Eunoia

Words That Don't Translate

Eunoia was built in 24h by Steph. Search 700+ untranslatable words by 80+ languages and 60+ tags, or click refresh to see a new batch. Enjoy!


Word Definition Language Tags Audio
Lha’i rnal ‘byor (ལྷའི་རྣལ་འབྱོར) Deity meditation/yoga; an advanced practice in which one visualises interacting with, or ‘accomplishing’ (i.e., being), a deity. Tibetan awareness physical
Vellichor The strange wistfulness of used bookshops English feeling
Wei-wu-wei "Action without action" or effortless doing; conscious non-action; the deliberate and principled decision to do nothing for a reason. Chinese action life
Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) peace, harmony, wholeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquillity; used also as a greeting/parting salutation. Hebrew positive
Chingada An imaginary, horrible place where you send all those who annoy you Spanish funny adverse character
Beschaulich Quiet, pensive; living a simple life; pleasantly contemplative, unhurried in a fashion that inspires mental well-being. German positive
Rocambolesco Stunning action that requires extreme audacity; literally means "there's no need" as in "there's no need to thank you" Italian extreme surprise
Estrenar The experience of wearing something for the first time Spanish life
Weltschmerz Feeling hopeless about the state our world is currently in ("world pain") German adverse society
Dépaysement The feeling of being in an environment that you are not used to French feeling awareness change
Nadryv (Надрыв) Literally means "to tear or break", but can also mean the inner tension of someone who is about to break Russian stress emotion
Chindogu 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 Japanese creative funny
Nepenthe Something that helps you forget grief or suffering Greek growth strength
Mono no aware The bittersweetness of a brief and grading moment of transcendent beauty. Japanese beauty
Hoʻoponopono Mutual forgiveness. Hawaiian connection character emotion
Meraki Describe doing something with soul, creativity, or love — when you put “something of yourself” into what you're doing, whatever it may be. Greek emotion strength
Chaval al hazman (חבל אל הזמן) Literally "shame on time"; referring to an amazing experience that you don't want to end Hebrew beauty happiness time
Gongoozler A person who enjoys watching activity on the canals of the United Kingdom. The term is also used more generally to describe those who harbour an interest in canals and canal life, but do not actively participate. English action nature
Nostalgie de la boue A yearning for degradation, depravity, or other crude/base aspects of life, literally "a yearning for mud" French feeling
Zgabalj Mixture of all the bad things in the world, combined Serbian adverse society
Gemütlichkeit An atmosphere of belonging, relaxation, chilled music, great food and drink German music food life
Gluggaveður "Window Weather" i.e. weather that is nice to look at through a window but not nice to be out in Icelandic weather visual
Wú (無) Negative, void, nothingness, non-being; can imply 'neither yes nor no'. Chinese adverse
Qiang jingtou The fight by a cameraman to get a better vantage point Chinese creative art visual
tuḷir (துளிர்) Technically "a baby leaf", but it specifcally means a freshness tenderness, delicateness Tamil attribute beauty
Metanoia The journey of changing ones mind, heart, self, or way of life English growth change
Riposo Rest, repose; a nap; cf. siesta. Italian event society
Víðsýni A panoramic view; open-mindedness. Icelandic visual
L’ecole stratim (לאכול סרטים) Literally "to eat motives"; describing a person that loves drama Yiddish extreme interaction
Goso When you smell sesame oil - that nutty, flavorful, aromatic - mostly used to describe smells of sesame and/or bean paste Korean sensory food




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