RobWords

Help me out with "untranslatable" words...

I'm researching words in other languages that don't have a single-word equivalent in English. It turns out, a lot of the sources on the subject are really unreliable.

So let's see if we can do better together. If you speak a foreign language, I'd love to know...

1) are there any words in that language that you can't translate into English with a single word?

2) are there any English words that you struggle to find an equivalent to?

3) if you speak any of the relevant languages, can you give me any guidance on whether and how these are used?

MBUKI-MVUKI – Apparently used in a Bantu language (which one?) to mean “shuck off your clothes in order to dance”. But is it really? Does it actually have anything to do with clothes?

PLIMPPLAMPPLETTERE – Used in Dutch to mean “skimming stones”. Is this legit?

ATTACCABOTTONI – Italian "button-attacher" or "someone who traps people in conversations they don’t want to have". Do you actually use it?

MAMIHLAPINATAPAI – From a Fuegian language (Yaghan?) for “looking at each other hoping that either will offer to do something which both parties desire but are unwilling to do”. Any intel on this one?

UTEPILS – Does this Norwegian word really mean “to sit outside on a sunny day enjoying a beer” or does it just mean “outside beer” (a Pilsener, presumably!)?

Thanks, friends.

Rob

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,367

RobWords

🚨 MORE LIVE SHOWS 🚨

I'm doing the Edinburgh Fringe!

Join me for an hour of pulling the English language apart and putting it back together again (complete with a new alphabet).

I'll be performing every night from the 6th to 16th of August and would love to see you there.

Tickets have just gone on on sale here:
assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/rob-words-live

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1 2

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 693

RobWords

How did your naughty bits get their names?

Where are your “fives”, “lights” and “belly eggs”?

In case you missed my latest video exploring the literal meanings of our words for body bits, here it is.

[WARNING: Includes me singing]

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 170

RobWords

Thank you so, so much if you came to the first ever RobWords Live shows in London at the weekend. I had an absolute blast!

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1 2 3 4

2 months ago | [YT] | 3,275

RobWords

Blimey! We've had to add another performance to RobWords Live.

If you can be in London on April 11th, do come and join me for a couple of hours of etymology and word nerdery.

Tickets here: www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-theatre/events/2026/apr/r…

5 months ago | [YT] | 709

RobWords

Hit me with your English history and etymology questions and I'll make a video answering a few of them.

5 months ago | [YT] | 629

RobWords

WORD NERDS ASSEMBLE! RobWords Live is happening.

Join me for an evening of etymology at London's Bloomsbury Theatre on 11th April, 2026.

I'm immensely excited about this.

TICKETS: www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-theatre/events/2026/apr/e…

6 months ago | [YT] | 846

RobWords

HELP ME OUT

I’m hunting for stories of English words that were born in a specific places. Do you live somewhere that lays claim to such a word?

I'm looking for stuff like:
- Words that passed into English from another local language
- Local slang that is now used across the English-speaking world
- Words from the names of local people/places/businesses
- Words that were coined for a specific local purpose

I'm particularly interested in stories from North America, but open to words from elsewhere too.

What have you got?

8 months ago | [YT] | 1,138

RobWords

HAVE YOU FALLEN VICTIM?

A bug on my website means a lot of signups to my wordy nerdy newsletter over the past couple of months didn't go through.

If you thought you'd subscribed, but haven't been getting your weekly email [crammed full of fabulous word facts and language fun], this is why.

I've fixed it now, so please do sign up again. It takes just a couple seconds: robwords.com/newsletter

9 months ago | [YT] | 731

RobWords

BOAST INCOMING – My wordy nerdy podcast with the brilliant Jess Zafarris, WORDS UNRAVELLED, has been nominated for the British Podcast Award for Best New Podcast!

We're also in the running for the Listeners' Choice Award, so if you fancy doing me a favour you can vote for us here: www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

‼️NOTE: The voting site is... quirky. Search for 'Words Unravelled' or 'RobWords' and we'll come up. It only works if you use full words 🤷

Apparently we're somewhere in the top 20, so every vote helps!

Cheers,
Rob

9 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 307