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“My Native Language Doesn’t Have The Word For It”: 17 People Share What Words In Foreign Languages They Absolutely Love Using
Article created by: Vėja Elkimavičiūtė
Every language boasts words that are one of a kind. While certain ones are easier to pronounce, others might make a foreigner sound like Pink Panther trying to buy a dam-burrr-gheur. Some, though, are charming because they are oddly specific. For instance, the Japanese word for a lonely mouth (kuchisabishii) or the Finnish one describing a person drinking in his underwear in just several syllables (kalsarikännit).
Here at Bored Panda, we have gathered some of these fascinating linguistic gems for you to read. Shared by the r/AskReddit community members, they might be something you want to add to your vocabulary.
If you enjoy learning about unique terminology, don’t miss the chance to browse the list of times people were confused by the English language for some more entertaining content about languages.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Komorebi (木漏れ日)
Japanese for sunlight that shines through trees. I like the sound of the word but also the fact that a word for such a concept exists in the first place.
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#2
Saudade - Portuguese for 'a nostalgic longing for something that no longer exists and knowing that it may never return'. What a lovely word.
#4
kalsarikännit - originating in Finland, in which the drinker consumes alcoholic drinks at home, dressed in as little clothing as possible, mainly in underwear with no intention of going out.
#5
It is a phrase not a word, but in Italian, to say "I love you", you usually say "ti voglio bene", which literally means "I want well for you". In english "love" means so many different things and I feel like this idea "I want well for you" encapsulates what love really means.
#6
Água-Viva (Brazil/Portuguese), it’s jellyfish but if you translate it word by word it means “alive-water”.
#7
Meerschweinchen, it’s German for Guinea Pigs, I like it because it literally means “little sea pigs”. Which makes no sense.
#9
kuchisabishii (Japanese). Kuchi means mouth and sabishii means lonely. Kuchisabishii means you're longing to put something on your mouth - essentially the feeling you have when you eat something (or chew on your nails or pencil) because your mouth feels bored.
#13
Die!!!!
It means stop/ enough in Hebrew.
My kids yell it at anything/one that frustrates them.
#14
Ikigai - lit. The Fruit of Life (in Japanese).
It is the philosophy of how to live a good life, it's elements and how to exercise them.
#15
sanguagsuga - “blood-sucker” leech or bed bug in italian. can be used to describe a person too.
#16
Kitanai, or dirty in Japanese. It’s amusing to say at any minor mess like a disappointed mom
#17
chèri
which translates to “darling” in english. idk why i love that term so much it sounds so sexy omg
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