I found this article online about words in foreign languages that cannot be tranlated into English. I had heard of some of them, but most were new to me. It is something that might be very useful for fiction writers, as well of being of general interest to people like me. 🙂
beetleypete 
Thank you for this very informative posting, Pete! I hope i will remember in time of translation purposes. Michael
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I like those unusual words, and they are quirky things to include in fiction too.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thats true, and nobody will find them in vocabulary lists. But sometimes they are questioned in tests.
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(1) I’d never heard of Ikigai, but, of course, I’m more than familiar with raison d’être, which I consider to be a more reasonable expression.
(2) I think Mamihlapinatapai is too difficult to pronounce, let alone remember. An explanation can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamihlapinatapai
(3) Should one use foreign expressions when writing? Je ne sais pas.
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That article left me with a sense of Déjà vu! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Reblogged this on Wilfred Books and commented:
These untranslatable words might be very useful for fiction writers!
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Always good to broaden the mind from our chairs [rather than our posteriors!], as we can’t travel right now! Cheers, Jon.
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Thanks, Jon. Some interesting words in that article.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Great post 🙂 Pantsdrunk and Sobremesa are my favs 🙂 I agree with tidalscribe that people outside of Spain seem to treat Sobremesa as much (If not more) of a tradition as the Spanish do. Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
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Thanks, John. Sitting around talking after dinner was something I did a lot in London. Not so much now I have retired to Norfolk, where I know fewer people.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pantsdrunk will be my new favourite word and occupation.
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I am normally ‘Gowndrunk’. The dressing-gown goes on, and the pants come off! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for that mental picture Pete. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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I am completely covered by a large dressing gown! 🙂 🙂
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Phew! Mental picture adjusted accordingly. 😊
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Great share Pete.
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Thanks, Kim. Such words are so useful at times.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Reblogged this on Jeanne Owens, author and commented:
An very interesting find
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What a delightful find. Warmest regards, Theo
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Thanks, Theo. I enjoyed it.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sobremesa I like, but a casualty of Covid
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Yes, dinner parties and restaurant gatherings do seem like a very long time ago, Sue.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yep
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Sobremesa – sitting at the table chatting after a meal is finished. I’m sure the Spanish are not the only ones to enjoy this civilized experience. Now especially meaningful as none of us are able to do that at present.
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Yes, that one is in the article, Janet. It sounds much nicer than ‘after dinner chat’.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am co9nfident that in most instances of sobremesa there is also a long period of pantsdrunk. LOL
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I think you may well be right there, John. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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