a small selection of “important” and very adequate terms lacking in the English dictionary

Statistically there are more than 47,156 words in English language; however in everyday life people hardly use 1,000-2,000 thousand words. That is why it is obvious that we, despite advancement of technologies, are very dependent on what we pronounce. But sometimes, even though the language is “great and powerful”, it is very hard to express “le mot juste” (the right feeling – French) in one word. That is why sometimes instead of using lots of words to explain something it would be great to use just one or, maximum two words.

TransLandia translation services agency offers for your attention a small selection of “important” and very adequate terms lacking in the English dictionary. So lets get started:

(Wabi-Sabi) (Japanese) – possibility to see something beautiful in incompleteness. For example, in crack on Campana Reina or in absence of hands and head in the Victory of Samothrace statue.

Rwhe (Tsonga language, Bantu diversity, South Africa) – fall down drunk and naked on the floor and fall asleep.

Tartle (Scottish) – panic state when you are supposed to introduce a person to someone, but you cannot remember his/her name.

Fond de l’air (French) – literary translation is “air bottom”. But in fact this expression means the following: it is summer and sun is shining outside, and you should wear some light clothes, but in fact the weather is very cold. Not just cold, but extremely cold.

Lagom (Swedish) – not too much, not too little, but exactly enough.

Myötähäpeä (Finnish) – when somebody does something stupid and it is you who are ashamed of it.

Iktsuarpok (Inuit language) – just imagine that you wait somebody to come around and this somebody is not coming and you start to look in the window, open the door to see the guest coming. Something like that…

Yuputka (Ulvo language, Honduras and Nicaragua Indians) – the feeling when you walk along the forest and you feel that somebody touches your skin. For example, ghosts…

Cafune (Brazilian Portuguese) – tenderly finger the hair of a person you love.

Desenrascanco (Portuguese) – possibility to get out of the woods without having either no plan, or no possibilities.