About Untranslatable
Celebrating the words that connect us across cultures.
Our Mission
Every language holds words that simply cannot be translated into another—not because we lack the vocabulary, but because they capture feelings, moments, and ideas so specific to a culture that no single word in another language can do them justice.
Untranslatable exists to collect, preserve, and share these remarkable expressions. We believe that discovering a word like saudade, komorebi, or hygge does something powerful: it reveals that someone, somewhere, felt something so deeply that they created a word for it—and that feeling was always available to you, too.
What We Do
We research and curate untranslatable words from languages and cultures around the world. For each word, we provide:
- Careful definitions that go beyond a dictionary entry
- Cultural context explaining where the word comes from and why it matters
- Real-world scenarios that help you feel the word, not just understand it
- Curated collections that group words by emotion, theme, and region
Our goal is not just to list words, but to help you experience them. Language is humanity's greatest invention, and every untranslatable word is proof of its depth.
Who We Are
Untranslatable is an independent project built by a small team of language enthusiasts and developers. We are passionate about linguistics, cultural exchange, and the idea that understanding how others name their experiences makes us more empathetic and connected.
Meet Our Contributors
The writers, linguists, and translators behind our collection.
Annelise DuboisUnpacking the nuances of the unspoken, one word at a time.
Anya PetrovaUnpacking the world's untranslatable wisdom, one word at a time.
Dr. Kenji TanakaUnpacking the nuances of words that defy easy translation.
Kwame NkrumahUnearthing the stories woven into West African lexicons.
Sofia RossiUnpacking the nuances of human experience, one untranslatable word at a time.
Get in Touch
Have a word you think we should feature? Found an error? Just want to say hello? We'd love to hear from you.
Reach us at [email protected] or visit our contact page.