Words Without Borders – Yet Impossible to Translate
Every language is like a map marked with unique pathways of thought and feeling. Some words on that map have no clear borders because they simply can’t be translated with a single word. Slovak expressions in this category are especially rich and colorful: they capture humor, nature, and subtle moods that reflect our history and way of life.
Treasures of Slovak
1. Škoda
A single word that mixes regret, acceptance, and a gentle touch of sympathy. To je škoda means “what a shame,” but it also acknowledges, almost philosophically, that things happen and we move on. In Old Church Slavonic, škoditi meant “to harm,” and today it still reflects that sense of loss or missed opportunity.
2. Babie leto
This poetic name for the warm, sunny days between summer and autumn literally means “grandmother’s summer.” It comes from the gossamer threads of spider silk floating in the air, reminiscent of silver hair. First written records date back to the 18th century. English has Indian summer, but babie leto feels gentler and more lyrical, evoking the last quiet glow of the season.
3. Človečina
A word scented with homemade pastries and the sound of warm laughter. It stands for humanity, kindness, and heartfelt connection. English humanity is too formal; človečina is soft and welcoming. It appears in literature from the 19th century, often describing a space filled with human warmth and solidarity.
4. Poflakovať sa
More than just wandering. Poflakovať sa suggests carefree roaming through streets or parks with no plan, savoring the freedom of doing nothing. Parents might say it with a raised eyebrow, but for young people it carries a romantic sense of leisure and quiet rebellion.
5. Zmrznúť
This word means not just “to freeze,” but to feel cold down to the bone. Slovaks also use it metaphorically-zmrzol som od strachu (“I froze from fear”)-giving it a dramatic edge that plain freeze can’t capture.
More Slovak Gems
Slovak offers many other untranslatable treasures:
Zívať: not only “to yawn,” but also to describe emptiness-obchod zíva prázdnotou (“the shop yawns with emptiness”).
Rozjímať: a peaceful, almost spiritual kind of reflection that goes beyond a simple think or meditate.
Chýbať: literally “to be missing,” as in Ty mi chýbaš-the person is the one doing the missing, as if a piece of them is truly absent.
Ľúbiť: softer than “to love,” yet deeper than “to like,” expressing gentle, lasting affection.
These words show how Slovak captures emotional shades that other languages often need a whole sentence to express.
For Comparison Around the World
Other cultures have their own unique expressions. The Portuguese speak of saudade, a bittersweet longing for something perhaps never to return. Danes treasure hygge, a cozy, peaceful comfort with friends and candlelight. Japanese use komorebi for the dappled light filtering through tree leaves. Fascinating as they are, Slovak words feel intimately woven into everyday life-from family conversations to casual chats on the street.
Language as a Mirror of Culture
Untranslatable words are more than charming quirks. They reveal what Slovaks value: humor even in hardship (opica), reverence for nature (babie leto), and deep connections with family and friends (ľúbiť). When you as Erasmus students discover these expressions, you gain more than vocabulary - you will be able to glimpse a worldview. Language becomes a living chronicle, where each word tells a story about the land and its people.
Words as Tiny Travel Guides
Such expressions also prove that language itself is a kind of journey. Each is like a miniature guidebook to the place where it arose. Learning the Japanese komorebi conjures a forest lit by sunlight; Finnish sisu transports you to snowy fields where inner strength matters most. And when a visitor hears the Slovak poflakovať sa, they can almost see the quiet corners of Bratislava’s Old Town or park benches where friends linger without hurry. These words act like postcards-tiny souvenirs of a culture, carried in your memory even if you’ve never crossed its borders.
Conclusion
Untranslatable words remind us that language is not merely a system of rules but a living reflection of emotion and history. Each expression carries a fragment of the land it comes from and reveals what its people hold dear. Slovak gems like opica, babie leto, or človečina prove that language can preserve a mood no single translation can capture. Through them, the world grows more colorful and layered - and every encounter with a new language becomes a quiet discovery that broadens our understanding.