12 Untranslatable Words We Love
These wonderful words from all over the world have no direct English translation or equivalent, but oh how we wish they did.
By Barbara O'Dair
Tingo
To borrow objects one by one from a neighbor’s house until there is nothing left. (Pascuense language of Easter Island)
Duende
A climactic show of spirit such as in flamenco dancing or bull-fighting. (Spanish)
Forelsket
Not just love; the euphoria you feel when you first fall in love. (Norwegian)
Gigil
Pronounced "gheegle", it's the urge to pinch or squeeze something that is unbearably cute. (Filipino)
Ilunga
A person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time, to tolerate it a second time, but never a third time. (Tshiluba, Congo)
L’esprit de l’escalier
Usually translated as “staircase wit,” it is the act of thinking of a clever comeback when it is too late to deliver it. (French)
Litost
A state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery. (Czech)
Nunchi
The subtle art of listening and gauging another’s mood. Knowing what to say or do, or what not to say or do, in a given situation. (Korean)
Pena Ajena
The embarrassment you feel watching someone else’s humiliation. (Spanish)
Pochemuchka
A person who asks a lot of questions. (Russian)
Sgriob
The itchiness that overcomes the upper lip before taking a sip of whiskey. (Gaelic)
Waldeinsamkeit
The feeling of being alone in the woods. (German)
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Christopher Ryan
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Belen:)
