Ubuntu
Meaning: The philosophy that a person is a person only through other people — humanity expressed through community, compassion, and shared existence.
Language: Zulu
Literally: I am because we are
Category: Social
Origin: Nguni Bantu languages; ubuntu ngumuntu ngabantu: 'a person is a person through other persons.'
More untranslatable words — Social
- 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…
- Cafuné — The tender act of running your fingers through someone's hair — an intimate gesture of lo…
- Backpfeifengesicht — A face that is just begging to be slapped — someone so smug you can't help the urge.
- Tartle — That panicky pause when you go to introduce someone and realize you've forgotten their na…
- Tutear — To switch to the informal tú with someone — a small, deliberate act of closing social dis…
From our tongue twisters
- Ibsens ripsbusker og andre buskvekster. — An 'sb / sk / busk' cluster trap that jams the tongue between the bushes.
- Rødgrød med fløde. — The legendary soft-d and rounded 'ø' test — the phrase Danes use to spot a non-native ins…
- Nồi đồng nấu ốc, nồi đất nấu ếch. — A tonal drill that swaps vowels and tones (đồng/đất, ốc/ếch) while the rhythm stays stead…