While English increases in popularity, there are words and phrases commonly found in various other languages that will never be directly translatable. We’re here to celebrate these beautiful, strange, and often elaborate expressions that hold importance to their respective cultures.
Many of us travel to Spain to take advantage of the warm weather but venture further north towards France and you’ll be a world away from the fierce heat of the Mediterranean sunshine. Here, the dusty plains of southern Spain give way to the high mountains and lush green valleys of the Basque Country – or Euskal Herria in the Basque Language.
Unlike Spanish or French, Basque, known as Euskara, isn’t an Indo-European language. In fact, the origins of this ancient language are incredibly difficult to trace. This is because the language was around long before Latin or any of the romantic languages.
As the oldest language in Europe, Euskara is vast and contains many words that are beyond our comprehension, yet we still yearn to understand it.
The word aspaldiko describes the feeling of happiness when catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. A beautiful concept that reminds us of the strength and resilience of the Basques. Traditionally whale hunters and seafarers, they would spend months or even years out at sea away from their loved ones.
The Basques have a remarkably close relationship with the wild Cantabrian Sea, not only in their hearts but the way that they live. If there is one thing you can learn from them, it’s no matter where your next adventure takes you or how far you drift apart, you will always find your way back home.
So, if you’re always dreaming of traveling to exotic places but not sure how you will deal with missing your family and friends – think of aspaldiko.
See more beautiful, untranslatable words and phrases from languages all around the world!Thinking of launching your own successful marketing campaign? With our team of expert translators, there are endless possibilities to get your most ‘untranslatable’ messages to a wider audience. Get in touch with our team to discuss how translations can help.
