Pebbling #2 - Does Not Translate

What Untranslatable Words Reveal About Culture

I love discovering words that only exist in one language. They show how deeply language and culture are intertwined. When a word has no translation, it reveals something unique that matters to that society alone.

For example, the Dutch word uitwaaien represents walking in nature during windy conditions to clear your head. Only a land full of windmills can come up with a word like that.

I share with you 3 of my favorites:

• 🇩🇪 Fingerspitzengefühl, literally meaning “finger tips feeling,” refers to a refined instinct or intuition. In social situations, it’s about having a delicate sense of tact, diplomacy, and awareness of others’ emotions.

• 🇯🇵 Tsundoku refers to the pile of books you’ve bought but haven’t read yet. Think of your collection like a wine cellar, you can pick up a book when the moment feels right, enjoy it for a while, and put it down. Some books, like Harry Potter, you’ll devour in one sitting, while others you can enjoy in slow sips.

• 🇮🇸 Sólviskubit, or “sun shame,” is the guilt you feel for staying indoors when the weather is nice. If you’ve never lived in a country that’s usually cold and gray, you might not understand this unique form of guilt.

There is a full subreddit dedicated to sharing these pieces of culture named DoesNotTranslate. What is your favorite untranslatable word?