The Power of Words: How Untranslatable Words Can Change Your Perspective

Quick answer

Untranslatable words offer a shortcut to new ways of feeling and thinking, giving you a richer emotional vocabulary. To start shifting your perspective, explore words from other cultures and pair them with reflective tools like mood cards or guided books that help you apply these insights to your own life.

Have you ever felt an emotion that seemed to have no name? Or struggled to explain a mood that felt completely familiar yet impossible to describe? This gap between experience and language is more than a minor inconvenience—it can shape how you understand yourself and the world.

When we lack words for certain feelings, we tend to overlook or dismiss them. But other cultures have developed precise terms for these subtle states, offering us a chance to expand not just our vocabulary, but our entire perspective. By learning a few untranslatable words, you can begin to notice and appreciate experiences that were previously invisible.

Why language shapes perspective

The idea that language influences thought is not new. The words we have at our disposal act as filters, highlighting certain aspects of experience while obscuring others. When a language lacks a term for a particular feeling, speakers are less likely to recognize it in themselves or others. Conversely, when a word exists, it makes that experience more accessible and real.

For example, the Japanese concept of 'wabi-sabi' captures a worldview centered on imperfection and transience. Without a single word for this, English speakers might struggle to articulate a similar appreciation for the flawed and fleeting. But once you learn the term, you start to see instances of it everywhere—from a chipped teacup to the changing seasons. This shift in attention is the first step toward a broader perspective.

• Try to identify a feeling you often have but cannot name. Research if another culture has a word for it.

The emotional gap in everyday life

Many untranslatable words describe emotional states that are common yet unnamed in English. For instance, the German 'Fernweh' refers to a longing for far-off places, distinct from homesickness. The Portuguese 'saudade' conveys a deep, melancholic nostalgia for something that may not return. These words validate feelings that might otherwise be dismissed as vague or unimportant.

When you lack a precise term, you might struggle to communicate your needs or understand your own behavior. This can lead to frustration in relationships and a sense of being misunderstood. By expanding your emotional vocabulary, you become better equipped to articulate your inner world, which is a crucial step toward emotional intelligence and healthier connections.

• Keep a list of untranslatable words that resonate with you. Review it when you are trying to pinpoint a mood.

How to start using untranslatable words

You do not need to become fluent in another language to benefit from untranslatable words. Simply learning a few terms and reflecting on their meanings can open new mental pathways. Start by exploring word lists or books that compile such terms, and choose one that resonates with your current life situation.

Then, make it personal. Ask yourself: When have I felt this way? How would my actions or decisions change if I acknowledged this feeling? You might even share the word with a friend or partner, using it as a conversation starter to deepen mutual understanding. The goal is not to collect obscure terms but to integrate them into your daily awareness.

• Pick one untranslatable word each week and look for moments that exemplify it in your daily life.

Tools to deepen your emotional vocabulary

While learning new words is valuable, applying them to your own emotional landscape can be challenging. This is where reflective tools come in handy. For instance, the Mood Map card game offers 60 cards, each naming an emotion you might be experiencing without being able to pin down exactly. Using these cards with a friend, partner, or therapist helps you identify and articulate feelings that might otherwise remain vague.

Similarly, An Emotional Menagerie provides an A-Z glossary of feelings for children, but its clear descriptions can help adults too. It breaks down complex emotions into understandable terms, making it easier to recognize and communicate what you feel. These tools complement the study of untranslatable words by giving you a structured way to explore your inner world.

• Use a card deck like Mood Map during a quiet evening to check in with your current emotional state.

Diagnosis: Are you stuck in a limited emotional vocabulary?

• Symptom: You often feel that words fail to capture your emotions, leading to frustration or a sense of being misunderstood. This is common; it signals a gap between experience and language.
• Likely cause: Your native language may lack precise terms for certain feelings, leaving you without the tools to recognize and articulate them. The problem is not with you but with the available vocabulary.
• Corrective action: Introduce untranslatable words into your daily reflection. Pair them with tools like Mood Map or An Emotional Menagerie to practice naming emotions in real time. Start small: choose one word and one card per day.
• When to stop or choose another option: If you find that learning new words alone does not deepen your emotional insight, consider exploring more structured resources, such as books on emotional intelligence or working with a therapist. The goal is not memorization but genuine self-understanding.

Products that help you put words to feelings

• Mood Map: Cards to help you understand your emotions. It can sometimes be very hard to know – let alone tell others – what we actually feel. Here is a pack of 60 cards, each of which puts a finger on an emotion that we might be experiencing without being able to pin it down exactly. The cards range in themes from happy to sad, agitated to serene. Use these cards with a friend, a partner, a therapist or a parent. This deck provides a tangible way to explore the subtle emotions that untranslatable words describe, making it easier to name and share what you feel.
• An Emotional Menagerie: A glossary of feelings from A-Z. Children experience all sorts of emotions, sometimes going through several very different ones before breakfast. Yet they can struggle to put these feelings into words. An inability to understand and communicate their moods can lead to bad behaviour, deep frustration and a whole host of difficulties further down the line. An Emotional Menagerie is an emotional glossary for children. Even adults can benefit from this clear, alphabetical approach to emotions, helping to build a foundational vocabulary that makes untranslatable words easier to grasp.

Untranslatable words are more than linguistic curiosities—they are keys to new ways of seeing and feeling. By consciously incorporating them into your life, you can break free from the limits of your native language and develop a richer, more nuanced perspective. Start with a single word today, and let it open a door to a world of feeling you never had words for.