Sometimes You Just Don’t Have the Right Word? Now You Do!
Foreign Language Learning |
There
are times when you stammer and gesticulate but can’t come up with the right
word to express your thoughts and ideas. And unfortunately not all the words
you might be looking for exist in your native language. Now you search for the
word in the multiple languages you speak in (if you’re a polyglot) but always
doing that becomes a polyglot problem. True? Fret not! MrClass has figured out an easy and fun solution for this: just use
an untranslatable word from any foreign language! Why?
Untranslatable
words offer vivid descriptions for things you wouldn’t otherwise be able to
explain easily as they capture essential meanings that words in other languages
do not. Additionally, untranslatable enhance your vocabulary. So here are the 5
untranslatable words you should know to describe the complexities of life-
1. Schadenfreude
Say it as SHAH:dən:froy:də
Language: German
Meaning: Pleasure derived from
someone’s misfortune.
2. Mokita
Language: Kilivila
Say it as it is.
Meaning: Something everyone knows but
do not discuss.
3. Mamihlapinatapei
Language: Yagán/Yaghan
Say it as Ma-meh-la-pin-a-ta-pay
Meaning: Named as the “most succinct”
word by the Guinness Book of World Records. It refers to an expressive exchange
of glances when two people share the same thought.
4. 侘寂 (Wabi-sabi)
Language: Japanese
Say it as it is.
Meaning: Beautiful imperfection.
5. Tartle
Language: Scottish
Say it as it is.
Meaning:
The hesitation when you’re about to introduce someone but realize you’ve
forgotten his or her name.
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