If you have followed my Montana blog at all you already know I am fascinated with language and words. And I find some of the more interesting words are those from foreign languages with no equivalent in our own English language. I keep an eye out for words like these is because I am often searching for titles for some of my Montana photographs. And foreign words are excellent sources of inspiration.
Over the years I have kept a list of some of those words I find most appealing. So here is a list of 25 awesome words from across the world without an English equivalent.
Schadenfreude
German
Definition: The enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing about the troubles of other people.
Je ne sais quoi
French
Definition: A certain something or quality that cannot be easily described or expressed.
L'esprit de l'escalier
French
Definition: The feeling you get when you leave a conversation and think of all the things you should have said (a.k.a. stairwell wit).
Lagom
Swedish
Definition: Not too much, not too little, but just the right amount. Moderation. It is usally used in reference to the etiquette of taking your share.
Kummerspeck
German
Definition: Excess weight gained from emotional overeating.
Fargin
Yiddish
Definition: To wholeheartedly appreciate the success of others.
Zeg
Georgian
Definition: The day after tomorrow.
Hyggelig
Danish
Definition: Warm, friendly, and cozy feelings in the company of others.
Madrugada
Spanish
Definition: That time of day occurring between midnight and early morning.
Komorebi
Japanese
Definition: The interplay between light and leaves when sunlight shines through trees.
Bokeh
Japanese
Definition: The visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image.
Tartle
Scottish
Definition: The uncomfortable hesitation before introducing someone because you have forgotten their name.
Tampo
Filipino
Definition: Withdrawing affection from a person when one's feelings have been hurt.
Waldeinsamkeit
Swiss
Definition: The feeling you get when alone in the woods; connecting with nature.
Cafuné
Portuguese
Definition: To run your fingers through someone’s hair in a soft and affectionate manner.
Koi No Yokan
Definition: Japanese
Definition: The sense you get upon first meeting a person that the two of you will fall in love.
Mangata
Swedish
Definition: The glimmering, road-like reflection that the moon creates on the water.
Fatum
Latin
Definition: An event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future.
Kaizen
Japanese
Definition: A business philosophy of continuous improvement of business practices and personal efficiency.
Backpfeifengesicht
German
Definition: A face badly in need of a fist.
Wabi-Sabi
Japanese
Definition: Finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycles of life and death.
Luftmensch
Yiddish
Definition: An impractical dreamer with no business sense.
Toska
Russian
Definition: A sensation of great spiritual anguish.
Jayus
Indonesian
Definition: A poorly told joke that is so bad and so unfunny that one cannot help but laugh.
Cavoli Riscaldati
Italian
Definition: The result of attempting to revive an unworkable relationship. Translated literally it means "reheated cabbage."
