When Only One Word Will Do
We have all been there at one time or another – scrambling around in our brains fruitlessly trying to come up with an equivalent of what we mean in another language. And often it is not because we can not actually speak that particular language, but because there is simply no equivalent.
Could that be because individuals in other countries see the world slightly differently to us? It is a thought. And, well, considering there are more than 6,000 languages in the world, it is kind-of understandable, really.
The author Milan Kundera was one such individual who found himself tearing his hair out trying to find an equivalent for the Czech word litost. A Czech citizen experiencing litost would be a tormented individual who is in agony because he’s just caught sight of how miserable he or she is. In English, well he would be verging on minor depression.
Here in Scotland we have our own untranslatable word (one of many we are sure). It’s tartle. Not a word you often hear on the streets of (even) Glasgow these days, it describes that embarrassing silence when you’re trying to introduce someone whose name you have forgotten. Er, have we not all had occasion to use that particular word?! The Japanese word Kyoikumama is one which Mumsnet and other mummy bloggers forums around the world should take note of. That is because it describes a mother who stops at nothing to ensure her child excels academically. Remember Tiger Mum?
Untranslatable insults
If you are a man in Germany and referred to as a sitzpinkler then you are not going to be very flattered. Why? Because it directly translates as ‘a man who sits to pee’ – in other words, a bit of a wuss (as we would say in English).
Germany again, gets our next vote with the next word – backpfeifengesicht – a beautifully abbreviated way to say someone has ‘a face in need of a fist’ i.e. someone who deserves a punch.
Still on the subject of insults, if you’re referred to as a luftmensch in Yiddish then understand that you’re simply ‘an impractical dreamer with no business sense whatsoever.’ It is not nice, but it is better than having a ‘punchable’ face, we reckon. Maybe you recognise the next word – or at least the definition? Bakku-shan in Japanese is used to define a woman who looks lovely from behind but er, is not quite so attractive from the front. Yep, it is a derogatory word and we’re rather curious to know if there is a male equivalent. And if not, why not??
Useful untranslatable words
One of our favourite non-equivalent words is Papakata in the Maori language. And yet it covers a condition which is experienced worldwide – an individual who has one leg shorter than the other.
And talking of useful equivalents, at a previous position of mine at Skyscanner, we had an experience many years ago where we found it difficult to find equivalents to the phrase price per person (PP) – a useful little abbreviation one would have thought. But nope, in Romania there is no way of saying this while in Turkey you would be forced to use an alternative expression such as ‘one person’.
Finally, we want to finish off with our favourite word – Ilunga. If you live in Southwest Congo, of course, then you will know right away that this refers to someone who is about to forgive the abuse which she or he has just experienced, yet are prepared to tolerate it a second time. Were it to occur a third time, however, forgiveness would never be given. Hmm, we need a rest now.
What is your favourite non-translatable word or phrase? We’d really love to hear from you.