Given the many languages that exist around the world today, it’s hardly surprising that sometimes we came across words that are difficult to translate, words that we could spend years trying to find the right equivalent for in the target language. And usually, by searching and searching, you eventually find the proper term… However, if you ever encounter any of the words listed below, stop racking your brain, because I´m afraid to tell you that there isn’t any translation for them! You may find close equivalents, but none will ever be close enough to what the original concept expresses.

Here’s a list of some untranslatable words from different languages. Please add to our list with any untranslatable words you know!
Let´s start with tartle, which in Scottish refers to that moment when you forget the name of a person that you are about to introduce to a friend.
Also we have torschlusspanik, a German word that literally means “a fear of doors closing.” We could translate it as the fear of missing opportunities as you get older.
The English word googly is a type of pitch in cricket, which is untranslatable into other languages, because the sport is played only in Britain and India.
Kilkanascie in Polish means a number between 11 and 19.
One that I love is wabi-sabi, a Japanese word which refers to a way of living and finding happiness through an acceptance of life as it is, including all its imperfections.
The Spanish word duende traditionally referred to a small mythical creature with magical powers. Today it is used to for the mysterious power that a work of art has to touch a person, as in ‘the duende of the cante flamenco’.
Cwtch is a very much-used Welsh word which has several different meanings, including hugging, cuddling or snuggling up in an especially loving way.
A very curious one is the word jaysus in Indonesian. It is used to refer to a joke so badly told and so unfunny, that you cannot help but laugh.
The French L’espirit d’escalier, which is often translated as “staircase wit,” refers to the feeling that you get at the end of a conversation, when you think of all the things you should have said.
Finally, cafuné, in Portuguese (Brazil) is the act of gently combing someone´s hair with your fingers.

Can you think of any others? Please share them with us! =)