submitted by @FranzWRivera, CBYX alumnus.
Every Wednesday, we post a word that is #untranslatable, often representing a concept that only exists in that culture. Have a suggestion? Put it in the comments. #Torschlusspanik (German): Literally “gate-closing panic,” the fear that time is running out and that opportunities are diminishing as you age. A photo posted by Cultural Vistas (@culturalvistas) on
9) Dépaysement (French)
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