WORDS THAT DON’T EXIST IN ENGLISH

1.      Waldeinsamkeit (German): the feeling of being alone in the woods

2.      Ilunga (Tshiluba, Congo): a person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time, to tolerate it a second time, but never a third time

3.      Litost (Czech): a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery

4.      Esprit de l’escalier (French): a witty remark that occurs to you too late, literally on the way down the stairs…

5.      Meraki (Greek): doing something with soul, creativity, or love

6.      Yoko meshi (Japanese): literally ‘a meal eaten sideways’, referring to the peculiar stress induced by speaking a foreign language:

7.      Duende (Spanish): a climactic show of spirit in a performance or work of art, which might be fulfilled in flamenco dancing, or bull-fighting, etc.

8.      Guanxi (Mandarin): in traditional Chinese society, you would build up goodguanxi by giving gifts to people, taking them to dinner, or doing them a favor, but you can also use up your gianxi by asking for a favor to be repaid.

9.      Pochemuchka (Russian): a person who asks a lot of questions

10.  Selathirupavar (Tamil): a word used to define a certain type of absence without official leave in face of duty

11.  Gheegle: (Filipino) The urge to pinch or squeeze something that is unbearably cute.

12.  Cualacino: (Italian) The mark left on a table by a cold glass.

13.  Sgriob: (Gaelic) The itchiness that overcomes the upper lip just before taking a sip of whisky

14.  Forelsket: (Norwegian) The euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love.

15.  Pena ajena: (Mexican Spanish) The embarrassment you feel watching someone else’s humiliation.

16.  Arigata-meiwaku: (Japanese) An act someone does for you that you didn’t want to have them do and tried to avoid having them do, but they went ahead anyway, determined to do you a favour, and then things went wrong and caused you a lot of trouble, yet in the end social conventions required you to express gratitude.

17. Saudade: (Portuguese) a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for something or someone that one was fond of and which is lost.