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understanding untranslatability | basecase

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an exploration of the linguistic, cultural, and cognitive dimensions of untranslatability

[b] back to all posts understanding untranslatability October 17, 2025 • 8 min read 0:00 1 x 1.25 x 1.5 x 2 x 0:00 1 x 1.25 x 1.5 x 2 x Untranslatability refers to instances where a word, phrase, or concept in one language has no direct equivalent in another language. Often called "lexical gaps", they make perfect translation elusive. Importantly, untranslatables aren't totally impossible to translate. Rather, they lack a single concise equivalent, forcing translators to get creative with explanations or adaptations. I've always been fascinated by untranslatables, but only recently decided to

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