Hi there! I thought it might be interesting to create a forum topic about untranslatable words. What words do you have in your native language that defy translation? What do they mean?
I start with these two German words:
• "Geborgenheit" (noun), "geborgen" (adjective):
It describes the state of feeling safe (both physically and mentally) at a particular location and also comfortable and happy e.g. because you are at home or with the people you love. You have the feeling that nothing bad will happen to you.
Comparable English terms could be: "concealment/safety" and "comfortable/safe".
• "Weltschmerz" (noun):
When you compare the world's real state with what you've expected and you must find out that reality is much worse than your expectations, you have this feeling which is even in English called "weltschmerz".
Literal translation is "world pain". A comparable English term could be: "world weariness".
What words can you find? I'm looking forward to reading yours!