What if some words are simply… untranslatable?
Every language carries its own vision of the world.
And sometimes, no other language has a word that expresses exactly the same idea.
The result: instead of translating… we borrow the original word.
That’s how certain terms become universal.
And this phenomenon fascinates both linguists and professional translators.
Here are three fascinating examples.
1. “Terroir”: the French word used worldwide
The word terroir is now used all over the world… in French.
Why?
Because there is no exact equivalent in other languages.
The term refers to all the natural factors that influence a product:
- the soil
- the climate
- the exposure
- local know-how
In wine, but also in cheese or coffee, the word terroir has become an international concept.
Even English speakers now talk about “wine terroir”.
2. “Hygge”: the quiet happiness from Denmark
The Danish word hygge has become global.
But no one has really managed to translate it.
It describes a blend of:
- comfort
- conviviality
- simple moments shared with loved ones
A candlelit dinner on a winter’s evening?
The Danes would simply say: “That’s hygge.”
The word has become so popular that it’s entered many international dictionaries.
The English might say “cosy”.
3. “Ubuntu”: an African philosophy impossible to sum up
The word ubuntu, from the Bantu languages of southern Africa, means roughly:
“I am because we are.”
This philosophy emphasises the interdependence between human beings.
It was popularised worldwide by Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.
Today, the word ubuntu is used in many countries… without being translated.
Even the Ubuntu operating system takes its name from this idea of shared humanity.
Why some words can’t be translated
Linguists refer to this as lexical gaps.
A language doesn’t always have the exact word for a particular cultural concept.
When this happens, there are two options:
1️⃣ create a new word
2️⃣ keep the original word
That’s how terms like terroir, hygge or ubuntu become universal.
Translation is also about understanding a culture
These examples highlight something essential:
Translation isn’t just about replacing words.
It requires an understanding of the cultural context, the nuances and the history behind each term.
That’s precisely what sets machine translation apart… from professional work.
Sources:
- Oxford Dictionary – “Hygge”
- UNESCO – Ubuntu philosophy in African culture
- Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) – definition of terroir
- Berlin & Kay, Basic Colour Terms: Their Universality and Evolution, University of California Press