Discover the dictionary that allows native speakers to share and explain the words and expressions that make their language unique.
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.
Untranslatable is an online dictionary that allows you to add words and phrases in any language or dialect. Here is what makes us unique.
Find out not just what something means, but who uses it, where, and how often, along with an example and translation.
Each entry includes a link to an example, is seen by a moderator and can be verified by other users.
We love informal language, regional dialects, minority languages and other forms of language that are often overlooked.
* to leek
Idiom used often by Almost Everyone
Waiting motionless for a long time, like a leek planted in the ground.
"Il y avait tellement de monde au magasin, le vendeur m'a fait poireauter pendant une heure."
"There were so many people at the store, the salesman made me leek for one hour."
From local slang to national idioms - find entries from all over the world.
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.
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.
Here are some of the things you can do.