As a little girl I was always obsessed with words and still to this day, I keep a journal full of words I love. These 25 incredible foreign words you have to know are just the start of my list.
Through traveling, I’ve heard so many words that we don’t have in the English language, that don’t translate to a direct word. Each of these words encompass a bigger feeling, an action or emotion, in a way we can’t. Take a peak at…
Interested in Learning a New Language?
I learned Japanese a few years ago with Rosetta Stone and couldn’t recommend it more. If you’re interested in learning a new language, they’re currently offering 50% off lifetime subscriptions. Check it out here!
25 Incredible Foreign Words You Have to Know
1. Bilita Mpash (Bantu)
It means an amazing dream and quite literally the opposite of a nightmare.
2. L’esprit de l’escalier (French)
It means the spirit of the stairs when you leave a conversation thinking about everything you could have said.
3. Koi No Yokan (Japanese)
A feeling when you meet someone for the first time and you know you will fall in love.
4. Pana Po’o (Hawaiian)
The word that describes the moment when you scratch your head when you’ve forgotten something.
5. Gigil (Filipino)
When you want to squeeze something that is so cute.
6. Jayus (Indonesian)
When someone poorly tells a joke so bad that you can’t help but laugh.
7. Komorebi (Japanese)
When the sun goes through the trees and the leaves filter the light.
8. Fernweh (German)
When you are homesick for somewhere you’ve never been.
9. Meraki (Greek)
To do something with love or soul, or equivalently, to put something of yourself into your work.
10. La douleur exquise (French)
A pain felt only when you crave affection from someone you know you can never have.
11. Zhaghzhagh (Farsi)
The chattering of teeth from either anger or the cold.
12. Slampadato (Italian)
A word made only for those who are addicted to tanning salons.
13. Resfeber (Swedish)
When your heart races before the beginning of a trip, when anxiety sets in.
14. Nefelibata (Portuguese)
A cloud-walker, someone who lives in their own dreams and not in conventional society.
15. Wabi-sabi (Japanese)
Often described as a beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
16. Saudade (Portuguese)
A nostalgic state of longing for something or someone absent.
17. Seigneur des terrasses (French)
A word that describes those who stay at a coffee shop for a long time but spend little money.
18. Solivagant (Latin)
To wander alone in solitude around the world.
19. Metanoia (Greek)
To change one’s way of life in normally a transformational way.
20. Schwellenangst (German)
The fear of beginning a new chapter.
21. Hygge (Danish)
The warm feeling you have when enjoying great company.
22. Vagary (Latin)
A whimsical journey.
23. Yoko meshi (Japanese)
The stress of speaking a foreign language.
24. Livsnjutare (Swedish)
Someone who enjoys life and lives life to the extreme.
25. Le Pays de Cocagne (French)
A place that is imaginary based on luxury and idleness.
Looking to speak another language? Check out this post with Rosetta Stone.
Save This Post for Later on Pinterest
PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Flights
Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.
2. Book Your Accommodations
Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Car
Use Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com to find the best car rental deals. I recommend comparing rental agency reviews on Google to ensure you are booking with the best company in that destination, as the reviews are often more accurate than the car rental search engines.
5. Don’t Forget Airport Lounge Access
Get a Priority Pass membership to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover. I’ve been a member for over a decade, and having a comfortable place to relax before and between flights makes air travel so much more enjoyable.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, and cancelations, etc.). I use it frequently for my travels to stay protected.
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
20 Comments
Love this post, and especially love “L’espirit de l’escalier” ❤️
one of my favorites!
This is a great post. Thank you! Komorebi is poetic and inspiring.
Btw, Nefelibata is Portuguese.
Ah appreciate it!
It comes from the Greek and it’s a Spanish word too 😉
🙂 That was a very charming list. I appreciate having read it.
Thank you!
Love this list! I knew many of the words, but not others. I especially love “komorebi.”
Me too!!
Love these words! And agree about the Swedish, those are good ones. Another Swedish favorite of my [American] husband is snörök – it describes the snow swirling around when you drive on a snow covered road.
AH this is such a great word! love it!
Isn’t it awesome? I guess I should have added what it translates to: snow smoke.
Ah I LOVE all of these! Language is amazing.
Here’s one more too add: pena ajena – Spanish – the feeling you get when you’re embarrassed on somebody else’s behalf 🙂
Thank you for sharing! this post is a proof, that every language has his own beauty… ❤️ my fav is #3 😊
Your welcome! Every language is so beautiful!
OK, I don’t mean to spam this with comments, but I read through the list again, and isn’t it funny how the words somehow go with each culture? Like #10 La douleur exquise, that is SO French!
It’s so true! Each word is very close to it’s culture!!
It’s cool you included Gigil in Filipino! 🙂
I love foreign languages… I keep meaning to sign up for a Mandarin class but then I think about driving to the university in the snow after work and lose all my motivation!