This is a list of our current features. Please note that Untranslatable is a platform under development. If you have any ideas, feel free to let us know.
Your entry should be the word or phrase you'd like to submit. We accept anything that is slang, idiom, expression or otherwise interesting to share.
If the submission has an interesting literal translation, this can be shared here. The translation can be anything from a literal word-for-word translation to a more contextual one.
This is an open category, and things can and will be added along the way.
It is also fair to note that sometimes the lines between these things can be a bit blurry. We ask people who make submissions to make a judgement to the best of their abilities and we will change it on rare occasion in the moderation stage if deemed necessary.
Frequency of use is a feature to establish how common it might be to hear a certain phrase or word.
This also helps us establish whether something was used in the past.
An important thing to note is that not all language is used by everyone, and the meaning of a certain phrase may change depending on who uses it.
It can be based on age, gender, or various other social factors. This can also include a particular sub-culture, profession, etc.
If the use of a phrase is not restricted to a clear demographic, you can simply use "everyone", or "some people", when a use is not restricted based on a social factor but is still not used by all speakers.
Word class is only applicable when the submitted item is a single word. In this case, it would be revelant to add which function this word carries in a sentence, because a word used as a noun might carry a different meaning than the same word when used as a verb.
Not all existing word classes are mentioned, as some are considered "closed categories" (e.g. articles) and won't offer many interesting variations.
Every submission registers the country and language of use.
If a submission is known to be used across multiple countries, there is an option for "various countries". That being said, it is encouraged to submit for your own country, as there might be variations in frequency of use or other.
If a submission is only used in a specific region, this can also be specified. This will help people give context to the submission.
If a submission has multiple explanations, they can be mentioned by the use of 1) and 2), etc.
The example can help people understand how a certain submission is used in context.
For examples given in a language that isn't English, we will try to provide a translation.
If possible, we try to provide a pronunciation help to submissions. If not provided by the person making the submission, they may be added by one of our moderators.
If a language does not have a latin script, a non-IPA approximation to the pronunciation may also be provided.
If a submission has synonyms that are relevant to mention, they can be added here. These can be in different languages as well.
Though synonyms aren't currently displayed in the view, you are able to search them in the filter panel.
Adding a submission to this website is great, but how do we know something is used in real life?
By adding a link to real life use. This can be a link to a video, or a social media post where the submission is used in context. This allows people to see an example that is not just mentioned on this site, but also in real life.
In order to further confirm accuracy, we will implement a feature that allows users to confirm something that they've heard.
This is a list of our current features, but we would love to hear any ideas about what should be added next.
If you have an idea you'd like to share, you can fill out the feedback form