I am an English Language
student and was intrigued when I came across this list of words which do not
exist (by definition) in the English Language. It just goes to show how so many
languages have evolved around their country's culture and way of living.
Cafuné (Portuguese): the act of tenderly running one’s fingers through someone’s
hair.
Toska (Russian): a
dull ache of the soul, a longing with nothing to long for.
Mamihlapinatapai
(Yagan): the wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both
desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.
Litost (Czech): a state of agony and torment created by the sudden sight of
one’s own misery.
Botellón (Spanish):
a gathering in which youths meet in a street or a public area in order to
consume alcohol.
Schadenfreude
(German): the feeling of pleasure derived by seeing another’s misfortune.
Wabi-Sabi (Japanese):
a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life
and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay.
Ya’aburnee (Arabic):
a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person because of
how difficult it would be to live without them.
Torschlusspanik
(German): the fear of diminishing opportunities as one ages.
Ilunga (Tshiluba): a
person who is ready to forgive and forget any first abuse, tolerate it the
second time, but never forgive nor tolerate on the third offense.
Shemomedjamo
(Georgian): to continue eating food even though you’re already full, just
because you like the taste of the food so much.
Saudade (Portuguese):
refers to the feeling of longing for something or someone that you love and
which is lost.
Waldeinsamkeit (German): the feeling of being alone in the woods
Forelsket (Norwegian):
the euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love
Naz
(Urdu): the pride, the assurance that arises from knowing you are loved.
From knowing that no matter what you do, you will always be loved.
