Untranslatable Words.
Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 4:37 pm
Here's part of a collection of words which don't have a one-to-one equivalent in English by Dr.Tim Lomas. I really like the idea of feeling "Morgenfrisk" before an "Abhisar", and I don't know how I lived this long without saying "Waldeinsamkeit" .
Sure that there must be some Khmer words like this too...
http://indy100.independent.co.uk/articl ... paign=i100
Abhisar (अभिमान)
(Bengali, n.): lit. 'going towards'; a meeting (often secret) between lovers / partners.
Chai pani (चाय पानी)
(Hindi/Urdu, n.): lit. 'tea and water'; favours or money given to someone to get something done (similar to a 'bribe', but without a negative connotation).
Cwtch
(Welsh, n.): to hug, a safe welcoming place.
Fjellvant
(Norwegian) (adj.): Being accustomed to walk in the mountains.
Gumusservi
(Turkish, n.): the glimmering that moonlight makes on water.
Kvell
(Yiddish, v.): to feel strong and overt (expressed) pride and joy in someone's successes.
Mерак
(Serbian, n.): pleasure derived from simple joys.
Morgenfrisk
(Danish, adj.): feeling rested after a good night's sleep.
Nakama (仲間)
(Japanese, n.): best friend, close buddy, one for whom one feels deep platonic love.
Samar (سمر)
(Arabic, v.): to sit together in conversation at sunset/ in the evening.
Sólarfrí
(Icelandic, n.): sun holiday, i.e., when workers are granted unexpected time off to enjoy a particularly sunny/warm day.
Sprezzatura
(Italian): nonchalance, art and effort are concealed beneath a studied carelessness.
Sobremesa
(Spanish, n.): when the food has finished but the conversation is still flowing.
Suaimhneas croi
(Gaelic, n.): happiness / contentment on finishing a task.
Toska (тоска)
(Russia, n.): longing for one’s homeland, with nostalgia and wistfulness.
Waldeinsamkeit
(German, n.): mysterious feeling of solitude when alone in the woods.
Whakakoakoa
(Māori, v.): to cheer up.
Sure that there must be some Khmer words like this too...
http://indy100.independent.co.uk/articl ... paign=i100
Abhisar (अभिमान)
(Bengali, n.): lit. 'going towards'; a meeting (often secret) between lovers / partners.
Chai pani (चाय पानी)
(Hindi/Urdu, n.): lit. 'tea and water'; favours or money given to someone to get something done (similar to a 'bribe', but without a negative connotation).
Cwtch
(Welsh, n.): to hug, a safe welcoming place.
Fjellvant
(Norwegian) (adj.): Being accustomed to walk in the mountains.
Gumusservi
(Turkish, n.): the glimmering that moonlight makes on water.
Kvell
(Yiddish, v.): to feel strong and overt (expressed) pride and joy in someone's successes.
Mерак
(Serbian, n.): pleasure derived from simple joys.
Morgenfrisk
(Danish, adj.): feeling rested after a good night's sleep.
Nakama (仲間)
(Japanese, n.): best friend, close buddy, one for whom one feels deep platonic love.
Samar (سمر)
(Arabic, v.): to sit together in conversation at sunset/ in the evening.
Sólarfrí
(Icelandic, n.): sun holiday, i.e., when workers are granted unexpected time off to enjoy a particularly sunny/warm day.
Sprezzatura
(Italian): nonchalance, art and effort are concealed beneath a studied carelessness.
Sobremesa
(Spanish, n.): when the food has finished but the conversation is still flowing.
Suaimhneas croi
(Gaelic, n.): happiness / contentment on finishing a task.
Toska (тоска)
(Russia, n.): longing for one’s homeland, with nostalgia and wistfulness.
Waldeinsamkeit
(German, n.): mysterious feeling of solitude when alone in the woods.
Whakakoakoa
(Māori, v.): to cheer up.
