Lost In Translation: Words Foreigners Wish Existed In English
Reddit user Don_Pickleball asked: 'What is a word that exists in your native language that is sorely missed in English?'
The great thing about foreign languages is that each language has its own expressions and words that don't necessarily have translations in other languages.
My mother tongue is an Indian language called Telugu.
In Telugu, we have several words and phrases that don't exist in English, even though I wish they did.
One example is the word 'gaadida guddu.' Literally, it means 'a donkey's egg,' but the word is usually used to denote nonsense.
Essentially, when someone says, 'gaadida guddu,' they are saying something is 'as believable as a donkey's egg' (which means it's unbelievable since donkeys don't lay eggs)!
Redditors know lots of words and phrases in foreign languages that don't exist in English and are eager to share.
It all started when Redditor Don_Pickleball asked:
"What is a word that exists in your native language that is sorely missed in English?"
A Feeling
"In German we have the word 'Geborgenheit' which describes a very specific feeling of feeling cozy and safe and protected. Like you would feel when you're around loved ones sitting around a fire or when the person you love holds you under the warm covers when it's raining outside. I tried to explain this to someone the other day and when we googled the translation- it came up with 'cozyness' which really doesn't pay justice to what it actually means."
– Else1
"“Saudade” it has a similar meaning to “miss you” but we have a direct translation for that “senti sua falta”, saudade has more of an emotional feel to it, it’s really hard to explain, it’s deeper than simply missing someone Btw I’m Brazilian so the language is Portuguese"
– peddy_D
"Gigil? It's when something's so cute you get this sort of feeling of violence? I don't think I'm explaining it right. Kilig is also a similar feeling, but that one is for love; something's so romantic it gives you goosebumps? Or makes you giddy."
– ClickGrayson
Expanding My Vocabulary
"And we have "verschlimmbessern" if you try to fix something but actually make it worse than it was before."
– Chili919
"I need this word in my life."
"Send help...."
– elmonstro12345
Categories
"I miss roles in friendship distinguished in Polish. “Kolega” is a friend who you like spending time with. Partying or chilling. You socialise and have a good time. “Przyjaciel” is a friend whom you don’t need to keep in touch or have a good time. But when some bad thing is happening, you know you can call him."
– CodNo503
Similar Words, Different Meanings
"I remember being in Prague and seeing something along the lines of "Pozor, Polizia voruye" which meant 'attention, the police is looking' but in Russian/Ukrainian it sounds exactly like you'd say 'Shame, the police is stealing'"
– SignificantAssociate
"“Bom dia” means good morning in your language."
""Bom dia” means bomb him in mine."
"We are not the same."
– borazine
A Beautiful Sight
"There is a Japanese term “Komorebi”, for which no English translation exists. It roughly translates as “the scattered light that filters through when sunlight shines through trees.""
"I love how some languages are able to describe such beautiful moments in life."
– tipsy_jana
Grateful For Existence
"Backpfeifengesicht. "A face in need of a fist""
"I'm not a violent person but I appreciate that this word exists."
– No_Tamanegi
I've Felt That!
"Definitely not my native language, but I love --"
""Kuchisabishii“ is a Japanese term which directly translates to 'lonely mouth; when you're not hungry, but you eat because your mouth is lonely."
– MOS95B
The Right Clothes
"Kalsarikännit in Finnish. Literally "underwear drunk" , or more spesifically, "long john drunk.""
"Meaning deliberately getting drunk alone at home in your underpants with zero plans of meeting anyone or going out. I think other nations do this as well, but don't have a word for it."
"Delightfully relaxing and therapeutic at times, slightly concerning if done excessively."
"At best a wonderful opportunity to touch base with your self, your life and your deepest thoughts and feelings. And/or watch that one cheesy comedy from 1992 you love but can't get any of your friends to watch with you because they have standards."
"At worst you wake up to an unholy mess accompanied by a killer headache, cheese all over the bed, cryptic messages on ripped up pieces of pizza box cardboard written by you to you all over the kitchen, and have nobody to blame than yourself."
"I've seen it translated somewhere as "pants drunk", but actual pants are much too fancy attire for this. For full experience you need to wear your most comfortable, decades old long johns that have holes and a weird stain that somehow never comes off in the wash."
– Fit_Share_6147
I Want To Say It!
"My native language is a Native American language called Comanche and isn't a written language but the word sounds like "chaw-tamaw-tey-quat" and it basically is a socially acceptable way to say "I'm done speaking.""
– SCP-33005
"That's fantastic, I'd get so much use out of that."
– HeidiKrups
Baby Bear
"Lagom (swedish)"
"It means not bad, and not too good. Just an average between. A very neutral word."
"For example, when you wash your hands, the water should be lagom hot. Not cold, not scalding hot. Just lagom."
– Live_Rock3302
Who Doesn't Do This?
"Japanese has loads of words that require entire sentences to explain in English. My favorite of all time is tachiyomi, which means "standing at a newsstand reading something without any intention of paying for it.""
– the2belo
I do this all the time, with novels at the bookstore.
Nice to know there's a word for it in some language!
In today's interconnected world, learning foreign languages is an invaluable skill. The younger you start, the more success you will have - and that eureka moment when you realize you're fluent can blow your mind.
Stallin_Grad asked polyglots of Reddit: What was your "Holy cow I'm fluent now!" moment?
Submissions have been edited for clarity, context, and profanity.
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