Lost in translation

This via Liz is the list of the most untranslatable words in the world from professional translators. The word that tops the poll is ILUNGA, a word in the Bantu language of Tshiluba for: A Person Ready To Forgive Any Abuse For The First Time; To Tolerate It A Second Time; But Never A Third Time I think I'm that person.

Comments

[anne]

I read this in the Guardian. You don't have to go very far to find dialect words that have no standard english equivalent.

My favourite is "bumfle" (spelling uncertain) which describes clothing which rides up into a rolls usually around your waist. Think of a bulky jumper tucked into a too tight pair of jeans and you begin to get the picture.

Would your word in any way refer to your post on privacy?

Love A.

[kitschenette]

i read this in the economist a few weeks ago, too.