1 post tagged “language”
razbliuto: noun. The sentimental feeling you have about someone you once loved but no longer do.
Supposedly the word is of russian origin but the word is in controversy over whether or not it exists. I find this confusing because, at present, it is a word people know, and can easily find, with a commonly agreed upon meaning. Wouldn't this suggest that while the word may not have existed before, it does now.
Either way, I vote yes for this word! The english language is lacking in words and phrases that truly convey the minutia and sublety of the human experience. Other languages have these. Ours lacks florid descriptive phrases for the sentimental world. Perhaps we speak a passionless language.
Here are a few other examples off the top of my head:
verguenza ajena: Spanish phrase. Often translated as 'spanish shame' means to feel profoundly embarrassed for another person. Like sympathy pain but for shame and embarrasment and awkwardness. Amongst my friends the very UN-PC term 'retard tingles' has been adopted to convey this sentiment.
l'esprit d'escalier: French phrase. Often translated as 'staircase wit' (or as translated on the late Theresa Duncan's blog 'the wit of the staircase') refers to thinking of the 'come back' or perfect retort not in the moment but rather unfortunately later when replaying the exchange in your head: "The witty repartee you thought of as you're going downstairs to leave."
katahara itai: Japanese. The action of laughing so much that one side of your abdomen hurts.
bakku-shan: Japanese. A girl who appears pretty from behind but not from the front.
Kummerspeck: German compound word. Literally means grief-bacon and describes the excess weight gained from emotion-related overeating.
Drachenfutter: German compound word. Literally translated as dragon fodder. The peace offerings made by
guilty husbands to their wives.
Hygge: Danish word and way of life. The
term is difficult to translate, but it is often, inadequately,
translated as coziness. Uncomplicated, unexaggerated and informal are some of the ingredients in hygge. I think one of the best and easiest translations is 'good vibes' or 'good times'. The term hygge is widely used and connected with different situations. For instance you can have a hygge-evening and a hygge-weekend. You can have a hygge-chat and you can even sit in a hygge-corner. It is closely associated with having a good time together with friends
or family and with eating and drinking. It may include a long dinner at
home with a group of friends who know each another well, going out with some few
friends for a cup of coffee on a Sunday afternoon or listening
to music, playing board games or just watching TV together. I love this word!
If you can think of any foreign words or phrases that are missing from the english language please comment.
(Thank you urbandictionary.com & The Meaning Of Tingo - a collection of words
and phrases from around the world by
Adam Jacot de Boinod into)
