---
title: untranslatable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «untranslatable» in the school dictionary: Untranslatable describes a word or phrase that has no exact match in another language, so it cannot be translated easily without a long explanation or losing some meaning. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# untranslatable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Untranslatable, phrase, long explanation, jokes, rhymes, poem · **What happens:** describe, have, not translate, lose, be, base · **To what, where:** word, exact match, language, match, meaning, jokes · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«untranslatable» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [untranslatable in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/untranslatable.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Untranslatable describes a word or phrase that has no exact match in another language, so it cannot be translated easily without a long explanation or losing some meaning.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:untranslatable:m1:1
# text = Untranslatable describes a word or phrase that has no exact match in another language, so it cannot be translated easily without a long explanation or losing some meaning.
1	Untranslatable	untranslatable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	11	det	_	_
10	exact	exact	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	det	_	_
14	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	21	advmod	_	_
20	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	aux:pass	_	_
21	translated	translate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	_
22	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
23	without	without	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
25	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl:agent	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	26	conj	_	_
29	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	30	det	_	_
30	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Untranslatable | a word or phrase |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent word=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | phrase | no exact match |  | another language |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent match=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **translate** | can · passive | a long explanation | match |  |  |  | easily *property* | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 4 | **lose** | gerund | a long explanation *not said here* | some meaning |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meaning=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some jokes are untranslatable because they are based on puns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:untranslatable:x1:1
# text = Some jokes are untranslatable because they are based on puns.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	untranslatable	untranslatable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	based	base	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	puns	pun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some jokes |  |  |  |  | untranslatable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **base** | present · passive |  | jokes *= joke* |  | puns |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme on pun=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Hygge» is often called an untranslatable Danish word.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:untranslatable:x2:1
# text = «Hygge» is often called an untranslatable Danish word.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Hygge	Hygge	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	untranslatable	untranslatable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	Danish	danish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Hygge |  |  |  | often *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The poem's rhymes are almost untranslatable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:untranslatable:x3:1
# text = The poem's rhymes are almost untranslatable.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	rhymes	rhyme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	untranslatable	untranslatable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the poem's rhymes |  |  |  |  | almost, untranslatable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **rhyme** |  | the poem |  |  |  |  |  | nom rhyme «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher said the Ukrainian word was untranslatable, then explained it in a sentence.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:untranslatable:x4:1
# text = The teacher said the Ukrainian word was untranslatable, then explained it in a sentence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Ukrainian	ukrainian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	untranslatable	untranslatable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	_
11	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the Ukrainian word |  |  |  |  | untranslatable *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher *not said here* | word |  | a sentence | then |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every language has a few untranslatable words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:untranslatable:x5:1
# text = Every language has a few untranslatable words.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	untranslatable	untranslatable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | every language | a few untranslatable words |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The author's wordplay was untranslatable, so the translator added notes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:untranslatable:x6:1
# text = The author's wordplay was untranslatable, so the translator added notes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	author	author	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	wordplay	wordplay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	untranslatable	untranslatable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	translator	translator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	added	add	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	notes	note	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the author's wordplay |  |  |  |  | untranslatable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | past | the translator | notes |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Patient |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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