untranslatable

English

Etymology

From un- +‎ translatable.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈʌnˌtɹænz.leɪt.ə.bəl/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Adjective

untranslatable (comparative more untranslatable, superlative most untranslatable)

  1. Not able to be translated.
    They referred to de Gaulle as a chienlit, a totally untranslatable term that suggests defecation in bed.
    • 2024 July 23, Moses Famuyiwa, “12 Untranslatable English Words You Should Learn”, in LiveXP‎[1], archived from the original on 19 July 2025:
      In translating untranslatable words, there is a need to use a sentence or phrase before the message can be passed across.

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

untranslatable (plural untranslatables)

  1. A word or phrase that is impossible to translate satisfactorily from one language to another.

Further reading

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