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32WordsforPositivePhenomenaThat
DontHaveanEnglishEquivalent

ShaunacyFerro

711

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filedunder:language,linguistics,Lists,psychology

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Englishisntalwaysthemostexpressivelanguageintheworld.Forinstance,wedonthavea
one-wordtermfortheweightyougainfromemotionaleating,asGermandoes.Nordowe
haveawordtodescribethatsuperawkwardmomentwhenyougotointroducesomeone
whosenameyoudontactuallyremember,astheScotslanguagedoes.WhileEnglish
speakersmaybemostfamiliarwiththosesuperexpressiveGermantermsforcynicalfeelings
likeschadenfreude,Englishismissingoutonplentyofwordstodescribethewonderful
aspectsoflife,too.
IntheJournalofPositivePsychology,UniversityofEastLondonpsychologistTimLomas
catalogues216untranslatabletermstodescribefeelingsorstatesofwell-being.Lomas
undertooktheprojectinordertocorrectfortheoftenWestern-centricnatureofpositive
psychologyresearchbyprovidingtermsfromallovertheworldforpositiveemotions.He
searchedthroughblogsonuntranslatablewords,Googledforconceptsofwell-beingspecific
todifferentlanguages,andcrowd-sourcedfromhisfriendsandcolleaguestocomeupwith
anextensive(ifnon-comprehensive)setoftermsfromallovertheworld.
Lomashasanongoinglistofthesewordsonhiswebsite,whichyoucanviewbyalphabetical
order,bytheme,orbylanguageoforigin.WesiftedthroughfourofLomas'theme-based

QUIZZ

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order,bytheme,orbylanguageoforigin.WesiftedthroughfourofLomas'theme-based
categoriesforthewordsthatmakeusmostjealousofforeignlanguagespeakers.Hereare32
ofthefascinating,usefultermshescollected,withhisdefinitionsoftheirapproximate
meaninginEnglish.

WORDSFORPARTYING
1.Desbundar(Portuguese):"sheddingonesinhibitionsinhavingfun."
2.Feestvarken(Dutch):"partypig,i.e.,someoneinwhosehonorapartyisthrown."
POPULARON mental_floss

3.Feierabend(German):"festivemoodattheendofaworkingday."
4.Mbuki-mvuki(Bantu):"toshedclothestodanceuninhibited."
5.Ram(Balinese):"somethingatoncechaoticandjoyful."
6.Sobremesa(Spanish):"whenthefoodhasfinishedbuttheconversationisstillflowing."
7.Slarfr(Icelandic)(noun):"sunholiday,i.e.,whenworkersaregrantedunexpectedtime
offtoenjoyaparticularlysunny/warmday."
8.Utepils(Norwegian):"drinkingbeeroutsideonahotday."

Alert:GirlScoutCookiesDiffer
DependingonWhereYouLive

WORDSTODESCRIBECOZYFEELINGS
9.Cwtch(Welsh):"tohug,asafewelcomingplace."
10.Geborgenheit(German):"feelingprotectedandsafefromharm."
11.Peiskos(Norwegian):"sittinginfrontofacracklingfireplaceenjoyingthewarmth."

WORDSOFAPPRECIATION

WhatEverHappenedTo
Waterbeds?

12.Fjellvant(Norwegian)(adj.):"beingaccustomedtowalkinthemountains."
13.Gkotta(Swedish):"wakingupearlytohearthefirstbirdssing."
14.Gula(Spanish):"thedesiretoeatsimplyforthetaste."
15.Habseligkeiten(German):"blessed,preciousbelongings(asinone'smosttreasured
possessions)."
16.Lehizdangef()(Hebrew):"tostroll/promenadealongTelAviv'sDizengoff(street),
i.e.,tohavecarefreefun."
17.Lekker(Dutch/Norwegian):"tasty(food),relaxed,comfortable,pleasurable,sexy."
18.Otsukaresama()(Japanese):"gratitudeorappreciationforothers'hardwork."
19.Sabsung(Thai):"beingrevitalizedthroughsomethingthatlivensuponeslife."
20.Shemomedjamo(Georgian):"eatingpastthepointofsatietyduetosheerenjoyment."
21.Shinrin-yoku()(Japanese):"'bathing'intheforest(literallyand/or
metaphorically)."
22.Tyvsmake(Norwegian)(verb):"totasteoreatsmallpiecesofthefoodwhenyouthink
nobodyiswatching,especiallywhencooking."
23.Uitwaaien(Dutch):"walkinginthewindforfunorexercise."
24.Ullassa()(Sanskrit):"feelingsofpleasantnessassociatedwithnaturalbeauty."

WORDSOFAFFECTION
25.Cafune(Portuguese):"tenderlyrunningonesfingersthroughalovedoneshair."
26.Colo(Portuguese):"areaofbodyformedbychestandarms,referringto
embracing/comfortingsomeone."

10Old-FashionedSwearsto
SpiceupYourCussin'

embracing/comfortingsomeone."
27.Famn(Swedish):"thearea/spacewithintwoembracingarms."
POPULARON mental_floss

28.Gigil(Tagalog):"theirresistibleurgetopinchsomeonebecausetheyarelovedor
cherished."
29.Gjensynsglede(Norwegian)(noun):"thejoyofmeetingsomeoneyouhaven'tseenina
longtime."
30.Kanyininpa(Pintupi):"intimateandactiverelationshipbetweencarerandcaree."

ACaffeineBraceletWillFreeYou
FromtheHorrorsofDrinking
Coffee

31.Queesting(Dutch):"toallowaloveraccesstoonesbedforchitchat."
32.Retrouvailles(French):"thejoypeoplefeelaftermeetinglovedonesagainafteralong
timeapart."
Seetherestofthelisthere.

[h/tBPSResearchDigest]

What'sthePurposeoftheTeeny
PocketInaPairofBlueJeans?

February10,2016-4:00pm

711

ShaunacyFerro

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ShaunacyFerroisastaffwriterforMentalFloss.com.Shehaspreviouslycovered
architectureanddesignforFastCoDesign.com,andpsychologyandneuroscience
forPopularScience.ShelivesinBrooklynandspendsmostofherfreetimetaking
photosofhercat.

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8Comments

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Jointhediscussion
bicyclebill 2daysago

33:Schadenfreude(German):"happinessatthemisfortuneofothers".
Orinotherwords,feelinggoodaboutthefactthatwhateverishappeningtothemisn't
happeningtoyou!!
"BB"

Reply Share

Hello 2daysago

GulaLiterally:gluttony.ThisoneDOEShaveanenglishequivalent.

Reply Share

AnonY.Mous 2daysago

Coloisaweirdword.http://dictionary.reverso.net/...
Itcanalsomeaninthelap.

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SamuelWallace 2daysago

I'veheardofsnowdays,butitneveroccurredtomethatIcelandwouldhavesunnydays
whereeveryonegetsthedayoff.Makessense.
1

Reply Share

AlJunioR adayago

Charlottenburger(Plattdeutsch)blowingyournostrilsoutwithoutahandkerchiefor
tissue,likefootballersoccasionallydo..
1

Reply Share

BastienDupuis adayago

Youcouldalsoadd"aperitif"to"wordsforpartying.Itisafrenchwordreferringtotheact
ofdrinkingandeatingsnackswithyourfriends/family/guestsmostofthetimebefore
dinning.

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lilolebob adayago

#14InEnglishhatwordisDooouuughhnuut!
JustimagineitinHomerSimpson'svoice.

Reply Share

lilolebob>lilolebob adayago

Imeanthatword.

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