A'ama
Someone who speaks rapidly, hiding their meaning from one person while communicating it to another.
Abbiocco
The feeling of falling asleep after lunch or dinner
Abditory
A place into which you can disappear; a hiding place.
Abendrot
The colour of the sky when the sun is setting.
Abhayamudrâ
The gesture of fearlessness, protection, and peace; palms outwards, fingers up.
Abhisar
Lit. “going towards”; a meeting (often secret) between lovers/partners.
Abquatulate
To leave without saying goodbye
Acedia
Lack of concern over your spiritual life or “mental sloth”
Acoy
Something that is either very positive or negative.
Að redda
To save someone or fix something in a time sensitive manner.
Að redda
Save or fix quickly
To save someone or fix something in a time sensitive manner
Adroit
Having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations.
Adronitis
Frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone
Aduantas
Describes the angst that comes with being in an unfamiliar place and among unfamiliar people.
Ádvaita
non-dual; the notion that there is only one reality.
Aegyo
Accentuated cute behaviour often used by K-pop idols as fan service or affection.
Aeipathy
A continued passion; an unyielding disease
Aesthete
Someone with deep sensitivity to the beauty of art or nature
Agape
selfless love to all
Age-otori
The bad feeling one gets after a terrible haircut.
Agnosthesia
The state of not knowing how you really feel about something, forcing you to sift through clues in your behavior.
Aimonomia
Being scared to learn the ‘why’ of something
Aka'aka'a
Skin peeling or falling off after either sunburn or heavy drinking
Akihi
The forgetfulness felt immediately after being given directions.
Akrasia
Struggling to act despite knowing what to do.
Altschmerz
Weariness with the same old issues that you’ve always had - the same boring flaws and anxieties that you’ve been gnawing for years.
Amaeru
To seek affection through doing things like clinging or pleading.
Anánkē (Ανάγκη)
destiny, fate, necessity.
Anchorage
The desire to make time stand still
Andria (ανδρεία)
Both valour and courage, expressed in actions in front of the face of danger
Anecdoche
A conversation in which everyone is talking, but nobody is listening.
Anemoia
Nostalgia for a time that you have never lived
Angrillen
Beginning the grilling season
Angushti za'id
Someone with six fingers
Anima
Soul; spirit; breath; mind
Anteayer
The day before yesterday.
Apapachar
Pamper a person especially when she or he is sad
Apomakrysmenophobia
The sudden fear that the relationships you possess are shallow or lack depth.
Arbejdsglæde
Literally “work happiness”; the feeling of happiness provoked by a satisfying job.
Arigata-meiwaku
When someone does something for you that you didn’t want them to do, and having to express gratitude for the act.
Arlésienne
Used to describe people who are at the centre of a conversation/situation/problem but can’t be found anywhere
Aşermek
The experience of craving certain foods while pregnant.
Aspaldiko!
Expression of surprise after not seeing someone for a long time.
Athazagoraphobia
The fear of forgetting, being forgotten or ignored, or being replaced.
Attaccabottone
Something that you long to get away from but struggle to.
Autophile
A person that loves solitude, being alone.
Avoir la molle
A listless unwillingness to do any work
Avos'
Doing something without planning, without putting in much effort, yet counting on success.
Ayurnamat
The philosophy that there is no point in worrying about events that cannot be changed.
Ba Namak
A person “with salt”—funny, witty, flavorful, or charming, as opposed to a humorless, dry person.
Baadastoor
Unaltered, or unchanged, for something that is habitual.
Bababa ba?
A playful expression questioning if an elevator is descending.
Backpfeifengesicht
A face in need of a slap
Badkruka
Someone who refuses to enter a body of water.
Bào fù xìng āo yè (報復性熬夜)
Revenge bedtime procrastination
Beau geste
A gesture noble in its nature or intention but ultimately meaningless in substance.
Bildung
education, formation, acculturation, cultivation, development.
Bilita Mpash
A pleasant dream or a state of blissful sleep.
Bimyou
A feeling of indifference or mediocrity.
Biritululo
The act of comparing yams to settle a dispute
Bixomets
Shame on behalf of others
Blunda
To close your eyes. Can be used literally or figuratively; refuse to see something.
Bohereen
A tight, single lane country lane.
Boketto
The act of gazing vacantly into the distance.
Bon vivant
Someone who enjoys and appreciates the good life.
Buksvåger
Two men who have slept with the same woman.
Bwisit
Something or someone that negatively affects your day or mood.
Cafuné
Tenderly running your fingers through your lover’s hair.
Calacala
Children wading through water as they play
Camhanaich
Half-light; early morning twilight
Capicua
A number that remains the same when its digits are reversed.
Capoclaque
Someone who co-ordinates a group of clappers.
Capricho
Work done with care in a way that surpasses quality expectations.
cāral
A gentle secondary drizzle either from a waterfall or rain.
Carpe Diem
Make the most of the present moment or opportunity. Lit. seize the day.
Cavoli riscaldati
Literally “reheated cabbage”; When you attempt to start up a failed relationship or love affair.
Ćeif
A slow and silent enjoyment in someone or in something.
Celístia
Brightness from the stars
Chandamama
Literally “uncle moon”; referring to the moon when admiring it.
Chantepleurer
Singing and crying simultaneously
Charmolypi
A mixed feeling of happiness while being sad.
Chaval al hazman
Literally “shame on time”; referring to an amazing experience that you don’t want to end.
chimak
A delightful pairing of fried chicken and beer.
Chimuela
a person lacking one or more teeth
Chingada
An imaginary, horrible place where you send all those who annoy you.
Chrysalism
An amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm.
Chutzpah
Insolence, cheek, audacity. Describes crossing the line of acceptable behavior.
Cierrabares
A person who usually leaves the party last.
Ciğerparem
Describe love to someone who is in the deepest part of his/her heart; refers to someone that you love as much as your own body.
Consuegro
Father in law of your son
Crapoter
To not take a lungful of a cigarette.
Cúbóg
A collection of Easter eggs
Culaccino
The mark left on the table by a cold glass.
Cwtch
Wrapping of your arms around someone to make them feel safe in the world
Cynefin
A place where a person or an animal feels it ought to live and belong; it is where nature around you feels right and welcoming.
Dapjeongneo
Used when someone asks a question despite knowing the answer, expecting the listener to make a smart and studied guess.
Dayenu
A phrase expressing gratitude for blessings received.
Décidément
When coincidences occur or events repeat by chance.
Dépaysement
The feeling of being in an environment that you are not used to.
Dépayser
Disorientation; not necessarily unpleasant.
desenrascanço
the ability to find improvised solutions to problems
Desenrascar
An informal word that means the act of figuring out things.
Desir
The sound of sand driven by the wind.
Desus
The quiet, smooth sound of somebody farting although not very loudly.
Desvelarse
To wake up in the middle of the night. Be unable to fall asleep.
Dhakkann
Someone too naive to see the truth in things, often used derogatorily.
Dhurna
Extorting payment by occupying a space.
Didis
To search and pick up lice from one’s own hair, usually when in bed at night.
Donaldkacsázás
Wandering around one’s house with a shirt but no trousers.
Dor
The heartbreak and sense of longing you feel because you’re separated from your love.
Dørstokkmila
The longest mile between your cozy couch and the door threshold.
Döşek
Anything that you can use when you are laying down or sleeping.
Drachenfutter
A gift to your significant other as a form of apology.
Dreikäsehoch
A small child who is as tall as three wheels of cheese stacked upon one another.
Duende
The mysterious power of art to deeply move a person
Durcheinander
Complete mess; screwed up beyond all recognition
Dygn
Day and night; 24 hours
Eesome
Something that is visually appealing or attractive.
Efkar
The boredom of the soul. A lovely moment, that you need to be so happy, but instead you feel with a deep sorrow.
Egyszer volt budán kutyavásár
A unique opportunity that rarely occurs.
Ehvenişer
When choosing between bad things, the lesser of two evils.
Eldsjäl
This noun is literally ‘fire-soul’, but the actual meaning is ‘enthusiast’ or ‘driving spirit’.
Ellipsism
A sadness that you’ll never know how history will turn out.
Empalagada
How you feel after having something too sweet
Empalagoso
Adjective to say you ate something so sweet that you got sick of it.
En plein air
Outdoors; in the open air.
Engili
Having contacted another’s mouth directly or indirectly via hand or utensil that is not fit for consumption.
Ennui
A feeling of being bored and mentally tired caused by having nothing interesting or exciting to do.
Énouement
The bittersweetness of having arrived in the future, seeing how things turn out, but not being able to tell your past self.
Entzuterre
A distance that allows you to listen to another conversation.
Enxebre
Something pure and very authentic
Eomchina
Academically successful male student envied by peers.
Épater les bourgeois
To shock the middle classes
Erbsenzähler
A person who meticulously counts details; overly concerned with minor issues.
Erinmek
Not doing something you have to do just because you don’t want to; being a prick.
Erkelmek
Teasing someone by mimicking their words.
Erklärungsnot
The state of having to quickly explain yourself.
Eshaku
A slight bow of around 15 degrees
Estrenar
The experience of wearing something for the first time.
Être dépaysé
To be in an environment you’re not used to
Eudaimonia
The contented happy state you feel when you travel.
Eunoia
A well-mind; beautiful thinking
Eunoirophrenia
The peace of mind that comes with having pleasant dreams.
Extrawurst
Someone who is slowing things down by being fussy, making everything more complicated than necessary.
Exulansis
The tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it.
Faamiti
The sound made by sucking air past the lips to gain the attention of a dog or child.
Fachidiot
Someone who knows a great deal about a very narrow subject.
Fahrvergnügen
The love of simply driving
Fanaa
Used in a romantic, and spiritual sense. It could also mean breaking free, escaping ego, dying while your material body hasn’t.
Fargin
To wholeheartedly appreciate the success of others
Feierabend
The time after work when one can relax.
Fensterln
To visit a girl you fancy by coming to her window or climbing through it.
Fernweh
To have a yearning to see distant places
Fika
Drinking coffee along with eating something sweet
Filotimo
A friend of honour, implying dignity, pride, sacrifice, and respect.
Fisselig
Being flustered to the point of incompetence
Flâner
verb. to purposely wander, to decide to explore with no final destination.
Forelsket
The euphoria you feel when you’re first falling in love.
Formacja
A state of mind and its own culture of a generation
Friluftsliv
“Free air life,” signifying a fundamental understanding of the positive impact of being in nature.
Friolero
Someone that is very sensitive to cold. That friend that always feels cold.
Frischluftfanatiker
a person who seeks fresh air, often keeping windows open or preferring outdoor spaces, even in cold weather.
Frostbeule
Someone that is very sensitive to cold. That friend that always feels cold. (“frost bite”)
Frustfressen
Excessive eating because of frustration
Fucha
To use company time and resources for one’s own purposes
Fuubutsushi
The things – feelings, scents, images – that evoke memories or anticipation for a particular season.
Gambiarra
A very poor or ugly but effective solution for a problem; to use improvised methods/solutions to solve a problem with any available material.
Gamchil
Korean word for a dish that achieves a new level of flavor by combining elements from land, sea, and sky.
Gattara
A woman catlover who feeds alley cats or spends time with domestic cats.
Gaupasa
Spend the whole night partying until the early morning of the next day.
Geis
Taboo, prohibition; an action crucial for life or identity.
Gemba
The real place in business where value is created, emphasizing hands-on knowledge for decision-making.
Gemes
The state of going out of one’s mind in adoration of something that is extremely likeable or cute.
Gemütlichkeit
An atmosphere of belonging, relaxation, chilled music, great food and drink.
Gezellig
A warm feeling of coziness, often experienced during gatherings or parties with friends.
Gezelligheid
Coziness, fun, the general togetherness that gives people a warm feeling.
Ghalidan
Rolling from side to side as lovers do
Gigil
The urge to pinch or squeeze something that is unbearably cute.
Glückspilz
A lucky person (“lucky mushroom”)
Goesting
Looking forward to, can’t wait, have an appetite for
Gogo
It can mean desire, want, spirit or soul, mainly explaining the will of the soul.
Gökotta
To rise at dawn in order to go out and listen to the birds sing.
Gongoozler
A person who enjoys watching activity on the canals of the UK.
Goso
When you smell sesame oil - that nutty, flavorful, aromatic - mostly used to describe smells of sesame and/or bean paste.
Gourmand
One who is excessively fond of eating and drinking.
Goya (گویا)
The transporting suspension of disbelief that can occur in storytelling.
Greng-jai
The feeling of not wanting to impose
Gretchenfrage
A direct question aimed at revealing deeper thoughts.
Guān xì (關係)
Cultivating relationships; reciprocal connections; networking; social karma.
Guanxi (关系)
An intimate connection between people which would benefit from the other in solving delicate problems or in achieving personal goals.
Guddle
To fish using the hands, by searching under stones at a river bank.
Gula
Gluttony, greed; indulgence; eating simply for the taste (i.e., not from hunger).
Gulugulu
The sound of a pitcher filling with water.
Gurfa
The amount of water that can be scooped up in a hand.
Haiku
A form of Japanese poetry, usually just 17 syllables long, often focused on nature.
Halyava (Халява)
Getting something without working for it
Hammajang
A state of confusion or disorder.
Han
Sorrow, regret, grief, resentment; a passive ache of the soul, waiting for injustice to be righted.
Handschuhschneeballwerfer
A coward willing to criticize and abuse from a safe distance.
Harkla
The little coughing noise one makes, often before giving a speech or dislodging a piece of cinnamon bun from their throat.
Hatsuyume
The first dream one has in the new year; thought to be an omen.
Házisárkány
Literally “indoor dragon”; a nagging restless spouse.
Hinna
To find the time or to be on time.
Hiraeth
A deep longing for home
Hissikablelvuku
To sense something before it actually happens
Hoʻoponopono
A practice of reconciliation and forgiveness.
Ḥôjônsô (һөйөнсө)
Good news for which a reward is given
Hoppilandkalle
Guy who jumps to dry land to moor a boat
Hüzün
Pain and sorrow over loss, with a gloomy feeling of failure.
Hwyl
A passion and fervour for a competitive event that fills your entire body with a sense of belonging.
Hygge
A quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.
Ignōrāmus
Lit. ‘we do not know’ or ‘we take no notice of’.
Ikigai
A reason for being; the thing that gets you up in the morning.
Iktsuarpok
The feeling of anticipation that leads you to keep looking outside to see if anyone is coming.
Ilunga
The capacity to forgive once, tolerate a second time, but never a third time. Conveys the progression toward intolerance.
İmece
The gathering of many people and doing the work of one person
Insouciant
Free from worry, concern, or anxiety
inssa
Short word for insiders, those who stay updated with trends.
Irusu
Pretending to be out when someone knocks at your door
Istories me arkoudes
Stories that are so wild they seem unbelievable.
Jafjafa (جفجفة)
The delightful sound made when wearing fresh, crisp clothing.
Jaksaa
A lack of enthusiasm to do something.
Janteloven
Jante’s law; a set of social codes or norms that emphasize the importance of collective success rather than individual.
Jayus
A joke that is so unfunny (or told so badly) that you just have to laugh.
Jein
A response that combines agreement and disagreement.
Jia You (加油)
Encouragement to push through challenges.
Jibaku
The act of unintentionally or inadvertently demolishing your own argument in the process of defending your view.
Jijivisha
The strong, eternal desire to live and to continue living.
Jootha
Food eaten by someone and left in the plate.
Jouissance
an excess of life, often translated as joy but also understood as catharsis
Jouska
A hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head.
Jugaad
the ability to ‘make do’ or ‘get by’.
Jumpa
To jump from one floating piece of ice to another.
Kaapshljmurslis
The feeling of being cramped on public transportation.
Kabelsalat
Tangled up cables; literally “cable-salad"
Kæk
Spirited, bold, cheeky, cocky.
Kafkaesque
Having bizarre or illogical quality
Kairosclerosis
A moment in which you realize that you’re happy but simultaneously destroy that happiness by overthinking it.
kaizen
Continuous growth through small changes.
Kalsarikänni
to get drunk (alone) at home in your underwear with no intention of going out
Karelu
The mark left on the skin by wearing something tight.
kaṟpu (கற்பு)
Determination to maintain chastity in tough situations.
kataṟu (கதறு)
A state of intense emotional distress, often shown through physical trembling and tears.
Kenopsia
The eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that is usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet.
Kenshō
Seeing (ken) one’s nature or essence (shō); perceiving one’s Buddha nature; sometimes interpreted as an initial or brief awakening.
Kertek
The sound of dry leaves or twigs being trodden underfoot.
Khaste Nabashid (خسته نباشید)
I hope that you are not tired
Kibun
Your state of mind with respect to your place in the world.
Kilig
It is the sudden feeling of an inexplicable joy one gets when something romantic or idealistic occurs; butterflies.
Kinkartvyavimudh
Helplessness due to being duty-bound
Kintsukuroi
To repair with gold. Understanding that a piece is more beautiful for having broken.
Klexos
the art of dwelling on the past; coined by John Koenig.
Koev li halev (כואב לי הלב)
Literally “my head hurts”, but used to convey empathy for someone’s suffering.
Kolay gelsin
A phrase said to those who are busy.
Kombinować
to conspire/try to resolve a problem with unusual methods or through connections
Komorebi
Lit. wood is ‘leaking’ sunlight; dappled sunlight filtering through leaves.
Konfliktfähigkeit
The ability to manage interpersonal conflict constructively, without becoming personally involved.
Kopfkino
Imagining scenarios vividly (“head cinema”)
Kos
Cosiness, warmth, intimacy; kose as a verb; koselig as an adjective.
Koshatnik
A dealer in stolen cats.
Kram
The quality of snow that makes it moldable so that one can make snowballs and snowmen.
Krawattenmuffel
Someone who’d rather not wear a tie.
Kucir
A tuft of hair left to grow on top of an otherwise bald head.
Kuebiko
A state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence.
Kuidare
To eat yourself into bankruptcy.
Kuleana
Self-imposed responsibility, duty, service
Kulturbärare
A phenomenon that upholds or advances culture.
Kummerspeck
Weight you gain because you’re unhappy (“sorrow bacon”)
Ǩuẓlanyu
To marry a woman who has been divorced.
Kweesten
Inviting a lover into your bed for some pillow talk
Kyoiku mama
A mother who relentlessly pushes her children toward academic achievement.
L'appel du vide
Describes the instinctive urge to jump from high places.
L'esprit de l'escalier
Thinking of the perfect reply after the conversation is over.
L’chaim (לְחַיִּים)
Lit. ‘to life’.
L’ecole stratim
Literally “to eat motives”; describing a person that loves drama.
Lagom
Not too much and not too little
Latah
Uncontrollable habit of saying embarrassing things
Layogenic
Good looking from a distance
Lebensmüde
A feeling of exhaustion or disillusionment with life.
Lekker
Literal translation “tasty”, but can describe anything that has one’s hearty approval.
Lepos
Charm, grace, wit, elegance, allure.
Levensgenieter
Someone who loves life deeply; is devoted.
Lha’i rnal ‘byor
Advanced practice visualizing interaction with a deity.
Liberosis
The desire to care less about things.
Lieko
A tree trunk that has fallen to the bottom of a lake.
Limerence
the state of being infatuated or obsessed with another person, characterized by a strong desire for reciprocation of one’s feelings.
Listopad
The falling of the leaves
Lítost
State of agony and torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery.
Livsnjutare
Someone who loves life deeply
Löyly
The steam that rises from the sauna heater when water is thrown on it.
Ludus
playful love between children or casual lovers
Luftmensch
Someone who is a bit of a dreamer, often lost in thoughts and aspirations.
Lus
Desire, craving; greed; fancy, cupidity; inclination, tendency.
Luscofusco
Time of nightfall, just with the last ray of Sun
Madrugada
The time of day occurring between past midnight and early morning
Madrugarse
To stay up until the wee hours of the morning
Magari
maybe, hopeful wish, wistful regret, in my dreams, if only.
Mágoa
A heart-breaking feeling that leaves long-lasting traces, visible in gestures and facial expressions.
Mahalo
Thankfulness, appreciation, and gratitude as a way of living.
Mahj
Looking beautiful after having a disease.
Majime (真面目)
Reliable, responsible, diligent; seriousness, formality.
Maktub
Everything is destined and written
Mambo
Someone that still lives with their mother.
Mamihlapinatapai
A look shared by two people, each wishing that the other would initiate something they both desire but which neither wants to begin.
Mandilón
A male who is super dedicated to his girlfriend, as compared to his friends.
mångata
The roadlike reflection of moonlight on water.
Mangomoment
What can I do now for you, to make you happy?
Manja
Childlike behaviour by women designed to elicit sympathy or pampering by men.
Manna
A sudden or unexpected help, advantage, or aid to success.
Mātauranga
The comprehension, or understanding of the universe.
Mauerbauertraurigkeit
The inexplicable urge to push people away, even close friends who really like you.
Mauri ora
The essence that animates humans.
Mbuki-mvuki
To shake off your clothes to dance more freely.
Mechaye
Joy, pleasure; something that gives great joy/pleasure.
Mecnun
Madly in love to the point of actual mental instability.
Mencolek
The trick when you tap someone lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to fool them.
Mencomot
Stealing things of small value, mostly for fun rather than out of necessity.
Mensch
A person of integrity and honour
Merak
A feeling of bliss and oneness with the universe from small, daily joys.
Meraki
Describe doing something with soul, creativity, or love — when you put “something of yourself” into what you’re doing, whatever it may be.
Merienda
It’s something you eat between lunch and dinner (sandwich, fruit…). At 6pm or so. Kids never miss it.
Metanoia
The journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life.
Milozvučan
Having a sweet and gentle voice
Mimoso
Said of something that enjoys being pampered or shown affection.
Minestra riscaldata
Something done again but never as good as the first time.
Mitonner
Cooking slowly with love and care.
Mokita
The truth we all know but agree not to talk about.
Moledro
A feeling of resonant connection with an author or artist you’ll never meet, who may have lived centuries ago and thousands of miles away.
moņ (моң)
Sadness; melody; lyricism
Monachopsis
The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.
Mono no aware
The bittersweetness of a brief and fleeting moment of transcendent beauty.
Morgenfrisk
Feeling rested after a good night’s sleep
Moriturism
The sudden reminder that you will one day no longer occupy this earth.
Morriña
Nostalgia that you feel when you are far from home
Mu (無)
Not one, not zero, not yes, not no.
Mudita
The pleasure that comes from delighting in other people’s well-being or happiness.
Mulaltsag
A lively and joyful assembly of people enjoying each other’s company.
Mumpsimus
A traditional custom or notion adhered to although shown to be unreasonable.
Muskelkater
Charley horse (“muscle cat”)
Muvaffakiyetsizleştiricileştiriveremeyebileceklerimizdenmişsinizcesine
It’s as though you are from those whom we may not be able to easily make into a maker of unsuccessful ones.
Myötähäpeä
The feeling of embarrassment for someone else’s actions.
Mysa
Can mean “cosying up” or “to snuggle”, but in a broader sense, it means to “have a nice and relaxed time”.
Mysig
To describe anything with an unexpectedly relaxing vibe.
Nadryv
When a person releases intimate, deeply hidden feelings, sometimes that do not truly exist; imaginary, excessively exaggerated and distorted feelings.
Nakakapag pabagabag
Something that brings about excessive anxiety or restlessness for a period of time; something that is making you nervous.
Nakhur
A camel that won’t give milk until her nostrils have been tickled.
Nameer (نمير)
Clear, pure water.
Naz
The pride that comes from knowing that you are loved no matter what you do.
Nedoperepitj (недоперепить)
To drink more than one should have, but less than one would have wanted. To fail to drink too much.
Nehrotit to
A choice not to stress about something.
Nekama
A man who pretends to be a woman on the internet.
Neko-neko
Someone that has a novel idea that only makes things worse.
Nekojita (ねこじた)
Literally “cat’s tongue”; a person who is sensitive to hot food and especially hot drinks.
Nementia
Feeling nervous or anxious in your own skin.
Nenna
Not having the will to do something
Nepenthe
Something that helps you forget grief or suffering
Ngaobera
A slight inflammation of the throat caused by screaming too much.
Niksen
Sitting down and doing nothing at all.
Ninot
A ninot is a figure with human representation. In a conversation, it means a person without personality.
Nintendo
“Leave luck to heaven” or to leave one’s fortune in the hands of fate
Nja
Combining no (nej) and yes (ja); neither yes or no (or both yes and no); expressing uncertainty.
Njuta
to deeply enjoy, to profoundly appreciate.
Nodus tollens
The realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore.
Nonina
Andalusian expression of three negations to say yes but with a certain touch, as if wanting to mean that this is not even doubted.
Noniná
Triple negation. Means yes, with emphasis.
Noroke
To brag about or sing the praises of the person you love.
Nostalgie de la boue
A yearning for degradation, depravity, or other crude/base aspects of life, literally “a yearning for mud.”
Nou-nou
An indefinite time in the near future, could be very near or not so near, a non-committal way of telling time.
Nuchshlepper
Someone who follows another person; a hanger-on
Numinous
Describing an experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted - the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired.
Nunchi
The art of listening to a person and identifying their moods or emotions.
Nutro
Something that governs your inner being; your core.
O ka la nokonoko
A day spent in nervous anticipation of a coughing spell.
Obhimaan
Temporary feeling of anger towards a loved one.
Occhiolism
The awareness of the smallness of your perspective.
Odnoliub
Someone who has only one love in his or her life; someone who is capable of loving only one at a time.
Offing
The deep, distant stretch of the ocean that is still visible from the land; the foreseeable future.
Ohrwurm
A melody or song that gets stuck in your head (“ear worm”)
Ômä (өмә)
Collective helping
On-nomi
The practice of getting together with friends on the internet and having a drink together.
Onism
The frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits just one place at a time.
Onsay
To feign affection or care.
Onsra
That bittersweet feeling of loving for the last time; the feeling when you already know that a love won’t last.
Oodal
Overly exaggerated, fake anger that follows a lovers’ quarrel.
Opia
the ambiguous intensity of eye-contact which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable.
Orphic
Mysterious and entertaining; beyond ordinary understanding
Otium
The condition of being in control of one’s own time; leisure, free-time; ease, peace.
Overskud
Extra/excess energy; sufficient resources.
Oxymoron
Figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.
Paasa
A person who leads someone on, appearing genuinely interested while not truly feeling so.
Packesel
The person who’s stuck carrying everyone else’s bags on a trip
Pålägg
Anything that you can put in a sandwich
Pålegg
Anything that you can put in a sandwich
Palla
To steal fruit off trees.
Panapoo'o
The act of searching your head in order to help you remember something you have forgotten.
Pantoffelheld
A man who may act tough in front of his friends but can’t stand up for himself against his wife.
Parea
A group of friends who regularly gather to share experiences, philosophies, values, and ideas.
Pelinti
To move hot food around in your mouth.
Pena ajena
Feeling embarrassed on behalf of another.
Petrichor
The smell of earth after rain.
Philia
highest form of love; deep love between friends, brotherly love
Philotimo
The inner impulse to act well and in alignment with the moral virtues that represent one’s own society and upbringing.
Philoxenia
Love of strangers, guests; a hospitable act of welcome.
piñcu (பிஞ்சு)
A small, immature fruit.
Pneúma (πνεῦμα)
Wind; breath; spirit.
Pochemuchka
A person who asks a lot of questions
Poka-Yoke
Any mechanism that helps an operator avoid mistakes.
Pole
Sorry; can also express empathy and understanding.
Półtora
Specific word for one and a half of something
Polytropos
Much turned, traveled, and wandering; shifty and complicated.
Pomicione
A man who seizes any chance of being in close contact with a woman.
poshlost (пошлость)
Used to describe situations where things are being sold under the premise “that the greatest joy can be bought.”
Pragma
longtime love, such as in long marriages
Presenzialismo
Someone who’s preoccupation is to make appearances at social events; the tendency to be present at every social event in order to get noticed.
Pretoogjes
Lit. ‘fun eyes’; the twinkling eyes of someone engaging in benign mischief or fun.
Propuh
A draft of air usually created by opening doors or windows. Some believe it can cause diseases or even kill you.
Prozvonit
To call a mobile phone and let it ring once so the other person calls back, saving the first caller money.
Pulesveis
Messy hair, in particular in the back of the head, resulting from being rubbed against the pillow during sex.
Pulsa
To walk laboriously in snow.
Putzfimmel
Adjective for someone who is obsessed with cleaning.
Qì (氣)
Lit. air, breath; ‘life force/energy’.
Qiang jingtou
The fight by a cameraman to get a better vantage point
Qualunquismo
Political apathy; people who really don’t care very much about politics and related issues in society.
Querencia
A place from which one’s strength is drawn, where one feels at home, the place where you are your most authentic self.
Rabenmutter
A term for an uncaring or neglectful mother.
Ramé
Something that is both chaotic and joyful at the same time.
Rashk-e-Qamar
Someone who is so beautiful, the moon is jealous of their beauty.
Raspafiestas
An adjective to describe a person who doesn’t leave until the party is over.
Rauxa
Sudden determination or action; rapture.
Razbliuto
The feeling for someone you used to love but no longer do.
Rè nào (熱鬧)
Not only fun and lively, but also has a special vibe that makes everyone want to be there.
Recherché
Rare, exotic, unusual; not understood or appreciated by many people.
Redamancy
The act of loving the one who loves you; a returned love in full.
Rehepaplus
Entrepreneurialism that may lack ethics.
Rén (仁)
Humanity, benevolence; positive feelings from altruism.
Resfeber
Travel fever/bug; the feeling of excitement and nervousness experienced by a traveller before undertaking a journey.
Resol
That kind of sunlight, non-direct, when the sun is covered by clouds but still hurts the eyes.
Retrouvailles
Lit. ‘rediscovery’; a reunion (e.g., with loved ones after a long time apart).
Rhwe
To sleep on the floor without a carpet, drunk and naked.
Riposo
Rest, repose; a nap; cf. siesta.
Ripsaspis
the one that throws down his shield
Rire dans sa barbe
To laugh in your beard quietly while thinking about something that has happened
Rizq
Life’s provision of account; often refers to missed opportunities.
Rocambolesco
Stunning action that requires extreme audacity; literally means “there’s no need” as in “there’s no need to thank you”
Rokjesdag
The first day of spring when it’s warm enough to wear a short skirt bare-legged.
Rubatosis
The unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat.
Rückkehrunruhe
The feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness.
Rudenėja
The transition from summer to fall, highlighting processes like leaves changing color and constant rain.
S’encoubler
To describe a fall, but specifically one where you fell due to being tangled in something.
Sabhsaí
Someone who works outside no matter how bad the weather is.
Salām (سلام)
Peace, harmony, wholeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquillity; also used as a greeting/parting salutation.
Saper vivere
The ability to handle people and situations with charm, diplomacy, and verve.
Saucer
To mop up the sauce from your plate with a piece of bread.
Saudade
melancholic longing, nostalgia, dreaming wistfulness.
Sawubona
A greeting that means “I see you, you are important to me and I value you.”
Sayang
Describes when you’ve wasted an opportunity
Schadenfreude
Pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune.
Schilderwald
Jungle of traffic signs; a street so crowded with signs that you become lost
Schlemiel
An inept, clumsy person
Schlimazel
A chronically unlucky person
Schnapsdrossel
A person that drinks a lot but rarely gets drunk.
Schnapsidee
An idea so stupid the person must have thought of it while drunk.
Schnapsleiche
So who passed out drunk (“liquor corpse”)
Schulbildend
Inspiring or leading to the creation of schools of thought.
Schwärmerei
Excessive or extreme enthusiasm or sentimentality.
Scrumping
Stealing fruit (particularly apples) from trees
Se défouler
Let off steam to release or get rid of excess energy.
Séanas
A gap between the upper front teeth.
Sehnsucht
Thoughts and feelings about all facets of life that are unfinished or imperfect, paired with a yearning for ideal alternative experiences.
Seigneur-terrasse
Someone who spends time, but not money, at a café.
Seijaku
Quiet tranquillity; silence and serenity.
Selcouth
Rare, strange, marvellous, wondrous.
Sensizlik
the state and the concept of being without you, not having you
Seny
Common sense and level-headedness in actions.
Ser/Estar
The verb ’to be’ is two different verbs in Spanish. Ser is ‘what you are’ and estar is ‘how you are/where you are’.
Serendipity
The development of events by chance that result in a beneficial way
Sgriob
The itchiness of the upper lip just before taking a sip of whisky.
Shalom
peace, harmony, wholeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquillity; used also as a greeting/parting salutation.
Shemomedjamo
To keep eating past the point of being full since the food tastes so good.
Shinrin-yoku (森林浴)
bathing in the forest (literally and/or metaphorically).
Shlep
To bring something from one place to another, implying it’s a burden.
Shouganai
It expresses acceptance of a situation beyond control.
Shuhari
Stages of learning in martial arts.
Sielvartas
Literal translation as “soul tumbling” used as grief or resentment.
Siftah
First sale of the day for merchant
Şikemperver
Someone who is very fond of eating and drinking
Sirimiri
Weak and constant rain; stronger than a mist but less than a shower.
Sisu
Extraordinary determination in the face of adversity
Siwon
Usually meaning cool or cold, but in dining, refers to a taste that achieves ideal umami, making food feel refreshing.
Skare
A thin layer of ice on top of snow.
sobremesa
Relaxed conversation after a meal.
Sokaiya
A man with a few shares in several companies who extorts money by threatening to come to the shareholders’ meetings and cause trouble.
Solkatt
The glimmer that reflects the sunshine off a wristwatch.
Solvegg
Literally means sun wall; to find a sunny spot during winter time where you can sit down and enjoy the warmth of the sun.
Sonder
the realization that everyone has a life as vivid and complex as your own; coined by John Koenig.
Sóphrosuné (σωφροσύνη)
excellence of character and soundness of mind; leads to moderation and self-control.
Sophrosyne
A healthy state of mind, characterized by self-control, moderation, and a deep awareness of one’s true self, resulting in true happiness.
Sortable
Someone you can take out without fear of embarrassment, often referring to friends or family.
Sous-entendu
Don’t listen to what you heard. Listen for the message embedded.
Spannungsbogen
A sequence of events which build up suspense and/or tension.
Spätzünder
A person who takes time to grasp concepts, often showing delayed personal growth.
Sphallolalia
Flirtatious talk that leads nowhere.
Spleen
Melancholy without apparent cause
Startijenn
A kickstart or boost of energy; also denotes perseverance.
Storgi (στοργη)
the love between parents and children
Strikhedonia
The joy of being able to say “to hell with it”
Strohwitwer
Grass widower; a man whose partner or wife has left him alone.
Sturmfrei
Having the house or flat to oneself
Stushevatsya
To fade into the background
Subhiya
Morning coffee, gossip and chat with neighbors after housewives have sent their children to school.
Sud’ba (судьба)
Fate, destiny, fortune
Sumud (صمود)
steadfastness, a determined struggle to persist.
Surströmmingspremier
The first day of the year where it is acceptable to eat fermented herring.
Ta'arof
The complicated set of niceties and social rules to be observed as a form of good manners and proper etiquette.
Tachiyomi
To stand in a bookstore and read a book without buying it.
Talaka
Every member of a neighborhood getting together to do a work for free for a poor member of their community
Talkoot
a collectively pursued/undertaken task; voluntary community work.
Tampo
Behaviour in which a person withdraws affection from someone who has hurt their feelings without direct expression.
Taraadin
A happy solution for everyone
Tartle
The act of hesitating while introducing someone because you’ve forgotten their name.
Te quiero
Similar to “I love you,” but used in a more casual or friendly context, like with close friends or coworkers.
Tempus fugit
Time flies, flees, escapes.
Tenyérbemászó
Literally “palm crawler”; a face begging to be punched
Tîeow (เที่ยว)
To wander or roam around in a carefree way.
Tima
Not being ready to spend time or money on a specific thing, despite being able to afford it.
Tinga
Particles of food left between teeth
Tingo
The act of taking objects one desires from the house of a friend by gradually borrowing all of them.
Titip
To temporarily entrust something to a person
Tizita (ትዝታ)
A bittersweet remembrance and longing for a time, person, thing gone by.
Tízórai
A meal between breakfast and lunch, literally “at ten o’clock”
Tjäle
Ground frozen hard, beyond the point where digging is possible
Tokimeki ときめき
Excitement; Feeling of bliss or joy from a discrete experience
Tokimeku
A sudden flutter in your heart, or that feeling of inspiration if you’re anticipating something.
Tokka
A large herd of reindeer
Töörõõm
finding the simple joys in everyday tasks.
Tôpäj (төпәй)
Interjection that is used to forewarn a child of falling.
Torschlusspanik
The fear that time is running out on achieving life goals.
Toska (тоска)
At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause.
Trasnochar
To stay awake throughout the night.
Trennungsagentur
A man hired to deliver breakup news.
Treppenwitz
A clever comeback that comes to mind too late, often realized when leaving.
Trepverter
A witty comeback you think of only when it’s too late to use.
Tretår
A second refill or “threefill” of coffee.
Tsuji-giri
To try out a new sword on a passer-by.
Tsundoku
Acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one’s home without reading them
Tüddelig
A charming, forgetful old person.
Tuerto
A man with only one eye.
Tulak ng bibig, kabig ng dibdib
Pretending to dislike something, when in reality you actually like it.
tuḷir
Technically “a baby leaf”, it signifies freshness, tenderness, and delicateness.
Tuntuvar
The day before a wedding
Turnbeutelvergesser
Literally “sportsbag”, but often used for a pupil that forgets their gym bag.
Ubuntu
A quality that includes essential human virtues like compassion and humanity.
Uffda
A sympathetic word for shared discomfort.
Uitbuiken
Feeling so full you need to relax.
Uitwaaien
To take a refreshing break outdoors in windy weather
Ukiyo
The floating world - living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life.
uḷaṟu (உளறு)
To say something that should not be or to say something nonsensical or unrelated.
Umami
A category of taste in food (besides sweet, sour, salt, and bitter); savoriness.
Umay
Getting tired of a certain food
Umij se
To refresh yourself by splashing water on your face.
Urkn
Heavier stews with a greater depth in taste.
Üşenmek
To be too lazy to do something
Utepils
The act of sitting outside on a sunny day enjoying a beer.
Utura-utura (うつらうつら)
To drift between sleep and wakefulness.
Uzsonna
A meal enjoyed in the late afternoon.
Vabba
To be at home with the kids
Vaitherichal
The feeling that you get when someone has something that you lack, but you feel they shouldn’t possess it, without jealousy.
Vemödalen
The fear that everything has already been done.
Vergangenheitsbewältigung
Coping with the past.
Vergüenza ajena
Shame or embarrassment felt as a result of the actions of others
Verklempt
Completely overcome with emotion
Verpeilt
Regularly forgetting things and not being in the present moment enough to organize your life properly.
Verschlimmbesserung
An attempt at improvement that makes things worse than they already were
Víðsýni
A panoramic view; open-mindedness.
Viitsima
To overcome laziness as the last or only obstacle to do something.
Vipāka
Ripening; the result, ripening or maturation of karma.
Viraag
The emotional pain felt from being away from the person you love.
Voetstoots
A sale where the thing is sold as is or with all its faults without any guarantees.
Volta
A casual evening walk along the main street.
Voorpret
That feeling of excitement you get even before an event actually takes place. Literally translates to “pre-fun.”
Vorfreude
The joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures
Vorführeffekt
When you try to give evidence in public that something works (or doesn’t work), but fail as the opposite occurs.
Vozdukh (Воздух)
Air, representing the essence of spirit.
Vprikusku
Drinking tea through pieces of sugar.
Vybafnout
To jump out and say “boo”
Vypendrivatsja (выпендриваться)
To behave in a way that makes one look more important or special than one is.
Wabi-sabi
Finding beauty within the imperfections of life and peacefully accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay.
Wanderlust
A strong desire to travel
Warmduscher
Someone hesitant to leave their comfort zone.
Wasuremono
Forgotten or lost things; an item left behind on a train or forgotten at home.
Weemoed
Light melancholy; strength to overcome sorrow.
Wegbier
A beer you’re having on your way somewhere (i.e. a party)
Weichei
Someone who is weak or cowardly.
Wejbet
Unwanted/inconvenient social and family obligations that are somewhat necessary to maintain good relations.
Werifesteria
To wander longingly through the forest in search of mystery.
Wintercearig
A feeling of deep sadness related to the cold, still, dark nature of winter.
Wú jí (無極)
The state of being without limits or boundaries; the primordial universe representing original nature.
Xeitoso
Someone who does something well or looks put together.
Xiao xiao
The whistling and pattering of rain or wind.
Xíng qì (行氣)
Volitionally (e.g., mentally) circulating or directing qi.
Yakamoz
The reflection of moonlight or other lights on water.
Yaqin
Certitude and freedom from doubt.
Yoisho
A word without meaning, said when flopping into a chair after a hard day at work or lifting a heavy bag.
Yokomeshi
The stress caused by speaking a foreign language.
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu
A polite expression asking for a favor or support.
Yuanfen
A relationship by fate or destiny.
Yugen
A profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe…and the sad beauty of human suffering.
Yuputka
A word made for walking in the woods at night, it’s the phantom sensation of something crawling on your skin.
Załatwić
To make something which is very complicated somehow simpler in an entrepreneurial and cheeky way.
Zapoi
2+ days of drunkenness usually involving a journey or waking up in an unexpected place.
Zechpreller
A person who leaves a restaurant without paying
Zeg
The day after tomorrow.
Zeitgeist
The “spirit of the time” is what’s going on culturally, religiously, or intellectually during a certain period.
Zhaghzhagh
The chattering of teeth from the cold or from rage.
Zhì (智)
Wisdom, perspicacity, knowledge.
Zindabad
A shout of encouragement; a cheer, meaning “may [idea or person] live forever.”
Zugzwang
To be forced to make a move even though it will likely be at your disadvantage.
Zuihitsu
A genre of Japanese literature reflecting spontaneous thoughts.
Þetta reddast
it will all work out ok (used especially when things don’t look optimistic).