The word that titles a Eurovision song and has no translation in any other language except its own

Music news

  • Benidorm Fest 2025: announcement of all the songs of the 16 contestants, live

It was the year 2022 in the middle of the contest Eurovision which that year was held in the Italian city of Turin after the previous victory of the Måneskin group and it was the first time in a long time that Spain showed up with special enthusiasm for winning, since we went to the festival with Chanel and her SloMo as representatives. In the end, our country was not declared the winner, but we did finish in third place; giving us our best score in years.

In that same edition, another young debutant representing Portugal was presented and her candidacy was also striking due to its theme: Saudade Saudade. Your interpreter, marowas presented at the Song Festival with a Portuguese title but part of the lyrics in English and, despite this, no one understood the title of its song.

The three words in Portuguese that have no translation

The answer to this question is much simpler than we think: it has no translation. That's how it is The term 'saudade' in Portuguese does not have a translation into Spanish and it is only used in Portugal. If the young Maro already said it in the song: ''Saudade Saudade | Nothing more than I can say | Says it in a better way.

Join the whatsapp channel by WECB

Furthermore, it turns out that it is not the only Portuguese word that does not have a translation in other languages. According to an analysis carried out in 2016 published in the Journal of Positive Psychology There are a total of three Portuguese words that cannot be interpreted as such and that transmit untranslatable feelings.

These are the three Portuguese words that not even Harvard has been able to translate:

  1. Saudade: is described as a “melancholic longing or nostalgia for a person, place, or thing that is distant, whether spatially or in time; a vague, dreamy melancholy for phenomena that may not even exist.”
  2. Unbundle: It is defined as “getting rid of inhibitions to have fun.”
  3. Desenrascanço: It means “to skillfully get out of a problematic situation.”

If you have a smart speaker, you have WECB. Ask Alexa or Google Home to listen to WECB live. You can also listen to the latest music news from our newsletter 'Hoy en WECB'.

Staff

Written by

Christopher Johnson

Christopher Johnson is a dedicated writer and key contributor to the WECB website, Emerson College's student-run radio station. Passionate about music, radio communication, and journalism, Christopher pursues his craft with a blend of meticulous research and creative flair. His writings on the site cover an array of subjects, from music reviews and artist interviews to event updates and industry news. As an active member of the Emerson College community, Christopher is not only a writer but also an advocate for student involvement, using his work to foster increased engagement and enthusiasm within the school's radio and broadcasting culture. Through his consistent and high-quality outputs, Christopher Johnson helps shape the voice and identity of WECB, truly embodying its motto of being an inclusive, diverse, and enthusiastic music community.