I’ve seen this German word in another thread and it has prompted me to ask for other examples of great and useful words, preferably in other European languages.
Verschlimmbesserung, which means having the intention to make something better but instead making it worse e.g. the THS website and app.
Here are two more, also German.
Schadenfreude, the experience of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that comes from learning of the troubles, failures, pain, suffering, or humiliation of another.
Zugzwang, from chess, meaning having to make a move, even though to do so would be disadvantageous.
I speak Spanish, although sadly not as well as I used to. At the moment I can only think of the verb ‘estrenar’ which means ‘to wear or use something for the first time’.
I very much relate to the Japanese word Kuchisabishii, which means “lonely mouth,” or the desire to snack, not out of hunger, but out of boredom or desire for comfort.
I like the concept “sobremesa” in Spanish. It refers to the time we spend chatting and prolonging the meal once we have finished eating. It can be associated with coffee or a drink, especially if it’s in a restaurant but it’s just lingering on and not really wanting to end the meeting.
From my home country, with many fond memories of hearing the word used. Explanation via AI - In Welsh,
cwtch(pronounced “kutch,” rhyming withbutch) refers to a special type of hug, cuddle, or affectionate embrace. It is a deeply cultural term often described as more than just a physical action, conveying feelings of warmth, safety, love, and home.
One more from me, this one is Swedish. Döstädning (death cleaning) is a decluttering method historically practised in Sweden. It is a simple living practice, encouraging people to get rid of belongings before death to spare loved ones from having to manage them.
What an interesting topic! Having or not having certain words in your language really shapes how you think, doesn’t it? And how enriching it is to speak multiple languages, giving you this huge repertoire of words that just don’t exist in others.
As an English speaker (my second language), I love “excited” and “rude”, we have approximations in Spanish, but they’re not quite the same. And as a Spanish teacher, I´ve loved to read your comments about “sobremesa” and “estrenar.” Could we add “siesta” to the list too?
A favourite word is the Welsh word “hiraeth” which is really nicely described by this article.
Honourable mention for the German ritual of “Lüften” which is the tradition of opening the windows and doors each day. I do this at home, all year round, after reading about it!
It is remarkable how much proficiency in another language enriches one’s mother tongue, as certain terms in foreign languages describe specific concepts with far greater precision or flat out are “untranslatable”. Incorporating such nuanced vocabulary into your own language can truly elevate a conversation.
Lovely article, @Jenny. I also appreciate the reference to Trelew. I was really impressed by the sense of “teletransportation” from the all Argentinian Puerto Madrin into an all Welsh town.
