Artist Illustrates 30 Untranslatable Words From Different Languages

As part of a Web-based platform that invites artists to repeat and document their creative activity for 100 days, New Zealand-based media designer Anjana Iyer created Found in Translation. The project includes illustrations of words from different languages that don’t have a direct English translation. Iyer’s depictions are meant to be literal explanations of the words’ meanings.

1. Fernweh (German)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-01

2. Komorebi (Japanese)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-02

3. Tingo (Pascuense)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-03

4. Pochemuchka (Russian)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-04

5. Gökotta (Swedish)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-05

6. Bakku-shan (Japanese)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-06

7. Backpfeifengesicht (German)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-07

8. Aware (Japanese)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-08

9. Tsundoku (Japanese)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-09

10. Shlimazl (Yiddish)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-10

11. Rire dans sa barbe (French)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-11

12. Waldeinsamkeit (German)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-12

13. Hanyauku (Rukwangali)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-13

14. Gattara (Italian)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-14

15. Prozvonit (Czech)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-15

16. Iktsuarpok (Inuit)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-16

17. Papakata (Cook Islands Maori)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-17

18. Friolero (Spanish)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-18

19. Schilderwald (German)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-19

20. Utepils (Norwegian)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-20

21. Mamihlapinatapei (Yagan)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-21

22. Culaccino (Italian)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-22

23. Ilunga (Tshiluba)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-23

24. Kyoikumama (Japanese)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-24

25. Age-otori (Japanese)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-25

26. Chai-Pani (Hindi)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-26

27. Won (Korean)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-27

28. Tokka (Finnish)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-28

29. Schadenfreude (German)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-29

30. Wabi-Sabi (Japanese)

found-in-translation-illustrations-anjana-iyer-30