8 Mind-Blowing Spanish Words That Defy English Translation
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Translation is often complicated and far from straightforward, oftentimes due to the large number of expressions used by native speakers that sometimes lack direct translations. Translating content from Spanish into English and vice versa is no different. There are various Spanish words that don’t exist in English and translating them correctly makes for a major challenge.
While the meaning of these words may be difficult to grasp, it’s always worth delving into the distinct ways that language reflects the culture and identity of its speakers.
So, are you ready to soak in a few, new and fascinating Spanish words that’ll have you thinking “I wish we had these words in English”? Then you might like to stay on board until the end!
1. Sobremesa – noun
This is a crucial word of highly traditional significance, because in Spain, dinner is more than just a meal – it’s a social occasion that’s meant to be savoured and enjoyed to the max. The literal meaning of “Sobremesa” in English is just “over the table”.
Example:
Cada sábado tenemos una sobremesa con la familia.
“Every Saturday after lunch, we sit around and chat as a family.”
2. Chapuza – adjective
Example:
Todo lo que haces es una chapuza!
“Everything you do is shoddy!”
3. Madrugar – verb
This verb means to wake up at the crack of dawn, just as the sun begins to light up the sky. It conveys the intention of waking up early enough in order to fulfil one’s obligations for the day. After all, the early bird catches the worm!
Example:
Se está haciendo tarde y mañana tengo que madrugar.
“It’s getting late, and tomorrow, I have to get up early.”
4. Dominguero – noun
Everyone needs to escape from time to time. However, Spanish speakers use this term to describe people who take it to a different level. Although this Spanish word has no direct English translation, its closest equivalent is “a Sunday/day tripper”.
Example:
Dominguero conoce belleza local, el elixir a su estresante vida en la ciudad.
“The Sunday tripper knows the local beauty, the elixir to his stressful life in the city.”
5. Empalagar – adjective
Examples:
6. Trámite – noun
Example:
Me da la impresión de que el trámite burocrático aumenta año tras año.
“I get the feeling that bureaucratic paperwork increases by the year.”
7. Estrenar – verb
Spanish speakers may use the verb in two different ways; either to imply they’re “wearing something for the first time” or “using something for the first time”.
Example:
Voy a estrenar el cepillo que me regalaste”.
“I’m going to use the new brush you gave me.”
8. Mimoso – adjective
Although being physically affectionate is appropriate in some cases, it’s not so much in others. And that’s where the negative use of the Spanish word “Mimoso” comes in, used to describe someone who is excessively clingy or demanding of physical affection, to the point where it becomes intrusive.
Examples:
Pangea Global – we translate the untranslatable
Now you might be asking yourself: how convenient would it be if we had these words at our disposal? There might not be any direct translations of those Spanish words in English, but there’s still hope on the horizon – English borrows words from other languages continuously, after all.
Are you still Spanish-curious? Then don’t forget to check our article about the most Popular Spanish Dialects You Should Know!
If you’re struggling to navigate the complexities of Spanish, Pangea Global’s professional translation services can point you in the right direction. No matter how challenging or arduous your translation task may be, our 900 native speaker translators for 75+ languages, including Spanish, can tackle it with style. Contact us today – and we’ll make the impossible translatable!
