Word that means you like to learn

People who love to learn don’t depend only on classrooms or professors. They seek answers to every question; their minds are always clouded with ‘how’ and ‘why.’ They have an innate desire to please their inner curiosity and dig deeper until their thirst for answers quenches.

What would you call such a person?

What would be a suitable expression or word for a person passionate about searching, researching, learning new things, and acquiring immense knowledge? Someone who questions everything, looks for answers, and learns with deep understanding.

This is the question I had in mind while deciding the name of this website. Autodidact was the first word that came to my mind, but the name had to be more generic so that people could remember and return to the website more often.

Well, there are many words for the same. Here is a list of the most noteworthy ones:

Autodidact

According to Oxford Dictionary, it means “A self-taught person.” It formed out of the English word Auto (self) and the Greek word didact (teach). In other terms, someone who has acquired knowledge or learned a subject without seeking help from a teacher or formal education institution.

Instead of calling a computer technician, you would fix it on your own.

Philomath

According to Merriam-Webster, it means “A lover of learning: scholar,” especially a mathematics student. This word originated in Greece and was used as a possessor of knowledge in multiple fields.

Polymath

A more profound word for this loveable expression. A polymath is a person whose expertise lies in different subjects. The knowledge is used to solve a specific problem by learnings from every perspective. Polyhistor is another term to describe the same.

Epistemophilic

“Edison had an epistemophilic personality.” This states that Edison had an excessive love or reverence for knowledge. It can be used for – the impulse to inquire.

Sophophilic

Used to describe a person who loves to gather knowledge with a higher emphasis on wisdom. Aristotle and Socrates were the greatest sophophiles of all time.

“There are no foolish questions, and no man becomes a fool until he has stopped asking questions.”

Charles Proteus Steinmetz

Philosophile

A person who loves to learn about philosophy. A love for a certain kind of thinking and approach toward a specific problem. Such a person is always involved in questioning, arguing with their notions and beliefs, and trying to change one’s mind.

Bibliophile

A person who loves books. Bibliophile or bibliophilism is the act of loving books. It may also be known as “Bookworm” for someone who loves reading or reads them for content.

Sapiosexual

It is formed from two Latin words, Sapien (Wise or Intelligent) and Sexualis (Sexes). A person who finds intelligence to be the most attractive feature of a human being. I have often quoted this word several times in my writings. This should be known and used more often by the masses.

Inquisitive

An inquisitive person is intellectually curious, eager for knowledge, and likes to inquire, research and ask questions.

Curious

The most crucial trait of any knowledge lover. If you’re curious, you want to know what makes someone special happy?

“Curiosity is the very basis of education and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I say only the cat died nobly.”

Arnold Edinborough

Amore

Known as the name given to a person who has a deep inner need for quiet, a desire to understand, analyze the world they live in, and learn the deeper truth of this universe.

Erudite

Having or showing great knowledge, mastery, or learning. Possessing or displaying erudition. “An erudious scientist.”

Multipotentialite

Someone who has many different interests and creative pursuits in life. This term is used for someone who displays aptitude and excellence across multiple disciplines like art, economics, and science. Emile Wapnick popularized it in the TED talk Why Some of Us Don’t have One True Calling.

Neophilia

According to Collins Dictionary, it means a tendency to like anything new or a love of novelty. Neophilic is a person who has a fondness for, or obsession with, novelty and change. It is considered a personality trait.

Its opposite is neophobia which means fear of anything new or unwillingness to try anything new.

Learnaholic

The suffix “-holic” is added to a word to denote an addiction to it. Examples: workaholic, readaholic, and chocoholic. Similarly, learnaholic is someone who is addicted to learning and does it more than required.

Wonk

Used in an informal context. According to Cambridge Dictionary, a wonk is a person who works or studies too much, especially someone who learns and knows all the details about something. It relates to enthusiastic interest and excessive attention to minor details in a specialized field such as finance, politics, and science.

Pantomath

A person who wants to know or knows everything. Used to denote a great individual who has achieved the pinnacle of learning and understanding. Finance and advisory companies often use this word to convey relations to extensive expertise.

Leonardo da Vinci was one of the best-known knowledge lovers. He opened corpses to learn how the human body functions, played with candles and canvas to see how shadow works and observed water flow to create mechanics. His life was filled with exciting experiments. To learn better, watch this documentary.

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What if the most precise word for this expression hasn’t been coined yet? It is time to put your mind to work. Here is one I came up with, a combination of two Latin words – Curiosus (Curious) + Amator (Lover) = Curiosamator. Make yours and share with this community of knowledge.

Want to start learning new things every day? Start here: 50+ Websites to Learn New Things Everyday

Rather than ‘philosopher’, there is an Ancient Greek word: ‘philosophos‘ — meaning ‘lover of wisdom’ (from philein ‘to love’ + sophos ‘wise’).

‘Autodidact’ is one possibility. Although it literally means ‘self-taught’, it does carry the connotations you’re referring to, of self-motivation, intellectual curiosity beyond the bounds of formal schooling; enthusiasm for knowledge.

‘Polymath’ is another, although it refers more to depth and breadth of learning rather than the enjoyment thereof.

‘Bibliophile’ may be a little too specific, referring to the love of the actual artefacts of books, rather than necessarily their contents …

… and ‘bookworm’ doesn’t quite cut it, in this age where we get our information from so many other sources …

If you are not averse to the idea of coining new words, how about ‘cognophile’?
From the Latin roots: cogno, cognoscere — know, cognitio — knowledge, and the Greek: philos …

This is a great question. I’m on the hunt now… I bet there’s a German word for it, or something in Arabic or Hebrew … ‘cognitionis amor‘ was a Latin phrase meaning ‘love of learning’.

(This probably won’t help, but I once had a boyfriend who called me a ‘knowledge junkie’, lol.)

This article is for beginner and advanced learners of English and for those who are wondering how to approach the language. We have compiled tips and resources for every level of learning from Beginner to Advanced.

Features of the English language

• Fixed word order. English belongs to the group of analytical languages. It has many parts of speech and a clear word order: subject, predicate, and one or more objects. Paraphrasing is acceptable, but rarely^[1].
• Phrasal verbs. These are expressions consisting of a verb and a preposition or adverb: put up with, slow down, get lost. There are similar constructions in other Germanic languages, but only in English are they used with such love, whether it be in everyday life, work, study, politics, or science.
• Genderless nouns. English nouns have no gender. The advantage here is that you need to coordinate parts of speech only by number.
• Special pronunciation. The rule «as it is heard, so it is written» does not work in English. The writing of this language is based not on a phonetic, but a historical principle. For example, the word daughter is read as [dɔːtə].
• One word — different parts of speech. Another phenomenon of the English language. Some words change their part of speech, tense, and stress, but not their appearance. For example:
  • Read — present tense, read — past tense
  • Present — a gift, present — to give
  • Close — near; close — shut
• A multifaceted language. English has long ceased to be uniform. There are American, British, Australian, and even Singaporean versions of the language. Within each country, there are many dialects and slang expressionssocial and ethnic groupings. This is especially noticeable in the UK, where there are four varieties of English in London alone. And not all of them are «royal».
• Smart borrowing. There are many loanwords in English. Everyday speech and basic concepts come from the Germanic and Scandinavian languages. And English owes its «beautiful» expressions to French. Compare: freedom (English) — liberty (French); love (English) — affection (French); friendship (English) — amity (French). Science is dominated by Latin and ancient Greek: substance, thesis, metaphor, conjunction, etc. Knowledge and use of these words is an indicator of education^[2].

How to learn English on your own

In this block, we will give you some tips on how to learn English.

1. Begin learning the language as a whole. Don’t focus on any one skill. All elements of English are interconnected. Without reading, you will not replenish your vocabulary and will not be able to communicate competently. Without listening to foreign speech, you will not understand accents and pronounce words correctly. Focusing on a specific skill is suitable for those who already have a strong base of English. Let’s say you’re studying for the IELTS exam, and know that you’re not very good at listening. In that case, it is logical to devote more time to this aspect. But at the initial stage of learning, it is better to study the language in its entirety.
2. Learn the language with fun. Make the process interesting for you. It’s easy to catch the enthusiasm for learning English because it’s so popular. But staying motivated is harder. Try to diversify your learning: apply the acquired knowledge of English to what you like. Are you a computer game lover? Play and chat with foreigners. Love fashion? Read American or British Vogue. Find your niche where you will use the language with pleasure.
3. Make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to look stupid. If you are not a BBC announcer, no one will notice your accent and style of presentation. Native English speakers are very loyal to how you pronounce words. The main thing is to convey meaning.
4. Practice every day for at least half an hour. Lack of practice kills even the most advanced level of English. And all aspects of the language are important. If you only watch Netflix, your writing and speaking skills will noticeably drop.

Vocabulary

15-25 thousand words make up the vocabulary of a native English speakerdepending on his level of education. For foreigners, 10 thousand is sufficient. With that amount, you can say that you are fluent in English. For understanding and communicating in everyday life, 3000 words are enough (without complex structures)^[3].

How far you are willing to delve into learning English depends on your goal. But you still need to learn vocabulary, at least the first 100 words. Even with such a small margin, you will be able to express simple thoughts, «want, drink, shop, me, juice.» Simple and clear. If your goal is to expand your vocabulary, use different techniques.

Learn words from flash cards

Return to childhood. Memorizing foreign words with flash cards is a well-known method. Its essence lies in spaced repetition. On one side of the card is a word written in English, and on the other — its translation. Learn words by laying out cards from several piles. Did you memorize the word? Put it in a far pile. Forgot it? Return it to a closer deck and repeat it again.

Such cards are sold at bookstores, but you can also make your own. If you compile them on your own, you will already remember the word, its translation, and spelling. At a higher level, you can specify its meaning in English. Another option: write not only the word, but a small phrase to go along with it. In doing so, you will immediately remember how to use it in a sentence.

Organize words into groups

Another way to learn new vocabulary is to organize words into groups. These can be:

• Thematic groups (kitchen: knife, bowl, cup, fork, etc.)
• Root words (able, ability, disability, enable, etc.)
• Similar words (beautiful, charming, splendid, pretty, fine, etc.)
• Expressions with one phrasal verb (put aside, put on, put out, etc.)

This method is good to use in combination with flash cards: distribute them among different topics.

Learn words in context

Learning a language in context means to immediately make sentences from new vocabulary. And be sure to say them out loud. This way you will learn how to use new words in conversation.

Resources

Grammar

Two opinions exist about the importance of grammar at an elementary level.

• First: you need to focus on vocabulary, and grammar will follow later. You can communicate with a native English speaker without coherent wording — you will still be understood.
• Second: grammatical constructions are a must. They allow you to understand the meaning of the phrase even without knowing individual words.

The choice of approach to learning grammar is up to you. If you need English for work or study, grammar is indispensable. If you are learning it for traveling, a basic grammar base is sufficient. Determine a set of constructions that you will definitely need. For example, simple tenses, singular vs. plural constructions (there is/there are), several phrasal verbs, and modal verbs (can/be). This is enough for the beginning.

Learn to understand the structure of the language

We advise beginners to first understand the structure of the language: how phrases are built, what parts of speech and simple tenses are. Don’t jump right into the Present Perfect and irregular verbs. Learn grammar gradually. At a basic level, you just need to understand what parts of speech look like and their order in a sentence. Here is an example from Alice in Wonderland: «All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe.» Those who know the language already see the structure: pronoun, adjective, verb, noun, and so on. The meanings of the words are not clear to us, but we feel the general meaning of the sentence. This is because we understand the grammatical structure of the phrase.

Practice

Knowing grammar rules and using them in real life are two different things. It makes no sense to cram them from morning to evening. It’s both boring and useless. Grammar constructions need to be practiced, both in writing and out loud.

Resources

Listening

Live English speech is different from a textbook disc recording. To understand how native speakers communicate in real life, listen to current radio shows and podcasts, and watch TV shows. That way, you will learn to recognize words by ear, understanding intonations and accents. The latter is especially important in English. If you are used to American English, you will not understand British posh in the right way: loo instead of toilet, cab instead of taxi, and the eternal word bloody. New Zealand and Australian accents are infamous even among native speakers.

Listen to the radio and podcasts

This is a great way to «feel» the language in real life. For beginners, educational podcasts are suitable. For example, the BBC regularly posts three-minute recordings on various topics — especially for those who study English. Interesting podcast series can be found on the British Council website. And the Podcast in English resource allows you to select audio files by language level. If you want to achieve an American accent, look for podcasts on American English Podcast and Voice of America.

Gradually increase the difficulty of what you are listening to. Listen not only to podcasts, but also to the radio. Try to diversify the materials with programs from different countries, such as ABC Radio Australia or Virgin Radio UK. The general rule when listening is to understand at least 80% of the words. If half of the spoken phrases are incomprehensible, try an easier podcast.

Watch TV-shows and series

Learning English by watching TV series sounds tempting. But this method is only suitable for improving skills. It will not work without a certain amount of knowledge. If you are itching to turn to this method, watch special educational series, like Extra. This is a British sitcom that teaches foreign languages. The dialogues of the characters are simple and understandable, designed specifically for basic proficiency.

When you attain a good amount of vocabulary, move on to more serious things, but with subtitles. First in your native language, then in English, and eventually turn them off for good. If you’re already at an Advanced level, be sure to turn on comedy shows. Understanding English humor is the pinnacle of language proficiency.

You can watch TV shows and movies in the original formats on streaming services: Hulu, Netflix, HBO. The main idea is to watch what you like. Love Friends? Excellent. Prefer documentaries about whales? That’s great too. The only disadvantage to this method is that after watching films in English, dubbing in your native language becomes unbearable.

Listen to lectures and audiobooks

Another option for listening — lectures in English. This is especially useful for those who plan to study abroad, given that it provides the means of listening to and memorizing academic English. There are many lectures on Coursera and university websites such as Oxford, Harvard, and MIT.

If you love fiction, try audiobooks in English. Beginners can start with children’s books, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There are even audiobooks voiced by famous actors. How do you like this combination of pleasure and practicality? The downside is that many audiobooks aren’t free. However, you can always try a free month trial on Audible or look for affordable options on Digital Book.

Resources

Reading

Reading is an essential skill for anyone who learns English, especially when it comes to studies and work. Through reading, you replenish your vocabulary and consolidate your knowledge of grammar with vocabulary. Granted, such a question arises — what should you read?

Adapted books

An adapted book is a simplified version of a known work. They are suitable for those who have just begun to understand the English language. If you don’t want to buy a book, look online — for example, on English e-Reader. If you are still learning how to read, practice with small texts, like those offered on Rong-Chang. Adapted books provide a list of new words for each chapter. They are clear and simple. An interesting option is The Cat in the Hat. This children’s book consists of only 220 words and is suitable for the Elementary level. Every book you read motivates you to further learn English.

Parallel texts

This is a method in which you read a text and its translation, literary or literal. You have two languages ​​in front of your eyes: English and your native language. As a rule, they are located on adjacent pages: on the left is the English version, and on the right is the translation. There is another option in which translations are opened by clicking. This way, you can see the translation of only the phrases you are interested in. Parallel reading is not for everyone. Firstly, you need to have already mastered the basic rules and skills of English. Secondly, it may be unusual for you to read a text on two pages. There are a number of resources on the Internet with parallel texts: the Smart Book and Parallel Books applications, etc.

Fiction

When you have moved on to the Intermediate level, proceed to the «real» literature. Start with those books that you have already read in your native language. This way, you will know in advance the essence of the work and the translation of some phrases. Raise the level slowly. It makes no sense to tackle Jane Eyre immediately after the Kipling stories. When reading a book, pay attention to grammatical constructions: how the author builds phrases and uses parts of speech.

Choose novels carefully. There are many beautiful words and correct grammar in the classics, but there is no actual vocabulary. Spice up your reading with contemporary books. They have slang and trendy themes that will be useful today, rather than the 19th century.

If you are learning English for work, focus on professional literature and the news. And future students should pay attention to academic publications: National Geographic, The Economist, Scientific American, etc.

Resources

Writing

First, determine how important this skill is for you. If you are learning English for the purpose of tourism, it is not particularly useful. But for international exams and education abroad, spelling and knowledge of different text styles are vital.

Find a proofreader

To develop your writing skills, you need to find someone who is willing to proofread your writing. You can ask native speakers for help. For example, HiNative is a convenient service built in a question and answer format between foreigners. If you are not yet ready to communicate with English speakers, use literacy testing applications: Grammarly or Sentence Checker. However, these applications only check for actual spelling, punctuation, and style errors. Thus, it is better to contact someone who speaks English.

Correspond in English

Find yourself a pen pal, preferably among native speakers. You can find one on Interpals, Conversation Exchange, Hello Talk, Ablo, and others. By communicating with a native speaker, you improve your writing skills. But remember that the «native speaker» label does not mean perfect language proficiency. Think about how often speakers of your own language make mistakes. The same occurs with the British and Americans. This method is ideal for practicing and developing an existing base, but not for learning from scratch. In the latter case, it is better to turn to similar platforms that are aimed specifically at education like Italki. There, you will find not just a pen pal, but an English teacher.

Keep a diary or blog in English

The key to developing writing skills is practice. To make this process interesting, try journaling in English. Another entertaining form of writing practice is keeping a blog. Start leaving comments on social media networks and get an English-language account on Twitter or TikTok. Doing so is good for developing language skills and overcoming shyness.

Resources

Speaking

For beginners, speaking is the most attractive part of the learning process. In fact, for many, it is the main goal. They don’t need grammar and spelling rules. The main thing is to learn to understand and be understood. How do you begin speaking English?

Speak words out loud

Newbie advice couldn’t be easier — say your first words out loud. Learned the pronoun I, the verb eat, and the noun soup? Put them into a sentence and verbalize them. Congratulations — you have just started speaking English! It’s far from perfect, but the first step has been taken. Now, repeat the same thing with all of your learned words, immediately putting them into practice. This is how you develop the habit of speaking English. You need to deal with speaking right away. Otherwise, the moment will come when you have a large vocabulary and knowledge of all 12 tenses, but you’re incapable of putting them into words. You should get used to using the language and feel comfortable.

Expand your vocabulary

It is necessary to correctly replenish vocabulary, which is both active and passive. Active vocabulary are those words that we use regularly. Passive vocabulary are less used words that are collected in our heads. We know these words, but we do not use them in colloquial speech. To understand the difference between active and passive vocabulary, compare your reading and speaking skills. Let’s say you read in English and understand the words ubiquitous, tremendous, and aberration. But when you want to use these words in speech, you just can’t seem to remember them. The only way to fix this is with practice. Make up sentences from these words, be sure to speak aloud and repeat them in variations. This is how you can incorporate them into your speech.

Communicate in English

The most effective and interesting method of communication is with a native English speaker. There are several applications where you can find a speaking buddy: Tandem, Easy Language Exchange, and others. If you are a travel lover, use the Couch Surfing service. Through it, you can find a person who is willing to give you shelter in another country. But even if there isn’t a native speaker nearby, don’t be discouraged. Go to conversation clubs and have game nights in English with friends.

Immerse yourself in the language environment

The best way to learn a language is to move to a country where it is spoken. This way, a person enters an environment where everything is in English. Most of the time he listens, reads, and lives in this language. If you don’t have the opportunity to travel to London or New York, create a language environment at home. Watch TV, listen to the radio, read, play, and think only in English. Use it in the little things. For example, translate your phone layout and all social media networks into English.

Resources

Pronunciation

We all want to speak English without an accent. But is it possible? English has so many dialects that one can forget about any single form. There is, of course, RP — Received Pronunciation — the standard of the royal family and BBC announcers. But in reality, only 2% of the British population uses it[-]. Therefore, in the case of pronunciation, our first advice is to humble yourself. You will never speak with a perfect English accent because it simply doesn’t exist. Choose the version of the language that you like and focus on it. Do you dream of speaking like a Bostonian? If you are determined to perfect your pronunciation, here are a few recommendations.

Learn phonetic transcriptions

At first glance, phonetic transcriptions seem like a relic of the past — an echo of old school methods. In fact, knowledge of transcription allows you to understand the pronunciation of words. Yes, this is not the first thing many people start with to learn English. However, for good pronunciation, you need to understand how words are written phonetically.

Work with a professional

To develop proper pronunciation, you can’t do without the help of a specialist. This is what linguists do. They explain special techniques, the position of the tongue and teeth, among other subtleties. You should contact a linguist if you are striving for RP or want to keep your native accent to a minimum so that no one suspects that you are a foreigner. The downside is that their work is expensive. The method is suitable for those who already have an excellent command of the language.

Learn pronunciation by listening

You can get rid of a strong accent on your own. The main thing is to remember that there is no way of escaping it in the beginning of the learning process. Listen to as much English speech as you can and repeat after the speaker. Do it out loud or quietly, moving your lips. It will take a lot of time and practice, but the results will soon follow. Watch a series of videos from the BBC where they show the correct pronunciation.

Don’t forget to work on intonation. In English, it is markedly different. No matter how rich your vocabulary or good your accent is, you will not sound like a native speaker without proper intonation. Listen to the radio, podcasts, and repeat after the speakers. You can even repeat lines from your favorite movies. For example, «Say hello to my little friend!«Scarface, 1983. And don’t forget to add more expression.

Be consistent

A common mistake of those who learn English on their own is to grab accents from different sources. Try to be consistent. At first, beginners don’t see the difference between dialects and remember everything they come across. The result is porridge. You can start with American, put in Australian slang, and end on a high Irish note. This will definitely expose you as a foreigner. Are you planning to live in England? Listen to and learn a British accent.

Resources

You have a wide range of ways and places to learn English. They can be divided into four categories:

• Language schools (group lessons)
• Individual lessons with a tutor
• Language courses abroad
• Independent study of English

Read more about the pros and cons of these methods in separate articles.

Sites for finding an English tutor

Language courses abroad

Resources for an independent study of English

Why learn English?

English is the most popular language in the world^[4]. 1.35 billion people speak itnative and non-native speakers — one seventh of the world’s population. Only Chinese comes close to it^[4]. But while the latter holds an official status in only two countriesChina, Singapore, English is the official language of 55 nations. In that sense, it fully justifies the title of a global language.

English for studying

Knowing English gives you many opportunities to study abroad. However, your choice is not limited to the UK, USA, Canada or Australia. Universities around the world are opening programs in English: this is how they attract more foreign students^[5]. You can study English programs in Germany, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Russia, etc. But pay attention to the price difference. In many countries, education in the national language is cheaper or completely free, but English-language programs are the most expensive.

Moreover, in order to study in English, you must have a proficient language level — not lower than B2-C1. For language courses and short-term programs, the requirements are lower — A1-B1 is sufficient. Universities accept IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge Exams. TOEFL is more popular in America, while IELTS is common in England. For universities in non-English speaking countries, the required exam is indicated in the requirements. As a rule, this is the same trio: IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge.

English is a monopolist in the field of science and education. It is the language of most academic journals. If you want to conduct scientific research at the international level, you need to know the language.

English for work

Knowing English is a valuable skill. CELACambridge English Language Assessment research has shown that employers offer better conditions to candidates who know English. They move up in the company twice as fast and receive promotions^[6]. But, «English for work» is an abstract concept. To narrow it down, you need to start from your specialty and place of employment. If you aspire to work at a company abroad, you will need a language level of B2for the medical field — С2.

When learning English, focus on professional vocabulary. You can’t learn certain aspects of the language separately, but you can focus on «essential» skills. For example, pay more attention to business correspondence or communication with foreign clients.

English for immigration

Another reason to learn English is for immigration. The US, UK, Canada, and Australia are among the top ten most popular migration destinations. In America, which ranks first, the share of migrants is 15% of the local population^[7].

Those wishing to move to an English-speaking country must speak the language at a decent level. This is necessary for the adaptation into a new society. But not all immigrants are required to know English at C1. For children, spouses, and other family members, it is sufficient to have beginner knowledge of the language. To confirm your level of English, you will need an IELTS or Cambridge Exam certificate.

There are a number of intricacies in learning English for immigration. First, focus on everyday vocabulary. Your main goal is to learn the language so that you can communicate in life situations: hospitals, hairdressers, migration offices. Much of this will come with time, but it’s best to have a head start. A second point is to study the cultural aspects of the country you are planning to move to. Some language schools offer special English immersion courses. Finally, you can take a chance and come without any knowledge of English at all. In America, for example, many migrants live in isolated communities where they speak only their native language^[8]. But think about it — is that really the purpose of your move?

English for travel

Due to its prevalence, English has become the first language for travelers. It seems that there are people who speak English in every country of the world. This is partly true — the question is how many. For example, in Russia, 63% of the population is «familiar» with English, but only 5% speak it fluently. It would be easier for foreigners to learn a couple of words in Russian — this way they will be understood faster. English is mostly spoken by residents of European countries. Thus, it is not necessary to learn all of the languages of the European Union to travel around the continent. But in Asia and South America, English isn’t at all prevalent^[9].

A tourist does not need to know complex grammatical constructions. Therefore, if your goal is to learn English for travel purposes, you can study it yourself. Plus, you do not need knowledge of writing: only conversation and the ability to understand your interlocutor. Who knows, maybe you will start learning English for travel, and eventually reach the Advanced level!

English for yourself

English can be learned without a big goal in the form of study or work. Often, people are fond of learning English «for themselves». The reasons can be very different: to watch movies in the original language, read Jane Austen, understand teammates in MMORPGs, etc. By learning something new, you train your brain — neural connections are created. It has been scientifically proven that foreign languages develop memory, improve concentration, and simply broaden one’s horizons^[10].

English proficiency exams

International English exams are taken for various reasons:

• Certificate required for admission to a foreign university
• Language proof required for a work or immigration visa
• Proficiency check for personal reasons
• Confirm English skills for work

It is suggested to prepare for English exams in advance. The main thing in any of them is to study the structure. As a rule, they consist of four blocks: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. In fact, all of these exams are standardized tests. Therefore, the key rule in preparation is practice. Try to finish the tasks as fast as you can and practice skills for each part of the exam.

List of international English exams

International exams

@ colin,

It depends on what you mean by » from scratch». The Romanian words are recognizable but not necessarily identical to the Romance vocabulary in French, or English or Italian. Here is an article from Radio Romania, which has a lot of recognizable Romance words. If you study the Patterns series in our library at LingQ, which uses more day to day vocabulary, you may find fewer recognizable Romance words.

Audierile în cazul fraudei de la liceul Bolintineanu continuă

Astăzi, 14:13

Comentează

de Cristina Ghioca

20 dintre cei peste 30 de elevi audiaţi până acum nu au putut preciza dacă s-au dat bani pentru a influenţa comisia de la bacalaureat, spune avocatul directorului liceului.

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Foto: Arhivă

Peste 30 de elevi au fost audiaţi până acum la Poliţia Capitalei, în cazul suspiciuni de fraudă la bac de la Liceul Bolintineanu, a declarat avocatul George Moloman, avocatul directorului de la liceul Bolintineanu, Costica Vărzaru, care a participat la audieri.

Potrivit acestuia, douăzeci dintre elevi au spus în faţa procurorilor că au dat bani pentru clopoţel, banchet şi închirierea de robe şi album foto, dar niciunul nu a putut să precizeze dacă s-au dat bani pentru a influenţa comisia de la bacalaureat.

Avocatul a mai spus că au fost doi elevi care au spus că au auzit că s-ar fi dat bani, 100 de lei, dar nu au putut să precizeze de unde au auzit, unde s-au dat şi pentru ce.

Audierile continuă la Poliţia Capitalei, transmite redactorul Radio România, Daniela Mănuţă.

Notele de la bacalureat au fost afişate la licee şi au fost postate pe site-ul ministerului educatiei.

Au promovat 55,4% din elevii care au susţinut examenul de bacalaureat, cu 11% mai mult ca anul trecut.

Creşterea se datorează diferenţierii subiectelor, spune ministrul educaţiei Remus Pricopie.

Premierul nu este de acord cu generalizările privind fraudarea examenului

Premierul Victor Ponta i-a felicitat pe toţi cei care au promovat examenul de Bacalaureat, informează redactorul Radio România, Cristina Grecu.

El a arătat că nu este de acord cu generalizările privind frauda şi nici cu cele potrivit cărora toţii copiii sunt prost pregătiţi la bacalaureat.

Victor Ponta a anunţat că aşteaptă luni explicaţii de la ministrul de interne, Radu Stroe, în legătură cu acţiunea poliţiei de vineri, de a lua cu autocarele elevii pentru a fi audiaţi.

El spune că dacă s-au făcut abuzuri, cei vinovaţi vor fi traşi la răspundere.

Learning a foreign language isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to vocabulary. (I’ve been studying Japanese for years and still have trouble remembering words!) Luckily, there are many ways you can learn English vocabulary—and some of them are even a little fun!

In this guide, we go over the top five methods you can use to learn English words and give you a few tips on how to find English words to study.

Feature image: Nicolas Raymond/freestock.ca

Method 1: Make Flashcards

One of the most popular (and arguably best) ways to learn English vocabulary is to use flashcards. Each flashcard will have one English word written on the front and the word’s translation or definition on the back.

To study them, you’ll look at one side of a card and say the word on it in the opposite language before you look at the other side of the card (so if you were looking at the English side, for example, you’d say the word in your native language).

Flashcards are excellent resources because they help you memorize vocabulary words both quickly and effectively. They’re also customizable and reusable. Both paper and digital cards are available, and you can make your own cards, buy a pre-made deck, or download a deck online.

Pros

• Flashcards are easy to make. If you’re making paper cards, all you need are note cards (or small pieces of paper), a pencil or pen, and a list of the words you want to study. For digital cards, all you need is a computer and some software or a website to make them with.

• They’re interactive, especially if you make them yourself. With paper flashcards, you must write down all of the words you want to study as well as physically thumb through the cards, helping you concentrate on what each word means.

• Flashcard decks are easy to expand if you find new vocabulary you want to study. All you need to do is make a new flashcard and then add it to your deck—that’s it!

• They’re easy to randomize. Mixing up the order in which you study is essential to ensuring that you fully understand the meanings of the words you’re learning.

Cons

• Making flashcards is time consuming. Though not particularly difficult to make, flashcards can take a long time to create (regardless of whether you’re making paper or digital cards). Therefore, make sure you have ample time to set aside when making them.

• Paper flashcards are bulky and take up a lot of space. As a result, they’re often difficult to take places and use for on-the-go reviewing. If you’re hoping to brush up on your English vocabulary at places other than home, consider bringing only some of your cards with you or using a more compact resource such as a list (see method 2 below).

How to Use This Method Effectively

Flashcards must be used in specific ways in order to be effective for English-language learning. These methods differ depending on whether you’re studying with paper or digital flashcards.

Paper Flashcards

Paper flashcards are best for those who prefer more traditional study methods and want a break from computers and smartphones.

You can use any blank note cards to make your flashcards. Once you have some, start making your cards: with each card, write an English word (spelled correctly!) on the front and its translation in your native language (or an image of the word) on the back. You may also include on the front the word’s part of speech and/or a sample English sentence.

When finished, begin studying your flashcards using the «waterfall» method. With this method, you’ll study cards in subsets (smaller stacks of cards) and get to review harder English words more often than words you already know.

We explain the waterfall method in more detail in our guide to TOEFL vocabulary flashcards. However, to summarize briefly, here’s how it works:

#1: Go through all of your flashcards and make two piles: a «Know It» pile (with words you know) and a «Struggled» pile (with words you don’t know). Put the «Struggled» pile to the right of the «Know It» pile:

#2: Next, go through the cards in your «Struggled» pile one at a time. As you do this, make a second «Know It» pile for words you know (put this pile to the right of your original «Know It» pile). For words you don’t know, put them back in your «Struggled» pile.

#3: Continue this process of going through your «Struggled» pile and making new «Know It» piles until you only have four to five cards left in your «Struggled» pile. Here’s what your cards should look like:

#4: Now, work your way back up your «waterfall» of cards, starting with your «Struggled» pile. Go through this stack of cards until you know all of the words in it. You might have to go through it several times before you can remember all of the words.

#5: Combine the «Struggled» pile with the «Know It» pile directly to the left of it. Now, you’ll go through all of the words in both piles (combined as one) until you know all of these words.

#6: Repeat step 5 until you’ve gone through all of the cards in your deck, from right to left. You should now know the meanings of all of the English words on your flashcards!

Digital Flashcards

Some people (myself included!) prefer studying foreign languages with digital, or computerized, flashcards. These types of flashcards are accessible through software applications, websites, and/or apps.

While there are many free flashcard-making websites and programs available, my personal favorites are Anki and Memrise.

Anki is a free downloadable software through which you can make your own flashcards or download pre-made decks submitted by users. It uses spaced-repetition software (SRS) to show you difficult cards more often—similar to the waterfall method described above—making it convenient and easy to use.

Memrise, on the other hand, is a free language-learning website that offers tons of pre-made decks. It’s a little flashier and more game-like than Anki, so if you’d prefer a more «fun» way to learn English words, this is a great website (and app!) to try out.

Method 2: Make a Study List

Another helpful method is to make a list of all of the English-vocabulary words you want to learn. A list is different from flashcards in that it has all of the words you need to know in one place (instead of on separate cards). If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of using note cards, a study list is a solid option.

Pros

• The biggest benefit is that lists are easy to expand as you come across new words you want to know. For example, if you saw an English word you didn’t know on a sign at a restaurant, you can simply take out your list and write it down.

• You can use your list as a base for other study methods. Lists are helpful resources for identifying specific words to put on flashcards and use in vocabulary quizzes (see method 4).

• A list is less bulky than flashcards. With a list, you can keep track of dozens of words on a single sheet of paper, taking up far less space than hundreds of flashcards.

• It’s easy to make. All you need to do is write out each word, its part of speech (optional), and its meaning in your native language—nothing more!

Cons

• They’re pretty tedious and boring to work with. Unlike flashcards, which are highly interactive (you can make cards, flip through them, shuffle them, etc.), lists are static resources with few stimulating features.

• They make it difficult to randomize words. You’ll learn English words faster by sporadically mixing up the order in which you study them, but it’s a challenge to randomize words on lists since you can’t physically rearrange them as you can with flashcards.

How to Use This Method Effectively

Write your English words on the left side of a piece of paper, from top to bottom. I suggest numbering the words and adding their parts of speech, too (this is helpful because it teaches you how to use the words).

Then, on the right side of the paper, write the translation of each word in your native language (again, from top to bottom so that each translation aligns horizontally with its English equivalent). Here’s an example:

When you’re ready to start studying, get a separate sheet of paper (or your hand) to cover up the words on the right. You’ll then move this sheet down as you read and define each English word on the left. Make sure to say each word aloud in English before translating it into your native language.

Once you’ve defined a word, move your sheet of paper down to check that you’ve translated it correctly:

As you go through your list, consider marking any words you’re having trouble remembering. This way you’ll know right away which words you need to spend a little more time on than others.

Here are some additional ways you can use your list to learn English vocabulary:

• Study words in reverse. With this method, you’ll start at the bottom of your list and reveal words one at a time by moving your sheet up instead of down. This prevents you from simply memorizing the list in one particular order.

• Cover up the English side so that you must read the words in your native language and then translate them into English. Studying like this ensures you can come up with English equivalents for words all on your own.

These are both great methods to use after you’ve used the main method described above and are more familiar with the English vocabulary on your list.

Method 3: Write Out Words Repeatedly

If you want to practice spelling English words and like doing something physical as you study, writing out words is a solid option to try. With this method, you’ll write out each English word several times as you say it aloud.

If you’ve taken English courses in the past, you’ve probably had homework similar to this (I had to write out new words all the time for Japanese class in junior high and high school!). Although rote memorization isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it can still be a highly effective way to learn English words.

Pros

• It’s interactive. Unlike flashcards and lists, which you merely look at to study, you’re always doing something when writing out words. If you’re the type who gets easily antsy and likes having something to do with your hands as you study, this is a good method to try.

• It helps you remember how to spell words. Flashcards and lists mainly teach you what a word means, but writing out a word (rather than looking at it briefly) makes it far easier to remember how it’s spelled.

Cons

• Writing out words repeatedly can feel monotonous. Despite being an effective method, rote memorization isn’t a particularly fun way to learn a language and gets tiresome fast.

• You can easily lose focus on a word as you write it again and again. To truly benefit from this method, you need to focus on what each word means and how it’s spelled. Unfortunately, the repetitive motions make it easy to fall into a zombie-like stupor.

How to Use This Method Effectively

The best way to write out words is to have a set number of times you’re going to write them out. Usually, 10 to 20 times is sufficient. Just make sure you’re actively thinking about each word as you write it out: look at the letters and how they’re arranged, pronounce it, and then define it.

I find that it’s helpful to note the translation of each word (in your native language) above your repetitions so that you don’t forget the meanings of any words and can more readily make associations between words in your language and in English.

Finally, I strongly suggest using this method with one of the two methods above (flashcards or a study list) to keep you from getting bored with your studies. Personally, I think the flashcard method is better as it’s more fun and doesn’t require you to make another long list of words.

Method 4: Take Vocabulary Quizzes

If you’re tired of flashcards and lists, vocabulary quizzes are a great way to test what you’ve learned and ensure you truly understand the meanings of English words.

Many English-word quizzes are available for free online. While some are traditional tests, others are more game-like; for example, you might find a matching game in which you have to match English words with their meanings (also in English!).

You can also make your own vocabulary quizzes using any of the resources above (flashcards, lists, etc.).

Pros

• They check your English progress by testing what you’ve learned. Quizzes let you see whether you truly know the English words you’ve studied and can use them fluently. If you fail a quiz, you’ll know exactly which words to work on more.

• Most online vocabulary quizzes are free. You can find tons of free, high-quality English-language quizzes and games on websites geared toward students, ESL learners, and general language learners.

Cons

• You can’t really learn words from scratch using quizzes alone. In other words, you’ll need to combine quizzes with one or more of the methods above so you can learn English vocabulary before testing out what you know.

• Some online vocabulary quizzes aren’t super high quality, so make sure you’re choosing ones that have words you are familiar with and no glitches or inaccuracies.

How to Use This Method Effectively

You have two options when it comes to English-vocabulary quizzes: look for pre-made quizzes online, or make your own.

Online Quizzes

If looking for quizzes online, I recommend starting with popular learning websites.

One option is Free Rice, whose «English Vocabulary» mode tests your knowledge of various high-level English words. Each question gives you one English word and four possible synonyms; the answer choices are also in English, so you’ll need to have a high English level in order to do well. For each question you get right, Free Rice donates 10 grains of rice to help end world hunger. So this is an excellent resource to use if you like the idea of helping others as you study!

Quizlet and Cram are two other websites you can use for free. Both offer flashcards, vocabulary lists, quizzes, and games. All you do is choose an English-vocabulary deck (or make your own) and then test yourself using the site’s «Test» feature.

Both websites’ «Test» features are similar to an actual language test: you get a variety of question types, from fill-in-the-blank and matching to multiple choice and true or false. With Cram, however, you can also choose how the system grades your answers. For example, you can make it so you don’t lose any points for errors in punctuation or capitalization.

Making Your Own Quizzes

The best way to make your own English-vocabulary quiz is to use flashcards (see method 1). With flashcards, you can easily randomize the words you’ll get and can’t predict which words will come up.

To make a quiz, get out a sheet of paper and number it 1-20 (or however many questions you want to have). Then, choose a flashcard at random. On your paper, write down the English word shown and (without flipping the card over) its translation or meaning in your native language.

Don’t check your answers right away by flipping the cards over—rather, wait until you’ve finished your entire quiz and then flip over the flashcards to score your test.

Method 5: Use Vocabulary Words in Conversation and Writing

Although the methods above are extremely useful for memorizing English words, you’ll never retain the words you learn unless you actually use them in conversation and writing. In short, context is key!

Pros

• You’ll learn more quickly how to use and say words you’ve studied. Although you should always say words aloud when you first learn them, using them in conversation (especially with native English speakers) is by far the best way to ensure you’re actually pronouncing and using them correctly.

• You’ll remember words better by using them in sentences, so always look for opportunities to use words you learn in both conversation and writing.

• You can get feedback when conversing with or writing to native English speakers. If you’re not sure whether you’re using a word correctly, you can ask others to give you feedback or explain how they themselves use specific words in English.

Cons

• It’s not always easy to find people to use English with. If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, native speakers can be hard to find, making it difficult to actively use the words you learn in conversation and writing.

• You need someone to check that you’re using the words correctly. If you’re using a word in writing, for example, but aren’t sure whether you’re using it correctly, you’ll need to ask a native speaker to check it for you. This can be tough to do, though, if you don’t have access to any native speakers.

• It can be intimidating to use new words with others. When speaking another language, we tend to rely on using only the words we know so we can avoid making any obvious mistakes. Unfortunately, this fear can ultimately hinder your ability to learn new words and use them with confidence.

How to Use This Method Effectively

If you’d like to use new English words in conversation, you’ll first need to find native English speakers or other English-language learners to practice speaking with. If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, try looking for English-language groups or clubs you can join in your area. Meetup, for example, is a handy website you can use to search for language groups around you (you can even create one yourself!).

Another option for English-speaking practice is to pay for video chat language lessons. Fees vary depending on the company you use and how many hours you want to practice. Some of the best websites to try include Live Lingua, Verbalplanet, and italki.

But what about writing in English? If you want to practice using words in writing, start keeping a journal and then have other people (preferably native English speakers) read your work to check that you’re correctly using new vocabulary.

My personal recommendation is a free website called Lang-8 on which you write various posts (such as journal entries, questions, stories, etc.) in your target language. Once you make a post, native English speakers then correct your entries and offer feedback. I’ve used this website many times before while studying Japanese, and it’s always been an extremely helpful resource!

You can also find a pen pal to write to in English—ideally, one who is a native English speaker and will write to you in your native language in return. This way you can have someone you know correct your English as you also correct his or her writing in your language!

How to Find English Vocabulary to Study: 3 Options

Now that we’ve given you a handful of methods you can use for learning English vocabulary, here are a few tips on where to actually find new English words to study.

#1: Write Down Words You Hear and Read

This is perhaps one of the most practical methods for learning English vocabulary, and one I often used while living in Japan. Basically, you’ll keep a running list of any unfamiliar English words you hear or read in both your day-to-day life and studies.

For listening, some of the best resources to use for finding new words are as follows:

• Everyday conversation: Ideally, you’ll converse mostly with native English speakers; that said, it’s better to practice speaking with other English-language learners than with nobody at all!

• English movies and TV shows: Avoid turning on the subtitles for your native language. Instead, if you’re having trouble picking out key words, turn on the English subtitles; this will help you identify new words more quickly and let you see how they’re spelled.

• English podcasts: Start by browsing this excellent list of English podcasts for language learners. Then, find the ones that sound most interesting to you and start listening!

• YouTube: Find English videos on topics you’re interested in (and turn on English subtitles if needed).

For reading, try looking for new English words to practice in these resources:

• Newspapers: There are tons of high-quality English-language newspapers online. Intermediate speakers can start with easier English-news websites such as VOA Learning English and BBC Learning English, whereas advanced learners can dive right into popular news outlets such as CNN and The New York Times.

• Websites: Look for websites and blogs dealing with any topic of interest to you. I suggest looking for prominent websites with lots of followers to ensure that the English they use is high quality.

• Books and stories: What better way to learn new words than through your favorite fairy tales? Intermediate learners can start with children’s books and short stories, while advanced learners can jump to novellas and novels. Graphic novels are also excellent resources!

Once you’ve found vocabulary words you want to study, open a Word document on your computer and start making a list. You can then add words to this list whenever you come across ones you don’t know in your listening and reading practice.

Make sure to include most or all of the following elements on your vocabulary list:

• The word in English (spelled correctly!)
• Its part of speech
• The translation/meaning of the word in your native language
• An example sentence using the word

You can then use this list as your primary study list or to help you make flashcards and quizzes.

#2: Look for Free Word Lists Online

Another helpful option is to seek out pre-made English word lists. Waiting to hear or read new English vocabulary isn’t always practical for language learners, but you can luckily find many free English-word lists online using the websites mentioned above (e.g., Quizlet, Cram, Memrise, etc.).

If you want to study upper-level academic vocabulary, try looking specifically for vocabulary lists targeting popular college-admission tests, such as the TOEFL, GRE, SAT, and ACT. At PrepScholar, we’ve gathered all high-frequency words for these exams and even created free downloadable flashcards for the TOEFL and GRE.

#3: Use a Textbook

If you like having structure in your vocabulary studies, consider buying an English-language textbook or workbook. These books should give you plenty of new vocabulary words to study as well as lots of relevant exercises to help you memorize and retain them. Oftentimes, textbooks come with a built-in dictionary, too!

Make sure you’re choosing a book that’s highly reviewed and geared toward your English level. You can also try looking at books that specifically target the TOEFL. Unfortunately, English-language textbooks cater mostly to beginner and intermediate learners, so if you’re an advanced English speaker, you’ll likely benefit more from the two options above.

There are many different ways to learn English vocabulary, from rote memorization and repetition to flashcards and quizzes. But in the end, it’s up to you to figure out which methods will work best for your learning style.

Here are some final pieces of advice to remember when studying English vocabulary:

• Don’t try to memorize every single word. English is believed to have the most words of any language, and I guarantee you won’t be able to learn all of them (even native English speakers don’t know every word!). Therefore, focus on memorizing the words you encounter most often. For everything else, use a dictionary!

• Ask for help if you get stuck. If you can’t remember the meaning of a particular word and don’t have a dictionary on hand, don’t be afraid to ask someone to define it for you. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, and it’s certainly nothing to feel embarrassed about!

• Make studying English a habit. For a lot of people, it can be hard to find time to study English. But you’ll need a routine if you want to learn English words and actually remember them, so try to set aside at least 30 minutes every day to go through your study materials.

Good luck with your English studies!

What’s Next?

Need English-vocabulary words to study? Take a look at our list of 300+ high-frequency TOEFL words today! We also have created a free TOEFL vocabulary flashcards PDF here.

Want more tips on how to learn English? Start with our guide to learning English and figuring out your language goals. Then, move on to our article on the best English-language games you can play, with others or by yourself!

Planning to take the TOEFL? Then you’ll definitely want to read our expert tips on how to prepare for this tricky English test.

Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article!

From Afrikaans to Zulu, here are 203 most beautiful untranslatable words in other languages from around the world that should exist in English.

If you’ve ever tried to learn a language, then you’ll know that translating is not always an easy task. There are over 7,000 languages in the world and just as many words and ideas that get ‘lost in translation’ due to differences in grammar and semantics, or even linguistic complications. When a language fails to convey the essence of a word during translation, the word is considered to be ‘untranslatable.’

There are many terms that drip with feeling and emotion that are simply untranslatable into English. By taking a closer look at some of the most beautiful untranslatable words from around the world, they can give us a glimpse into different cultures and belief systems that help us to understand the people who speak these marvellous languages. 

English is no stranger to borrowing words from other languages and even inventing new ones like ‘hangry‘, a combination of anger and hunger because you need something to eat asap. Then there is ‘nomophobia‘, an irrational fear or sense of panic felt when you’ve lost your phone or are unable to use it. Even English playwright William Shakespeare invented plenty of words too such as ‘faint-hearted‘ and ‘tongue-tied‘. These new words have entered English dictionaries at a fast pace, keeping up with the diversity of the English-speaking world. 

In spite of this, the English language can’t explain everything so succinctly, and yet there are many other languages that have, in just one word. This comprehensive list looks at some of the most beautiful words in different languages that are simply untranslatable into English. Many of which we should definitely borrow.

From Afrikaans to Zulu, here are 203 of the most beautiful untranslatable words from other languages.

Afrikaans

Loskop – Used to describe someone who is forgetful, absent-minded and a bit air-headed. It’s literally means, ‘loose (los) head (kop)’.

Learn Afrikaans for travel! Get my free Afrikaans travel phrase guide here.

Albanian

Besa –  An Albanian verb and pledge of honour that means to keep a promise by honouring your word. It’s usually translated as “faith” or “oath”.

Arabic

Samar (سمر) – Staying up late after the sun has gone down and having an enjoyable time with friends. Samar is also an Arabic name meaning ‘evening conversations including Arabic music and poetry’. Samar in Arabic is a cognate of the Hebrew name Shamar which means ‘to preserve’.

Taarradhin  (تراض) – Taarradhin is the act of coming to a happy compromise where everyone wins. It’s a way of reconciling without anyone losing face.

Ya’aburnee (يقبرني) –  This word is an emotional declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person to express how impossible it would be to live without them. The literal meaning of the Arabic word ya’aburnee is ‘you bury me’. The underlying idea goes deeper than that (no pun intended). Ya’aburnee is said in the hope that a loved one will outlive you. It is a painful yet beautiful expression of a desire to save yourself the pain of a life without a person you love.

Learn Arabic for travel! Get my free Arabic travel phrase guide here.

Basque

Aspaldiko – This untranslatable Basque word describes the euphoria and happiness felt when catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a long time.

Learn Basque for travel! Get my free Basque travel phrase guide here.

Bengali

Ghodar-dim (ঘোড়ার ডিম) – Pronounced [gho-rar-deem], this Bengali word is a sarcastic term for ‘nothing’ or false hope. It literally means ‘horse’s egg’, therefore representing something that doesn’t exist.

Bulgarian 

Ailyak – Ailyak is a beautiful Bulgarian term for the subtle art of doing everything calmly and without rushing, whilst enjoying the experience and life in general.

Learn Bulgarian for travel! Get my free Bulgarian travel phrase guide here.

Chinese (Mandarin)

Guanxi (关系) – Pronounced [gwan-shee], guanxi is often translated as ‘connections’, ‘relationships’ or ‘networks’ and refers to having a strong personal relationship with someone which involves moral obligations and exchanging favours. This is one of the essential ways of getting things done in traditional Chinese society. To build up good guanxi, you do things for people such as give them gifts, take them to dinner, or other favours. If you need to call in a favour then you ‘use up’ your guanxi.

Once a favour is made, an unspoken obligation exists. Because of this, people often try to refuse gifts, because, sooner or later, they may have to repay the debt. However, the bond of guanxi rarely ends, because once the relationship exists, it sets up an endless loop that can last a lifetime.

Ré nao (热闹) – The Chinese word ré nao is usually translated as ‘lively’ or ‘bustling,’ but its true meaning goes beyond these adjectives. It refers to a fun, lively place with an inviting vibe that makes you want to be there.

Czech

Litost – Litost is nearly untranslatable, but Czech writer Milan Kundera describes it as ‘a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery’. 

Mít kliku – This Czech verb means to have luck on your side or be lucky enough to achieve something. It literally means, ‘to have a door handle’.

Prozvonit – Prozvonitis when you call but only let it ring once so that the other person calls back without so you save money or minutes. 

Learn Czech for travel! Get my free Czech travel phrase guide here.

Danish

Arbejdsglæde – Pronounced [ah-bites-gleh-the], this compound word is make up of arbejde meaning ‘work’ and glæde meaning ‘happiness’ so arbejdsglæde literally means ‘job joy’, ‘job satisfaction’ or ‘happiness at work.’ It’s the heightened sense of happiness, fulfilment, and satisfaction you get from having a great job.  This untranslatable word also exists in the other Nordic languages, including Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Icelandic.

Hygge – Pronounced [HEU-guh], Hygge is a well-known Danish term that describes the emotional warmth created by relaxing in the company of loved ones such as good friends and family. Hygge usually involves spending the evening at home, and getting cozy by candlelit with warm blankets, and maybe some alcohol. Watching the glow of a roaring log burner is hygge and so too is building a snowman with your children – however old they are. Similar words are also found in German (gemütlichkeit), Swedish (gemytlig) and Norwegian (hyggelig). 

Learn Danish for travel! Get my free Danish travel phrase guide here.

Dutch

Uitwaaien – Uitwaaien is an idiomatic Dutch expression which means to go out in windy weather, particularly into nature or a park, in order to refresh and clear one’s mind. Uitwaaien comes from the Dutch uit– ‘out-‘ and‎ waaien, ‘to blow’, of wind.

Voorpret – Voorpret is the build up of anticipation, joy or pleasure you feel ahead of the actual event such as setting up for a party and can’t help but dance as you do it. Voorpret literally means, ‘pre-fun’ but means more than just the anticipation of something fun, it’s enjoying the anticipation. It’s voorpret!

Gezelligheid – This Dutch word combines the Danish concept of hygge and the German gemütlichkeit. Gezelligheid is the idea of being in a comfortable, cozy atmosphere with loved ones, catching up with an old friend, or just the general togetherness that gives people a warm feeling. It suggests a sense of closeness that many consider encompasses the heart of Dutch culture.

Epibreren –  Pronounced [ep-i-BREER-un], epibreren describes giving the appearance of being busy and important in the workplace when in reality you’re being super lazy. This term comes with an interesting origin story too. It was originally coined by Simon Carmiggelt, a Dutch newspaper columnist who explained in one of his columns that this previously unknown term had been revealed to him in 1953 by a civil servant from whom he had requested some papers. The civil servant said that the papers still needed epibreren. Not knowing what he meant, Carmiggelt asked, and the civil servant eventually confessed that he had made it up to fend off enquiries.

Learn Dutch for travel! Get my free Dutch travel phrase guide here.

Estonian

Leiliviskaja – A person who throws water on hot rocks to make steam in a sauna.

Finnish

Hyppytyynytyydytys – This may look like I fell asleep on my keyboard, but this Finnish word literally means, ‘bouncy cushion satisfaction’. It describes the pleasure and satisfaction derived from sitting or bouncing on a bouncy cushion. I want to learn Finnish just so I can use this word!

Jaksaa – A severe absence of enthusiasm to do something. When you just don’t have enough strength, will power to do something or can’t be bothered.

Kaamos — Kaamos is more than just Polar Night when there are 24 consecutive hours of darkness,  kaamos describes the longing for sunshine, and a feeling of depression and lack of motivation and enthusiasm. It signifies long dark days and bad weather, no social life, and a lack of inspiration.

Lieko – A trunk of a tree that has submerged to the bottom of a lake.

Myötähäpeä – Experiencing a shared embarrassment or shame when seeing someone else do something embarrassing. Myö means ‘we,’ myötä means ‘with’ and häpeä is ‘shame’, so it can be roughly translated to something like ‘co-embarrassment’ or ‘secondhand embarrassment’.

Poronkusema – Talk about very Finnish problems, poronkusema describes the distance a reindeer can comfortably travel before taking a break to urinate. In case you were wondering, it’s around, 4.7miles / 7.5km. Poronkusema was once an official unit of measurement until the metric system was introduced in the late nineteenth century.

Sauna – A sauna is a small room used as a hot-air or steam bath for cleaning and refreshing the body. Saunas were invented in Finland several millennia ago and are still a cornerstone of Finnish culture, as well as of every Finnish home. So much so that, traditionally, when people moved they used to build the sauna first, and only then the house. 

Sisu – Sisu is a Finnish concept that describes a stoic resilience, determination and hardiness considered to be necessary to face the difficulties of life in general and of life in harsh conditions in particular. This Finnish term that can be roughly translated as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. Sisu isn’t momentary courage, but the power to sustain that courage to see something through.

Tokka – Pronounced [talk-uh] is a Finnish collective noun for a large herd of reindeer. It is said that there are as many reindeer as there are people in Finland.

Learn Finnish for travel! Get my free Finnish travel phrase guide here.

French

Bérézina – A sense of panic associated with a huge defeat. The word Bérézina is used in the French idom ‘C’est la Bérézina’ meaning a complete defeat, loss. The origin of this expression dates back over 200 years to the banks of the river Berezina in Belarus. It was here that a fierce battle took place between Napoleon’s retreating army and the Imperial Russian army. The battle ended in a victory for the Russian Empire and heavy losses for the French.

Dépaysement – Dépaysement is a feeling of restlessness that comes with being away from your country of origin and feeling like a foreigner. It’s a mix of disorientation to culture shock. Dépaysement can also be used when you’re a bit fed up with your environment and need a change of scenery. Literally, dépaysement means something like ‘to be uncountried’.

Bricoleur — A bricoleur is a handyman who uses whatever materials he can get his hands on to create a construction (or bricolage). Think of the well-known term Bric-à-brac –  miscellaneous objects and ornaments of little value. The closest equivalent in English would be something like a DIY-er. 

Flâneur –  Flâner is a verb meaning ‘to stroll’ but a flâneur is a person of leisure who enjoys wandering the streets and soaking in the city and surroundings and appreciating its beauty. The term flâneur was first coined in the 19th century to describe a literary man of a certain social class, who would spend his time exploring the streets of Paris.

La douleur exquise – If French is the language of love, then it seems only fitting that it has a term to describe all the feelings associated with unrequited love. La douleur exquise literally means ‘the exquisite pain’,  the pain of wanting something you can’t have, such as someone who will never return your feelings.

L’appel du vide – L’appel du vide is that little voice in your head telling you to do something stupid like jerking the steering wheel to the right and take a flying leap off the edge or staring out at the view from a balcony and have a sudden urge to jump over the ledge. In English, you might refer to it as the call of the Siren song.

L’esprit de l’escalier – Literally ‘stairwell wit’, l’esprit de l’escalier is the feeling that you’ve got the perfect comeback, but you think of it too late. Similar to the German, treppenwitz, mentioned earlier.

Retrouvailles – This beautiful French word means ‘refindings’, referring to the reunion you would have with someone you care deeply for but haven’t seen in a long time. The English word ‘reunion’ doesn’t quite capture this intense feeling.

Yaourt – The need to sing along to a song even though you don’t know the lyrics. Instead, you use nonsensical noises that vaguely resemble the lyrics of a song.

Learn French for travel! Get my free French travel phrase guide here.

Georgian

Shemomedjam – When you eat something because it’s so yummy and delicious, even though you’re not hungry.

German

Backpfeifengesicht – German is full of hilarious phrases and backpfeifengesicht is one of the most inventive. This German compound word literally means a ‘face that should be slapped’ or ‘a face in need of a slap!’ Backpfeifengesicht is made up of 3 separate words: back – from die Backe, meaning cheek; pfeifen – German verb meaning to whistle; das Gesicht – The German word for face. You might be thinking, but, Michele, that means ‘cheek whistle face’. True! But when you combine the words back and pfeife you get die Backpfeife, which means slap in German. 

Drachenfutter – Literally, ‘dragon fodder’, this is a gift someone gives to placate and apologise to someone, especially a spouse, after they’ve done something wrong or stupid.

Erklärungsnot – The urgent need to explain something, either yourself or the situation. It can also mean to struggle explaining something. Erklärungsnot is made up of the German words Erklärung (‘explanation’) and not (in this case, can be translated as ‘need.’)

Extrawunsch – A term used to call someone who complicates things by being fussy or picky, and thus slows things down.

Fachidiot – Fachidiot, literally it means ‘subject-idiot’. A fachidiot is a person with expert knowledge in their own field and are well-accomplished but are clueless when it comes to anything outside that area. 

Fahrvergnügen – The love and pleasure one feels from simply driving around. The German compound word fahrvergnügen comes from fahren (‘to drive’) and‎ vergnügen (‘pleasure’). This term was popularised in the USA by Volkswagen advertisements in the 1990s.

Fernweh – Fernweh is one of my favourite travel words that describe wanderlust perfectly. Fernweh is a feeling of homesickness for a place, even though you’ve never been there. The word fernweh is made up of fern (‘far’) and‎ weh (‘pain’) and can be literally translated as ‘farsickness’ or longing for far-off places. This is the opposite of heimweh, which means homesickness.

Fisselig – This represents a temporary state of sloppiness, usually elicited by a person’s nagging. This often means that a person is flustered to the point of incompetence.

Kabelsalat – Kabelsalat literally means, ‘a cable salad’, a beautiful word to describe the mess of tangled cables.

Handschuhschneeballwerfer – Handschuhschneeballwerfer is German slang for ‘coward’. It literally means, ‘someone who wears gloves to throw snowballs’. In other words, a cowardly person who criticises and abuses something from a safe distance.

Kummerspeck – Guilty of eating your feelings? That’s called ‘grief bacon’ or kummerspeck. This term refers binge eating as a result of an emotional blow and the excess weight you can gain from emotional overeating. 

Lebensmüde – Lebensmüde is a German compound noun made up of the words leben (life) and müde (tired), and literally means ‘life tired’. It describes the feeling of being tired or weary of life. Its closest English equivalents are probably world-weary, depressed, fed up, restless and dissatisfied.

Schadenfreude – A feeling of joy and pleasure that comes with seeing another’s misfortune. Usually. someone you really dislike.

Schilderwald – A street that is so overcrowded and rammed with street signs, that you’re more prone to getting lost rather than finding your way.

Schlimmbesserung – Something that was meant to be an improvement, but actually makes things worse.

Schnapsidee – Literally, ‘schnapps idea’, is a plan so ridiculous you must have been drunk when you thought it up.

Sitzfleisch – Literally translated, sitzfleisch means ‘sitting meat’ or ‘sitting flesh’ – in other words, your bottom. This German refers to a person with the ability to sit through something very boring. But not only. It’s also used to refer to someone who is hardworking and has the physical discipline to sit down and get on with the job. If you have, sitzfleisch, you possess the ability and the stamina to stay seated for extended periods of time in order to be productive and get the job done.

Torschlusspanik – This beautiful word is used to refer to the feeling you experience at a certain point in your life where you see an imaginary door closing on all your opportunities, and you wonder what could have been. Tor means ‘gate,’ schluss means ‘closing’ or ‘ending,’ and panik means, ‘panic.’ So, torschlusspanik literally translates to ‘gate closing panic.’

Treppenwitz – Possibly the most useful untranslatable word on this list, treppenwitz describes all the things you should have said in the heat of the moment but only think of when it is too late. Also known as, the best comeback line you never said.

Waldeinsamkeit – The feeling of being alone in the woods. Derived from two German words ‘wald,’ meaning forest, and ‘einsamkeit,’ meaning loneliness, it refers to a connectedness with nature and the peace experienced in that moment.

Weichei – Weichei is a German slang term which used to refer to a cowardly person. Literally meaning ‘a soft egg’, the closest English equivalent would be ‘wimp’.

Weltschmerz – The literal translation of the word is ‘world grief’, or ‘world-pain’,  a term first coined by the German author Jean Paul. Weltschmerz refers to a deep sadness about the imperfection and pain of the world.

Verschlimmbessern – Verschlimmbessern describes the act of trying to make something better, only to end up making it worse than it initially was. In English, you might say something like ‘to put your foot in it’.

Learn German for travel! Get my free German travel phrase guide here.

Greek

Filotimo (φιλότιμο) – Filotimo is almost impossible to translate but can be summed up as ‘love of honour’. It describes a person who understands the responsibility to themselves, as a human, being to always do the right thing and with honour. Even if their wealth, safety, freedom, or even life is at peril. No matter what, this person will do the honourable thing, regardless of the consequence.

Parea (παρέα) – In Greek culture, a parea is when a group of friends gather to share life experiences, philosophies, values, and ideas.

Psithurism (Ψυθισμός) – Psithurism is the rustling sound of leaves in the wind. It comes from the Greek psithuros, meaning ‘whispering, slanderous.’

Meraki (μεράκι) – Meraki is when you pour yourself wholeheartedly into doing something with soul, creativity, or love that you leave a piece of yourself in your work.

Learn Greek for travel! Get my free Greek travel phrase guide here.

Hawaiian

Pana Po’o – The act of scratching your head in an attempt to remember something you’ve forgotten.

Akihi –  When you ask someone for directions, walk off, then immediately forget what they said. You’ve gone ‘akihi’.

Hebrew

Firgun (פירגון) – Firgun is a Hebrew term and concept in Israeli culture used to describe genuine and sincere happiness for another person without any ulterior motives. This often means a feeling of pure joy on seeing someone else’s accomplishment.

Learn Hebrew for travel! Get my free Hebrew travel phrase guide here.

Hindi

Chai-Pani (चाय पानी)– The phrase ‘Chai-Pani’ literally meaning, ‘tea and water’, is used to offer welcome drinks and facilitate guests in houses of India. It can also refer to a bribe given to someone, often a bureaucratic worker, to get a job done quickly.

Jijivisha (जिजीविषा) – This Hindi word conveys an intense desire to live life to the fullest. The word often refers to a person who lives with intense emotions and ambitious desires, seeking to thrive.

Namaste (नमस्ते) – Namaste is both a gesture and divine greeting that sends a message of peace to the universe in the hopes of receiving a positive message back. Namaste comes from the Sanskrit namas (bowing) te (to you) and is often translated to ‘I bow to the divine in you’. 

Viraha (विरह) – Realising you love someone only after you’re separated.

Learn Hindi for travel! Get my free Hindi travel phrase guide here.

Hungarian

Elmosolyodni – A kind of smile that forms when something isn’t especially funny, but you can’t help but smile anyway.

Házisárkány – A nickname for your spouse or better half who is constantly nagging. It literally means an ‘Domestic Dragon’

Icelandic

Dalalæða – A low waist-deep fog that forms after a warm and sunny day. It literally means, ‘a fog that sneaks up from the bottom of a valley’ or ‘valley-sneak.’

Gluggaveður – When the weather looks pleasant from your window, but is actually really cold that you need a jacket. Gluggaveður literally means ‘window-weather.

Þetta reddast – Pronounced [THETTA red-ahst], Þetta reddast is Iceland’s unofficial motto that loosely translates as ‘everything will work out in the end’.

Tima – Being unwilling to spend time or money on a particular thing, even though you can afford it.

Learn Icelandic for travel! Get my free Icelandic travel phrase guide here.

Indonesian

Jayus – A joke so terrible and unfunny that you can’t help but laugh. It’s funny because it’s not funny, kind of like a dad joke. 

Mencolek – A lighthearted prank where you trick someone by tapping their opposite shoulder from where you’re standing in order to fool them. That’s mencolek!

Inuit

Iktsuarpok (ᐃᒃᑦᓱᐊᕐᐳᒃ) – From the Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, one of the principal Inuit languages of Canada, Iktsuarpok is the act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking if someone (anyone) is coming. Somewhere between impatience and anticipation. Iktsuarpok refers to the feeling of anticipation and impatient excitement that the person you’re waiting for has arrived.

Irish

Cúbóg – A batch of Easter eggs. 

Learn Irish for travel! Get my free Irish travel phrase guide here.

Italian

Abbiocco – This is one of my favourite Roman dialect words. It describes the drowsiness or ‘carb coma’ you feel following having eaten a big meal. 

Attaccabottoni – Literally, ‘attach buttons’, an attaccabottoni is a chatty person who corners you to tell you long, meaningless stories, in endless detail about their life.

Cavoli riscaldati – Literally reheated cabbage, this is essentially an attempt to reheat an old romance. In other parts of Italy, ‘minestra riscaldata‘ or ‘zuppa riscaldata’, meaning reheated soup, is used to describe the same sentiment.

Commovente – Often translated as ‘heartwarming,’ but it directly refers to being moved to tears. The verb commuovere  means to move, to touch, to stir emotions.

Culaccino – Culaccino refers to the dregs in a glass but also the residue or water ring left on a surface by a moist, cold glass or other small container. In Italian, ‘culo‘ means bottom.

Gattara – A woman devoted to caring for and feeding stray or domestic cats. A more extreme version of a cat lover.

Fare la scarpetta – To finish up the contents of your plate, especially the sauce, with a piece of bread.

Meriggiare – An Italian verb meaning to rest or relax at midday, usually in a shady spot on a sunny day. From ‘meriggio’ meaning ‘midday’.

Learn Italian for travel! Get my free Italian travel phrase guide here.

Japanese

Age-otori (上げ劣り) – Pronounced [aah-gey-oh-toh-ree], Age-otori is a beautiful Japanese word that perfectly sums up a disaster haircut that makes you look worse than before.

Arigata-meiwaku (ありがためいわく) – This is used to refer to an act that someone does for you, even though you didn’t want to have them do it and tried to avoid having them do. They might have gone ahead,  determined to do you a favour, then things going wrong, causing you a lot of trouble. In spite of this, social conventions required you to still express gratitude. What a mouthful! Yet the Japanese have a simple concise term that says it all in just 2 words, arigata-meiwaku.

Bakku-shan (バックシャン) – This dating slang term literally means ‘back beautiful’ and is used to describe a girl who is beautiful, as long as you’re looking at her from behind! Harsh!  An English equivalent could be either ‘good from afar, but far from good’, or ‘Butter face’ – where everything but her face is attractive). What makes this Japanese word so interesting is that it’s not Japanese at all, it’s a composite of バック (bakku, ‘back’, from English back) and‎ シャン (shan, ‘beautiful’, from German schön).

Boketto (ぼけっと) – Gazing vacantly into the distance without thinking of anything specific, in other words, daydreaming.

Chindōgu (珍道具) – A prank originating from Japan, which is done by a person seemingly inventing ingenious everyday gadgets that seem like an ideal solution to a particular problem, but are in fact nothing more than a useless gag. Literally translated, chindōgu means unusual (珍, chin) tool (道具, dōgu). 

Ikigai (生きがい) – Ikigai is a Japanese concept often translated to ‘your life purpose’, ‘a reason for being’ or getting up in the morning. Ikigai refers to having a direction or purpose in life which makes one’s life worthwhile and full of meaning. But is not just limited to this, it can also be something as small as a daily ritual you enjoy.

Kaizen (改善) –  Kaizen is a Japanese term and method meaning ‘change for the better’ or ‘continuous improvement.’ It’s a method for transforming habits incrementally, one step at a time, in order to continuously improve. It’s also a famous Japanese business philosophy where employees make small adjustments to processes that compound over time resulting in increased productivity.

Koi no yokan (恋の予感) – The feeling of excitement you get when you first meet someone and know that you will eventually fall in love with them and are hopeful about being more than just friends. This is a more realistic version of ‘love at first sight’. Koi no yokan comes from 恋 (koi) is romantic love, and 予感 (yokan) roughly translates to ‘premonition’ or ‘hunch’, and roughly translates to ‘premonition of love’.

Komorebi (木漏れ日) – This Japanese word beautiful describes the scattered sunlight that filters through the leaves on the trees. The word is composed of three kanji and the hiragana particles れ. While the first kanji refers to ‘tree’ or ‘trees,’ the second one means to ‘escape,’ and the third signifies ‘light’ or ‘sun.’ 

Kyōiku mama (教育ママ) – Pronounced [ky-oh-ee-kuu-mama], Kyōiku mama is an offensive Japanese term used to describe a mother who relentlessly pushes her children to achieve academic excellence. It literally translates to ‘education mother’.

Mono no aware (物の哀れ) – Literally ‘the pathos of things’, and also translated as ‘an empathy toward things’. The term Mono no aware was coined by Motoori Norinaga, an eighteenth century literary scholar, who combined aware, which means sensitivity or sadness, and mono, which means ‘things.’ Norinaga believed that this feeling was at the very centre of Japanese culture. 

Nekama (ネカマ) – Nekama refers to a certain type of male, who in their normal daily life are usually heterosexual, however, online they represent themselves as female. Thus, this term commonly refers to a man pretending to be a woman on the internet, regardless of his sexuality.

Shouganai (しょうがない) – A Japanese philosophy that states that if something is meant to be and cannot be controlled, then why worry about it? The idea is that worrying won’t prevent the bad things from happening; it will only deprive you of the joy of enjoying the good things in life. Translated literally, shouganai means ‘it can’t be helped’.

Tatemae (建前) and Honne (本音) – Tatemae has the specific cultural meaning. It refers to the behaviour that Japanese people adopt in public, according to what is socially accepted or not by Japanese society. It could be translated as the ‘public facade’. Privately held views that you would never admit in public is called honne.

Tsundoku (積ん読) – How many times have you bought a book but never read it? This is called tsundoku, a beautiful word used to describe the act of buying books but letting them pile without ever reading them. The term originated in the Meiji era (1868–1912) as Japanese slang. The word consists of tsunde-oku (積んでおく, to pile things up ready for later and leave) and dokusho (読書, reading books). It is also used to refer to books ready for reading later when they are on a bookshelf.

Wabi-Sabi (侘寂) – This is a beautiful Japanese concept that represents finding beauty in imperfections. It allows us to accept that growth and decay are a natural process. In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.  Wabi-sabi is a concept derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence (三法印, sanbōin), specifically impermanence (無常, mujō), suffering (苦, ku) and emptiness or absence of self-nature (空, kū).

Yoko meshi (横飯) – Used to convey the stress-induced while speaking a foreign language, the literal meaning is ‘a meal eaten sideways’. Need help learning a language? Check out my guide to the best language learning resources here.

Yūgen (幽玄)  – Yūgen is an important concept in traditional Japanese aesthetics. It refers to the sad beauty associated with human suffering, coupled with a sense of profound mysterious sense and beauty of the universe.

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Related: 69 Wonderful Japanese Expressions That Will Brighten Your Day

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Kivila

Mokita – From the Kivila language native to Papua New Guinea, mokita is a commonly known truth that no one wants to admit or talk about. 

Korean

Dapjeongneo (답정너) – A situation where you’re ‘the right thing’ by telling the other person what they want to hear, even though you might not actually believe it. Sort of like telling a white lie to avoid causing offence.

Gosohada (고소하다) – The feeling you get when someone finally gets what they deserves. When you think to yourself ‘HA serves you right!’, that’s Gosohada.

Gilchi (길치) – What you call someone who has a terrible sense of direction and who constantly gets lost.

Hyo – Pronounced [hee-yo], this is both a name meaning ‘dutiful’ and a term to describe the sense of duty children have towards their parents and the expectation that they may need to make sacrifices for them out of respect.

Latvian

Kaapshljmurslis – Kaapshljmurslis is used to describe the uncomfortable cramped feeling you get when you’re in a crowded bus or train during rush hour.

Lithuanian 

Nepakartojama – A never-to-be-repeated perfect situation. Directly translated, it means ‘unable to repeat’

Malay

Manja – Manja is a person who shows so much outward love and affection towards someone they care about, like a spouse, partner, or child, to the point where they are pampering or spoiling them

Pisan Zapra – The time it takes to eat a banana. Which apparently, is roughly two minutes.

Māori (Cook Islands Maori) 

Papakata – To have one leg shorter than the other.

Norwegian

Dugnad – Is a type of community day where Norwegians get together to help clean up their neighbourhoods by fixing, cleaning, painting or just tidying things up. A dugnad takes place around the change in seasons. Every Norwegian has participated in a dugnad. It’s a great occasion to socialise with your neighbours, which – if you live in Norway – you will know is pretty rare. The added benefit is that a dugnad is usually accompanied by kaffe og kaker (coffee and cakes).

Forelsket – The indescribable euphoria you feel when you start to fall in love with someone.

Pålegg –  Anything that you can put on top of open-faced sandwiches, such as brun øst (Norwegian Cheese) cold cute, tomatoes, lettuce, spreads or other topping.

Utepils – Pronounced [OOH-ta-pilz], Utepils is a beautiful Norwegian compound word where ute means ‘out, outside, outdoors’ and pils means ‘lager’, so it literally translates to ‘outdoors lager’. Utepils is the act of enjoying a beer  while sitting outside on a sunny day – usually after surviving a long winter. Utepils is also the name of a famous brewing company.

Uffda! / Uff da!  – Is a versatile interjection and expression which basically means ‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that’. It expresses surprise, astonishment, exhaustion, relief, and can be used to express empathy. It means a combination of ‘Ouch for you!’ and ‘I’m so sorry that you hurt yourself’. Within Scandinavian-American culture, Uff da often translates to, ‘I am overwhelmed’. 

Yr – Yr can only be described as a very specific kind of rainfall with tiny, almost floating  raindrops (or snowflakes). It’s similar to drizzle or mist but one as one Norwegian puts it ‘It paints a picture not only in how it’s spelled but how it’s said, it’s more a sound than a word. Also when conjugated: ‘det yrer litt‘. I see foggy whispers of misty rain in the fjords.’ (Source). I think this is the most beautiful untranslatable word I’ve learned so far since learning Norwegian.

Learn Norwegian for travel! Get my free Norwegian travel phrase guide here.

Pascuense (Easter Island)

Tingo – Continuously borrowing items  from a neighbour’s house and not returning them, thereby gradually stealing everything from them one-by-one until there is nothing left.

Persian

Zhaghzhagh – Pronounced [zhaang-zhaah-gh], it’s the uncontrollable chattering of teeth, either due to the cold, or from intense rage.

Polish

Dożywocie – A contract between parents and children, guaranteeing lifetime care in exchange for real estate.

Formacja – Formacja is used in colloquial speech to describe a state of mind that is widespread across a particular generation or period of time. The closest English word would be ‘zeitgeist’.

Kilkanaście – This Polish word refers specifically to any number between 12 and 19 and is used in a similar way as the English ‘umpteen’ or ‘many’, but neither translation is quite correct. 

Kombinować – To make something or try to resolve a problem with the bare minimum and in an unusual way. This could be as a result of having limited access to resources or knowledge.

Radioukacz – Telegraphists who were part of the resistance movements on the Soviet side of the Iron Curtain.

Zalatwic – Zalatwic means ‘to get done’, but in a very specific way and is often either illegal or bends the rules. It involves using a bribe, political clout or connections, or simply personal charm to get the job done. This was especially common in Poland during the days of communism in Poland where it was probably impossible to live without ‘zalatwic’.

Portuguese

Saudade – Saudade is an untranslatable Portuguese term that describes a solemn and melancholic feeling of longing. Saudade can be a longing for something which does not and probably cannot exist or refer to the love that remains long after someone or something is gone and may not return – a nostalgic longing for a person or thing that was loved once, but is now lost. This feeling is a recurring theme in Portuguese and Brazilian literature. Brazil celebrates a day of Saudade every January.

Desenrascanço – Desenrascanço literally means ‘disentanglement’, a term used in Portugal to describe the act of ‘disentangling’ oneself from a difficult situation by using all available means to solve the problem. 

Cafuné – The act of tenderly running your fingers through someone’s hair in a loving way. 

Learn Portuguese for travel! Get my free Portuguese travel phrase guide here.

Romanian

Dor – A sad longing or yearning for someone.

Soare cu Dinti – When you look out the window and it looks lovely and sunny until you actually step outside. Soare cu Dinti describes a beautiful sunny, but very cold day.

Rukwangali (Namibia)

Hanyauku – Pronounced [ha-ahn-yoh-kuu], this Rukwangali word spoken by Namibians, refers to the act of tiptoeing across warm or hot sand.  

Russian

Listopad (листопа́дъ) – The falling of leaves.

Odnoliub (однолюб) – Someone that only has one love in their life or is only capable of a single person at a time.

Pochemuchka (почемучка) – Pochemuchka is a person, usually a child, who asks too many questions. Pronounced [POH-chay-MOO-chka[, it comes from the Russian word pocemu [POH-chay-MUH], which means ‘Why?.’ Pochemuchka was first used in a popular Soviet-era children’s book whose boy hero was given the nickname Alyosha Pochemuchka because he was never satisfied with the answers he got. Pochemuchka is a light-hearted put-down that might be expressed in English with a warning like ‘curiosity killed the cat’.

Razljubit (разлюбить) – Razljubit is the opposite feeling of the Norwegian forelsket when you first fall in love. It’s the feeling you have towards someone you were once in love with. When you see or think of them, you may feel a twinge of affection, but by now it’s totally platonic. That’s razljubit.

Toska (тоска) – Toska is the feeling of anguish, sadness, or melancholia, even though there’s no specific cause. Often spiritual in nature, this is a deep sadness that touches the soul.

Zapoi (Запой) – Zapoi describes being drunk for several days and waking up in an unexpected place that you don’t recognize.

Zloradstvovat (злорадствовать) – Zloradstvovat means to be devilishly happy’, in the evil way, when seeing someone’s misfortune, pain, or loss.

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Learning Russian? Check out these hilarious Russian idioms and expressions

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Samoan

Faamiti – Pronounced [fah-mih-tee], faamiti is a high-pitched noise made by sucking air through tightly-sealed lips in order to attract the attention of a pet or children.

Scottish

Sgrìob –  This Scottish Gaelic term describes the tingle of anticipation felt in the upper lip before drinking whisky.

Suilk – Pronounced [swilk], this Scottish word means to make an abnormal amount of noise whilst such as to swallow, gulp, or suck with a slobbering noise. Suilk is now used in English and even has English verb conjugations, ‘suilking‘ is the act, and a ‘suilker‘ is one who suilks.

Tartle – The moment where you hesitate when introducing someone because you’ve just forgotten their name. You’ve just tartled, so you say, ‘Pardon my tartle!’

Learn Scots for travel! Get my free Scots travel phrase guide here.

Serbian

Merak – This beautiful Serbian word refers to the pursuit of small pleasures everyday, which all adds up to a feeling of contentment, fulfilment and oneness with the larger purpose and the universe.

Slovenian

Vedriti – To shelter from the rain, either literally or metaphorically, such as when you’re in a bad mood and you’re waiting for the negative emotions to pass.

Spregledati – To simultaneously understand someone on a deeper level, whilst also overlooking it.

Spanish

Anteayer – This single word means ‘the day before yesterday’. Anteayer is made up of the Spanish word ante, meaning before or in front of, and ayer, meaning yesterday. In some parts of Latin America and rural Spain, antier is used instead. 

Chingada – Chingada is a vulgar term commonly used in colloquial Mexican Spanish that shouldn’t be thrown around lightly. It can either refer to a special kind of hellish place that’s far away, where you send anyone who irritates you, like when you say ‘go to Hell’, or can be used as a variation of the f-word. Chingada stems from the verb chingar which means to ruin, annihilate, screw or f**k. Like I said, be careful how you use it, if at all!

Desvelado – While the Spanish are known for their siestas, they also have a word which means the complete opposite. Desvelado literally means ‘awake’ and comes from the verb desvelar, which means ‘to reveal’ or ‘to keep awake’. It can also be translated into English as being wide awake, unable to sleep, or sleepless. 

Duende – The word duende has two distinct meanings. The term derives from ‘duen de casa‘ (master of the house), referring to a magical, mythical creature or spirit such as an elf, leprechaun, or even a goblin found in Spanish and Latin American folklore.  The second, and more interesting and beautiful definition, describes the heightened state of emotion, expression, and expression that a performer gives off that draws in the audience. Duende or tener duende (‘to have duende’) is a Spanish term that is traditionally connected with flamenco and other activities that evoke Spanish fiery passion, like bullfighting. In some parts of Spain, duende is used to describe someone who is charming or alluring.

Encandilar – The aftermath of seeing a sudden bright flash of light, often associated with seeing spots. Encandilar comes from the Spanish verb encandilarse, meaning ‘to be dazzled/blinded by’.

Estrenar – Estrenar means ‘first time’ or the beginning of something. It’s used to describe the first time you do, wear or use something for the first time. Don’t you just love that feeling?

Friolero – Friolero describes a person who is particularly susceptible and sensitive to cold weather, prone to easily feeling cold. A similar term also exists in Italian, freddoloso.

Madrugada – The term madrugada is both Spanish and Portuguese and means to get up early in the morning at twilight – the time between midnight and the crack of dawn.

Pena ajena – Ajeno/a generally means ‘someone else’s’ or ‘other people’s’. Literally, meaning ‘sorry for others’, pena ajena is the feeling of humiliation or embarrassment you get upon watching another person’s embarrassment. It’s so embarrassing that it makes you cringe. 

Sobremesa – Shared mealtimes are a very important part of Spanish culture, and the time spent after the meal just chatting and relaxing is very important. So important that they even have a word to describe it. Sobremesa literally means ‘over the table,’  is a Spanish expression that describes that wonderful period after the meal is finished but you continue sitting at the table chatting and enjoy each other’s company.

Tuerto – A one-eyed man, blind in one eye .

Tutear – To speak to someone you know well (usually friends and family) informally by addressing using the ‘tú‘ form instead of the more formal ‘usted‘. The term tutoyer is used in French to describe the same thing where the speaker uses the informal second-person pronoun tu rather than the formal vous.

Vacinlando – Vacilando is a beautiful Spanish word which describes the journey or experience of travelling, is more important than reaching the specific destination.

Learn Spanish for travel! Get my free European Spanish travel phrase guide here and my Latin American travel phrase guide here.

Swahili

Hakuna matata – In the Swahili language, Hakuna matata can be directly translated to ‘there are no troubles’. This phrase was made popular in the English-speaking world thanks to the 1994 Disney movie The Lion King. It can be translated to ‘no worries’ or ‘no dramas’ and means to avoid worrying about things outside of your control. If you’re a fan of the film, here are 20 beautiful African words in ‘The Lion King’ that will make you smile. 

Swedish

Badkruka – A person who feels somewhat hesitant or doesn’t like to swim in an open body of water due to its low temperature.

Blunda – Blunda is a Swedish word that means to close or cover your eyes to avoid seeing something or facing a hard truth. It’s similar to the English expression ‘turn a blind eye’, or can be the simple act of ignoring something.

Duktig – If a Swede says you’re duktig, that’s a huge compliment, because they are saying you’re skilled, capable, or hard-working. Duktig comes from the Swedish verb duga, which means ‘to be good for / to be acceptable for’. You can use duktig on its own, just as you would say ‘you’re such a hard-worker!’ or  ‘good girl/boy!’ to a child. Duktig refers to an action of some sort, whether that’s a job or a specific task.

Fika – Fika is a special kind of Swedish coffee break that could go on for hours and is more about socialising than drinking coffee. It’s all about gathering together to enjoy coffee, pastries, and conversation.

Gökotta – I adore this beautiful untranslatable Swedish word. Gökotta describes waking up at dawn, and going outside, just to hear birds chirping and singing.

Harkla – Harkla is a fantastic verb that means something very similar to ‘to clear one’s throat’. A perfect example would be the moment before you’re about to give a speech and make a half-cough so you can speak clearly.

Hinna – Hinna is a common Swedish verb that means ‘to be on time’ ‘to find the time’. 

Jobbig – Jobbig is an all-encompassing word that means troublesome or trying, annoying or difficult. It can be used to refer to people, things, events – almost anything that is difficult, annoying, or tedious.

Lagom – Lagom means ‘just the right amount’, it’s neither too much, nor too little, but juuuuuust right. Lagom is important in Swedish culture, where you don’t want to ‘stand out’ but having or doing too much.

Mångata – Mångata refers to a long, wavy, road-like reflection of the moon that often appears on water. It draws its origin from ‘måne‘ meaning moon, and ‘gata‘ meaning street or road. So, mångata literally means ‘moon road’.

Mormor / farmor / morfar / farfar – We could definitely use these genius Swedish compound words in English to describe each of our grandparents. Mormor, farmor, morfar, farfar literally means mothermother, fathermother, motherfather, fatherfather – respectively. That is, mormor is your mother’s mother, farmor is your father’s mother, morfar is your mother’s father and farfar is your father’s father. So, the question is, do you want to see more of mormor and less of farfar? So see farmor far less? And while we’re at it, barnbarn (literally, ‘childchild’) is the Swedish word for grandchild.

Mysa – Mysa is a Swedish verb for feeling content, cozy and enjoying oneself, especially at home. Not to be confused with the Danish, hygge which relates to any activity or part of your day, mysa refers specifically to being at home. 

Orka – This common verb in the Swedish language means ‘to have the energy’.

Resfeber – Resfeber refers to the mixture of anxiety and anticipation before a trip or journey begins. Resfeber is considered one of the most beautiful travel words.

Tidsoptimist  – Literally, a ‘time optimist’ this is a person who is constantly late because they think they have more time than they actually do.

Tretår – When two cups of coffee isn’t enough, you go for a second refill or ‘threefill’ of coffee. In Swedish, ‘tår’ means a cup of coffee and ‘patår’ is the refill of said coffee. A ‘tretår’ is therefore a second refill, or a threefill.

Vobba – Describes the very specific act of a parent taking a paid day off to take care of their sick child but still work, for example they check emails or take calls. Vobba is a mash-up of the two verbs att vabba (to take care of a child) and att jobba (to work).

Vabba – From vobba, comes vabba, a shortened version of vård av barn, which means ‘to be at home with the kids’.

Learn Swedish for travel! Get my free Swedish travel phrase guide here 

Tagalog

Gigil – Gigil is the overwhelming feeling that comes over you when you see something unbearably cute that you want to squeeze or pinch it. Kind of like when your grandma wanted to pinch your cheeks when you were a child.

Tampó – In Filipino culture, tampó is when a person withdraws his or her affection or cheerfulness towards someone who has hurt them. A mild case of ‘to hold a grudge’ where you’re someone between hurt and disappointed.  It usually occurs between people related to each other. For example, when a husband forgets to bring his wife flowers for their anniversary, she can have ‘tampó‘ against him.

Kilig – Kilig can be roughly translated as ‘romantic excitement’, it describes the happiness and giddiness you feel when something romantic takes place, either to you or someone else. It’s the feeling of butterflies in your stomach when you catch your crushes’ eye for the first time, witnessing a marriage proposal, or watching your favourite TV show couple. 

Tamil

Oodal – An exaggerated, fake anger that usually follows a quarrel between lovers.

Tshiluba (Congo)

Ilunga – Pronounced [ee-lun-ga], this is a person who is ready to forgive someone once, tolerate it a second time, but never a third time. Kind of like, three strikes and you’re out!

Tulu (Indian)

Karelu – The mark left on the skin from wearing something tight, such as jeans, socks, or a bra.

Turkish

Ciğerpare – This beautiful word literally has Persian origins and literally means ‘liver part’. It refers to someone that you love as much as your own body. Lovers or friends may call each other ciğerparem, meaning ‘my liver part.’

Urdu

Goya – This Urdu word refers to a feeling of wonder and disbelief that accompanies a particularly realistic fantasy. The suspension of disbelief makes it seem so real that it temporarily becomes reality. This is usually associated with good storytelling.

Wagiman

Murr-ma – This beautiful word comes from Wagiman, an almost extinct Australian Aboriginal language spoken in Australia’s Northern Territory. It describes feeling around in water with your feet to find something.

Welsh

Glas wen – The literal translation is ‘blue smile’, and is used to describe a mocking sarcastic smile.

Hiraeth – Pronounced [here-eyeth] (roll the ‘r’), this beautiful Welsh word is much like the Portuguese saudade mentioned earlier or the Romanian dor,  it conveys a feeling of homesickness, sense of regret, along with a general sadness over the lost or departed. This is a longing for one’s homeland, or even a romanticized past, with a yearning for it to come back.

Yaghan 

Mamihlapinatapei – The word mamihlapinatapai (sometimes also spelled mamihlapinatapei) comes from the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego in Southern Argentina. Mamihlapinatapai is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘most succinct word’ and is considered extremely difficult to translate. Mamihlapinatapai is a meaningful, but wordless exchange between two people, who both desire to initiate something but are hesitant to act on it. It also can refer to a private but non-verbal exchange shared by two people, one where each knows that the other understands and agrees what is being expressed. 

Yiddish

Shlimazl (שלימזל) – A chronically unlucky, usually inept, clumsy person.

Trepverter – Literally, ‘staircase words’, trepverter is a witty comeback you think of only after it’s too late. 

Luftmensch (לופֿטמענטש‎) – Luftmensch is used to refer a person with their head in the clouds. They are more concerned with airy intellectual pursuits than practical matters like earning an income. From the Yiddish לופֿט‎ (luft, ‘air’) and מענטש‎ (mentsh, ‘man’).

Farpotshket – Pronounced [fahr-POTS-SKEHT], farpotshket is when you or someone you trust tries to fix something but only ends up making things worse, causing irreparable damage. All you can do is shrug, knowing that you should’ve known better. Farpotshket also has an associated verb – potshky (POTs-ski), which means ‘to fiddle with something in a well-meaning and purposeful way, but with a complete lack of competence.’

Chutzpah – Is an untranslatable Yiddish word for adopting a ‘don’t-take-no-for-an-answer’ attitude where you’ll build up the guts to do something ballsy.

Zulu

Ubuntu – The act of being kind to others because of one’s common humanity. Ubuntu is frequently translated as ‘I am because we are,’ or ‘humanity towards others’. 

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Over to you!

Which one of these words in your favourite? Was it the Malay, pisan zapra – the time it takes to eat a banana or the Portuguese cafuné – the act of tenderly running your fingers through someone’s hair. Share your favourites in the comments.

Can you think of any other ‘untranslatable’ words? Have you ever come across words and phrases that could not be translated into your native language? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to the list!

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