16. Hygge – Danish
A feeling of contentment or well-being based on a lifestyle of protecting yourself from the elements, eating sweets, and lighting candles. It’s been popularized in English by a few books on the subject, and the examples make it harder to translate. For instance, drinking hot tea by a fire in your living room while listening to rain outside is probably the closest thing to Hygge imaginable.
17. “Litost” – Czech
“Torment caused by the sight of one’s own misery.” -Milan Kundera
18. “Pålegg” -Norway
Anything that might go on a sandwich. The accouterment of a sandwich, condiments, meat, etc.
19. “Verschlimmbessern” -German
To make things worse by trying to improve them. Literally, “make worse” and “improve” as one word. Basically, whatever Rudy Giuliani did in 2020.
20. Elmosolyodni – Hungary
21. Bakku-shan – Japan
A slang term for seeing a lady you thought was hot from the back, but then she turned around. The moment was nice while it lasted. I went to Japan once, and there are drunk men in suits roaming the streets of Tokyo all night, so, of course, they have a word for this.
22. “Arbejdsglaede” – Danish
The joy found in work. Work satisfaction. The reason there’s no equivalent in America is that work is supposed to feel bad. You want to enjoy yourself? Go live in a treehouse, you dork. We’re here to suffer!
23. “Pana po’o” – Hawaiian
To search inside your mind for something you’ve forgotten. I love to roam around my memory palace just so I can remember I was supposed to buy milk at the grocery store.
24. “Uitwaaien” – Dutch
To brave windy weather outside. Literally meaning “to blow” which is, I’m sure, how to translate back to why that’s funny in English.
25. Firgun – Hebrew
I can’t even imagine what that’s like.
26. “Frühjahrsmüdigkeit” -German
“Spring Fatigue.” Tiredness and irritability associated with the month of April. I’m guessing allergens mess with their sleep? I’m more of a winter, summer fatigue guy. In the summer, it’s too hot to move. In the winter, I have seasonal depression.
27. “Epibrenen” – Dutch
To give the appearance of doing a lot of work, but in reality, you’re being lazy. I’m doing it right now as I write this.
28. “Hyppytyynytyydytys” – Finland
The joy of sitting on a bouncy pillow. Who doesn’t enjoy a nice plump cushion?
29. “Seigneur-terraces” – France
People who sit at cafes too long without buying much. This is how I’ve survived in NYC this long, and I’d appreciate not being called out for it.
30. “Ya’arburnee” – Arabic
