22 Untranslatable Words From Around The Globe That Illuminate The Beauty Of Language

22 Untranslatable Words From Around The Globe That Illuminate The Beauty Of Language

Toska: A sensation of great spiritual anguish.

Katie MatherSeptember 26, 2016

Duende: The mysterious power that a work of art has to deeply move a person.

— Spanish Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language spanish

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Commuovere: To be moved in a heartwarming way, usually relating to a story that moved you to tears.

— Italian Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language italian

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Hygge: Feeling peace and happiness.

— Danish Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Danish

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Lagom: Not too much, not too little, but perfect.

— Swedish Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Swedish

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Utepils: To sit outside on a sunny day, enjoying a beer.

— Norweigian Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Norweigian

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Aware: The bittersweetness of a brief and fading moment of transcending beauty.

— Japanese Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Japanese

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Gökotta: To wake up early in the morning with the purpose of going outside to hear the first birds sing.

— Swedish Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Swedish

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Sobremesa: After-lunch conversation around the table

— Spanish Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language spanish

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Cafuné: The act of tenderly running one’s fingers through someone’s hair.

— Brazilian Portueguese Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Brazilian Portueguese

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Toska: A sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without a specific cause; a longing with nothing to long for.

— Russian Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Russia

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Hanyauku: The act of walking on tiptoes across warm sand.

— Rukwangali Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Rukwangali

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Mamihlapinatapei: The wordless, meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something, but are both reluctant to do so.

— Yagan Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Yagan

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Waldeinsamkeit: The feeling of solitude, being alone in the woods, and a connectedness to nature.

— German Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language German

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Hiraeth: A particular type of longing for the homeland or the romanticized past.

— Welsh Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Welsh

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Kilig: The feeling of butterflies in your stomach, usually when something romantic takes place.

— Tagalog Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Tagalog

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Saudade: The feeling of longing for something or someone that you love and which is lost.

— Portuguese Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Portuguese

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Fika: Gathering together to talk and take a break from everyday routines; either at a cafe or at home, often for hours on end.

— Swedish Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Swedish

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Wabi-Sabi: Finding beauty in imperfections.

— Japanese Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Japanese

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Tsundoku: Leaving a book unread after buying it.

— Japanese Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Japanese

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Forelsket: The indescribable euphoria experienced as you begin to fall in love.

— Norwegian Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Norwegian

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Komorebi: The sunlight that filters through the leaves of the trees.

— Japanese Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language Japanese

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Fernweh: Feeling homesick for a place you have never been to.

— German Saying, Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World

Untranslatable Words Global Language German

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