Saturday, August 4, 2012

10 Relationship Words that Aren't Translatable into English

via


Mamihlapinatapei (Yagan, an indigenous language of Tierra del Fuego): The wordless yet meaningful look shared by two people who desire to initiate something, but are both reluctant to start. 

Yuanfen (Chinese): A relationship by fate or destiny. This is a complex concept. It draws on principles of predetermination in Chinese culture, which dictate relationships, encounters and affinities, mostly among lovers and friends. 

Cafuné (Brazilian Portuguese): The act of tenderly running your fingers through someone's hair. 

Retrouvailles (French):  The happiness of meeting again after a long time.  

Ilunga (Bantu): A person who is willing to forgive abuse the first time; tolerate it the second time, but never a third time. 

La Douleur Exquise (French): The heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can’t have. 

Koi No Yokan (Japanese): The sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall into love.  

Ya’aburnee (Arabic): “You bury me.” It’s a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person, because of how difficult it would be to live without them. 

Forelsket: (Norwegian):  The euphoria you experience when you’re first falling in love. 


Saudade (Portuguese): The feeling of longing for someone that you love and is lost. Another linguist describes it as a "vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist."


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