A dictionary
that goes beyond
translation.

Discover the dictionary that allows native speakers to share and explain the words and expressions that make their language unique.

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iets door de vingers zien *

* seeing something through the fingers

Allowing something when you shouldn't. It's about pretending not to see something, when you actually do see it: covering your eyes but actually looking through your fingers.

"Mark heeft zijn huiswerk niet gemaakt, maar ik zie het door de vingers omdat hij het al zo druk heeft."

"Mark didn't do his homework, but I'll see it through the fingers as he's already so busy."

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language + context

Not everything is said with just a translation. Created by linguists, Untranslatable is a dictionary that uses crowdsourcing and sociolinguistic principles to gain a better understanding of language.

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used only by teenagers
has no literal translation
used in specific region
has a funny literal translation
has several meanings
mostly used ironically
used very infrequently
reference to a famous tv commercial
not to be used in front of grandma

what makes us unique


Untranslatable is an online dictionary that allows you to add words and phrases in any language or dialect. Here is what makes us unique.

Untranslatable

context

Find out not just what something means, but who uses it, where, and how often, along with an example and translation.

Untranslatable

verification

Each entry includes a link to an example, is seen by a moderator and can be verified by other users.

Untranslatable

inclusivity

We love informal language, regional dialects, minority languages and other forms of language that are often overlooked.

a growing collection

From local slang to national idioms - find entries from all over the world.

People
1372+
Countries
102*
Languages
106*
Minority Languages
18*

Want to make sure your language or country is represented?

Digital documentation for
local dialects new slang your community informal language minority languages

By allowing entries in all languages and dialects, we hope to help preserve and promote linguistic diversity, especially for linguistic varieties that are otherwise often underdocumented or overlooked.

Is it only for words without translation?

Not at all!

The name of this project refers not to the translatability of the words, but rather the additional context you are able to provide.

Stuff that doesn't strictly fall under translation, but still helps provide context about how, where and how often words are used.

Get started

Here are some of the things you can do.