Untranslatable wordEmotionSpanish

Duende

Meaning: A mysterious quality in art or performance that moves you to your core — a dark, soulful, transcendent power that can't be taught, only felt.

Literally: Goblin / spirit

Origin: Spanish; theorised by poet Federico García Lorca in 1933 as the spirit behind flamenco.

More untranslatable words — Emotion

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  • Épanouissement The full flourishing of a person — blooming into your most complete, radiant self. More t…
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More Spanish untranslatable words

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  • Tutear To switch to the informal tú with someone — a small, deliberate act of closing social dis…
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Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

  • Simpático Actually means 'nice' or 'likeable'. For sympathetic, say comprensivo.
  • Carpeta Actually means 'folder' or 'binder'. A carpet is una alfombra.
  • Lectura Actually means 'reading'. A lecture is una conferencia.

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