# "Lost in Translation" -- words that have no easy equivalent in English **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032 "2023-03-11T15:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/1 "2023-03-11T15:56:11Z")
Provoked by this article on the NPR website > **[Lost in translation: 4 perfect words that have no English equivalent](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/11/1162340949/words-language-english-dictionary-translation)** > > The Merriam-Webster Dictionary set out recently to document some of these words on Twitter, and was flooded with responses from people offering their own. > Sometimes they describe an attribute. Or a moment. Or maybe just a vibe. > > These are the words from other languages that don’t have a direct equivalent in English, and yet carry so much meaning. > > The Merriam-Webster dictionary set out recently to gather some of these words on Twitter, and was flooded with responses from people offering their own. > … This one caught my eye right off the bat (as it were): > “tsujigiri” in Japan (trying out your newly-acquired sword by decapitating a random passerby) 😱 Read the article and you will learn about - Débrouillard - Estrenar - Haa shagóon - Soubhiyé Lots of Dopers speak other languages (I don’t 🙁), so please do suggest some of your own. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/2 "2023-03-11T16:14:15Z")
I’m not a non-native english speaker, but i’d submit the word Verschlimmbesserung. It’s an improvement that makes things worse. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/3 "2023-03-11T16:18:53Z")
I’m a fan of mañana. In its simplest form, it’s used to mean “tomorrow”, but it’s really more like “perhaps some indeterminate day in the future”. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/4 "2023-03-11T16:27:49Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > tsujigiri I think this is the first time I’ve ever said this on a message board, but… Band name! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/5 "2023-03-11T16:29:12Z")
Along similar lines, I’m particularly fond of the etymology of “avatar”, because it went from having no equivalent concept (thus no equivalent word) to a hugely important equivalent concept. It was originally a Sanskrit word, referring to the incarnate or tangible form of a deity when it manifests on earth. There was no easy equivalent, because there was no similar belief/concept in Western religion. We don’t think of Jesus as an avatar of God. The word was adopted into English but remained obscure. (We could _now_ say that “virtual character” is a synonym, but of course that sense of virtual didn’t exist then.) Then, with the advent of computer games, an important new concept arose that _did_ naturally correspond to the Hindu meaning, and the already-adopted-but-rarely-used word exploded. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/6 "2023-03-11T16:30:05Z")
I’m surprised teens haven’t started using the word “whenever” in the same annoying way they use “whatever”. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/7 "2023-03-11T16:41:59Z")
From French, _Retrouvailles_ : an emotional meet-up with someone you haven’t seen for a while. _Dépaysement_ : Like culture shock, but neutral or even positive, as in something you deliberately seek out when you travel. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/8 "2023-03-11T16:45:46Z")
In Hungarian, a _sorstárs_ is someone who shares your tragic fate. Something like “fellow victim” or “fellow sufferer” but more eloquent. It’s often used in the context of those who lost their lives to political persecution under the Nazis or the communists. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/9 "2023-03-11T16:47:50Z")
There’s “anon,” meaning “after a while” or “soon.” Is kind of obscure, but I’ll use in when I’m feeling Shakespearean. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/10 "2023-03-11T16:50:18Z")
One Chinese word that’s tough to translate into English is _meng_ (also pronounced “_mong_.”) It’s a word that is kind of what you get when “intense,” “fun,” “hardcore”, “funny,” “driven” or “exciting” are all blended together. “That roller coaster ride was so _meng_!” “That customized silly painting is so _meng_.” “This basketball game has been really _meng_ thus far.” “That billionaire’s lifestyle is so _meng_!” On the other side, the English word “cousin” is notoriously difficult to translate into Chinese, because there are 8 different, extremely-specific words for cousin in Chinese, all depending on the cousin’s age (compared to the speaker,) gender, and family line. An English statement like “I had dinner with my cousin last week” is impossible to translate into Chinese without that supplemental information. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/11 "2023-03-11T16:58:17Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > It’s a word that is kind of what you get when “intense,” “fun,” “hardcore”, “funny,” “driven” or “exciting” are all blended together. That’s a good one! When I was a kid, I used the word _Bitchin’_ a lot. When my mom scolded me for it she could never come up with a polite alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/12 "2023-03-11T17:18:37Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > One Chinese word that’s tough to translate into English is _meng_ > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > When I was a kid, I used the word _Bitchin’_ a lot. When my mom scolded me for it she could never come up with a polite alternative. Cool. Then awesome. Then bad. Then… I’m not sure what adjective the kids on my lawn now use to describe wonderful things such as my lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/13 "2023-03-11T17:18:59Z")
Another good one is “inshallah”, which means “if god wills it”. An Arabic equivalent to “mañana” is “bokra”, which also literally means “tomorrow”, but really means “at some indeterminate time in the future or perhaps not ever”. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/14 "2023-03-11T17:29:00Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m a fan of mañana. In its simplest form, it’s used to mean “tomorrow”, but it’s really more like “perhaps some indeterminate day in the future”. In south Texas: _Mañana doesn’t mean tomorrow-- it just doesn’t mean today._ ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/15 "2023-03-11T17:35:14Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Cool. Then awesome. Then bad. In the world I grew up in, _cool_ and _awesome_ aren’t adequate to describe a perfectly executed Godzilla rail flip or a lightening bolt t-fish painted in hot rod flames. Bad was after my time and stupid confusing. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/16 "2023-03-11T21:06:55Z")
In several vulgar latin languages (except french), there are two words for the english word ‘to be’. In Portuguese, for example, ser and estar both mean ‘to be’ in English. Ser is intrinsic, estar is conditional (e.g. eu sou um homen (I am a guy), but estou com fome (I’m hungry). There can be a play on words between which verb to use, ser or estar, when referring to politicians (I am (ser) your mayor versus I am (estar) your mayor, which doesn’t easily translate to English. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/17 "2023-03-11T21:10:32Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > …versus I am (estar) your mayor, which doesn’t easily translate to English. “I might or might not possibly be your mayor someday”? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/18 "2023-03-11T21:16:08Z")
[Davka (דווקא)](https://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/davka-1.5955) means, among other nuances, both “precisely” and “to the contrary.” ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/19 "2023-03-11T21:17:35Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “I might or might not possibly be your mayor someday”? Typically you would use estar to describe a politician, because this is not intrinsic. But if you use ser, you imply that you are not just temporarily mayor, you are intrinsically mayor. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032/20 "2023-03-11T22:21:21Z")
> [@susan](#): > > [Davka (דווקא)](https://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/davka-1.5955) means, among other nuances, both “precisely” and “to the contrary.” And also, “Because fuck you, that’s why”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-in-translation-words-that-have-no-easy-equivalent-in-english/981032.md?page=2)