Gattara

Meaning: A woman — often elderly — who dedicates herself to feeding and caring for stray cats in her neighbourhood.

Language: Italian

Literally: cat woman

Category: Social

Origin: Italian gatto ('cat') + feminine suffix; a gentle, almost affectionate social archetype.

More untranslatable words — Social

Philotimo — A deep-rooted sense of dignity, generosity, and virtue — doing the right thing out of lov…
Pochemuchka — A person — usually a child — who asks an endless stream of questions, one 'why?' after an…
Mamihlapinatapai — The look between two people who both want the same thing but neither is willing to initia…
Ubuntu — The philosophy that a person is a person only through other people — humanity expressed t…
Jayus — A joke so unfunny, so badly delivered, that it becomes funny in its own right — a joke th…
Yuánfèn — The invisible thread of fate that brings people together — the destined connection betwee…

Meriggiare — To take a quiet midday rest in a cool, shaded spot, escaping the fierce afternoon sun.
Abbiocco — The heavy, irresistible drowsiness that comes after a large meal — the post-lunch stupor…
Culaccino — The ring or stain left on a surface by a wet or cold glass — that small, damp circle that…

Loading the full interactive collection…