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What's a word or concept in your language that does not translate very well to English?
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deathmetal27 lemmy.world deathmetal27@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-10-04
Quote

Asking non-native English speakers.

133   Original
remon ani.social remon@ani.social
Joined: 2024-09-25
#2 · (edited) Quote Reply

Does it count if English just steals your words?

Schadenfreude, Zeitgeist, Weltanschauung, Kindergarten.

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deathmetal27 lemmy.world deathmetal27@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-10-04
#3 · (edited) Quote Reply

Does it count if English just steals your words? Schadenfreude, Zeitgeist, Weltanschauung, Kindergarten.

Perhaps if the meaning is different or altered from the actual word.

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NeatNit discuss.tchncs.de NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de
Joined: 2024-01-05
#4 · Quote Reply

Does it count if English just steals your words? Schadenfreude, Zeitgeist, Weltanschauung, Kindergarten.

Blitzkrieg?

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404 lemmy.zip 404@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2023-07-23
#5 · Quote Reply

Does it count if English just steals your words? Schadenfreude, Zeitgeist, Weltanschauung, Kindergarten.

Doppelganger, wanderlust, poltergeist...

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Onomatopoeia lemmy.cafe Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe
Joined: 2025-01-02
#6 · Quote Reply

Shaka, when the walls fell

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printf("%s", name); piefed.blahaj.zone akunohana@piefed.blahaj.zone
Joined: 2026-03-30
#7 · (edited) Quote Reply

Keeping in mind that any and all concepts in this world can be explained and understood by anyone and everyone - and that when this is untrue, only a lack of language and experience are at work - these do not have straightforward counterparts in English with the exact same nuance, I think:

Japanese
潔い、木漏れ日、懐かしい、いただきます、ごちそうさま、よろしく、お疲れ様、儚い、ぼけ、つっこみ、花見、紅葉狩り

Swedish
Mångata, lagom, fika, smörgåsbord, ombudsman, klämdag, skadeglädje, orka (verb or exclamation)

Hungarian
Meglehetős(en), káröröm

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TheWeirdestCunt lemmy.today TheWeirdestCunt@lemmy.today
Joined: 2025-06-03
#8 · Quote Reply

Blitzkrieg?

Blitzkrieg translates pretty well doesn't it? Fast war?

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quediuspayu lemmy.dbzer0.com quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2025-02-06
#9 · Quote Reply

In Spanish.
Sobremesa, the period you stay at the table after lunch or dinner having a coffee or some drinks while chatting.

Aprovechar, is basically the opposite of to waste. So depending on the context is to take advantage of something, to make the most of, make a good use, give a second use or reuse leftovers for something else.

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MantisToboggon lemmy.world MantisToboggon@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-11-19
#10 · Quote Reply

Bukkake.

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thejml sh.itjust.works thejml@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2025-06-16
#11 · Quote Reply

Shaka, when the walls fell

Timba, his arms wide

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Treczoks lemmy.world Treczoks@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-09
#12 · Quote Reply

Guten Appetit! (German term equivalent to "cheers" for drinking - but for eating.)

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Goldholz lemmy.blahaj.zone Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone
Joined: 2023-12-12
#13 · (edited) Quote Reply

Doch

Zwedgsche (this fruit is often translated as sour cherry but it isnt a sour cherry)
Zipfelklatscher

German and high german dialects

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JonnyRobbie lemmy.world JonnyRobbie@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-13
#14 · (edited) Quote Reply

Guten Appetit! (German term equivalent to "cheers" for drinking - but for eating.)

That one is really interesting, because a lot of languages has it, from guten apetit, through dobrou chuť to itadakimasu. But english was out of school that day I suppose.

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Nomecks lemmy.ca Nomecks@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-12-27
#15 · Quote Reply

That one is really interesting, because a lot of languages has it, from guten apetit, through dobrou chuť to itadakimasu. But english was out of school that day I suppose.

English stole 'Bon Apetit" from French fair and square!

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CombatWombat feddit.online CombatWombat@feddit.online
Joined: 2025-09-09
#16 · (edited) Quote Reply

Russian is more productive than English, so there's a bunch of "we just smushed a bunch of prefixes and suffixes on it" words that don't have a great English equivalent, like недоперепить -- to drink quite a lot but not succeed at drinking too much. I don't think we properly have листопад which is the equivalent of "snowfall" but for autumn leaves. I really miss успевать -- to successfully have enough time to do something. There's also кипяток -- water that has been boiled but then slightly cooled, like 200-205 degrees F. The canonical examples are тоска , which is a kind of melancholy longing, and авось which expresses optimism but I basically never heard anyone actually say.

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Aedis lemmy.world Aedis@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-11-11
#17 · Quote Reply

Does it count if English just steals your words? Schadenfreude, Zeitgeist, Weltanschauung, Kindergarten.

Angst, although that one became more of a false friend: Fear of the unknown vs Teenage BS

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Mantzy81 aussie.zone Mantzy81@aussie.zone
Joined: 2025-03-09
#18 · Quote Reply

Russian is more productive than English, so there's a bunch of "we just smushed a bunch of prefixes and suffixes on it" words that don't have a great English equivalent, like недоперепить -- to drink quite a lot but not succeed at drinking too much. I don't think we properly have листопад which is the equivalent of "snowfall" but for autumn leaves. I really miss успевать -- to successfully have...

Never hearing anyone express optimism feels like a very Russian stereotype.

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Mantzy81 aussie.zone Mantzy81@aussie.zone
Joined: 2025-03-09
#19 · Quote Reply

English stole 'Bon Apetit" from French fair and square!

As English often does - if it makes sense in another language and is easy for English speakers to understand the context it's used, they're quite happy stealing it. Especially French.

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cattywampas lemmy.world cattywampas@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-12-30
#20 · Quote Reply

As English often does - if it makes sense in another language and is easy for English speakers to understand the context it's used, they're quite happy stealing it. Especially French.

Loanwords are a thing in every language, especially English loanwords.

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First_Thunder lemmy.zip First_Thunder@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-26
#21 · Quote Reply

Lanche, the meal between lunch and dinner

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Riskable programming.dev riskable@programming.dev
Joined: 2023-06-23
#22 · Quote Reply

In JavaScript, this.

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atro_city fedia.io atro_city@fedia.io
Joined: 2023-08-05
#23 · Quote Reply

Doch Zwedgsche (this fruit is often translated as sour cherry but it isnt a sour cherry) Zipfelklatscher German and high german dialects

You could at least describe the words... not everybody speaks German

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Denjin feddit.uk Denjin@feddit.uk
Joined: 2025-07-30
#24 · Quote Reply

Blitzkrieg translates pretty well doesn't it? Fast war?

Lightning being the literal translation but used in the same way as fast.

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Zarobi aussie.zone Zarobi@aussie.zone
Joined: 2026-06-23
#25 · Quote Reply

In JavaScript, this.

Buddhist devs meditate frequently on the differences and similarities between this and self

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deathmetal27 lemmy.world deathmetal27@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-10-04
#26 · Quote Reply

Lanche, the meal between lunch and dinner

What language is that?

2
neidu4 piefed.social neidu4@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-09-10
#27 · (edited) Quote Reply

Fjøs is where farm animals are kept. "Barn" is more general and translates to "Låve", while Fjøs doesn't really have an English translation.

Nisse is a mythological creature that is part goblin, part santa, part Gnome, but not really either of them. They're usually benign and pretty cool.

Hygge (noun) /hyggelig (adjective) means having a cosy, lighthearted or fun atmosphere, usually in company of others

EDIT: By the way, Nissen lives in the Låve

14
FishFace piefed.social FishFace@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-10-16
#28 · Quote Reply

Does it count if English just steals your words? Schadenfreude, Zeitgeist, Weltanschauung, Kindergarten.

Zeitgeist works well as "spirit of the times"; Weltanschauung as "worldview"; and Kindergarten as "pre-school".

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TheMadCodger piefed.social TheMadCodger@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-09-23
#29 · Quote Reply

Fjøs is where farm animals are kept. "Barn" is more general and translates to "Låve", while Fjøs doesn't really have an English translation. Nisse is a mythological creature that is part goblin, part santa, part Gnome, but not really either of them. They're usually benign and pretty cool. Hygge (noun) /hyggelig (adjective) means having a cosy, lighthearted or fun atmosphere, usually in company ...

Hygge became too popular so that's started making it's way into English. Hopefully that one sticks around. The pronunciation will never be correct though. Nisse sounds awesome though.

What's the difference between a Låve and a Fjøs?

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First_Thunder lemmy.zip First_Thunder@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-26
#30 · Quote Reply

What language is that?

Portuguese

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robador51 lemmy.ml robador51@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2023-06-03
#31 · (edited) Quote Reply

Guten Appetit! (German term equivalent to "cheers" for drinking - but for eating.)

Good appetite?

Oh, looked it up, it's not used in the same manner as German, i never knew 😃

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robador51 lemmy.ml robador51@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2023-06-03
#32 · Quote Reply

Gezellig in Dutch. Used to describe a situation that's cosy and fun togetherness. Can also be used to describe a place that looks inviting (to have that good time in). I guess 😃

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neidu4 piefed.social neidu4@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-09-10
#33 · Quote Reply

Hygge became too popular so that's started making it's way into English. Hopefully that one sticks around. The pronunciation will never be correct though. Nisse sounds awesome though. What's the difference between a Låve and a Fjøs?

Fjøs is specifically where animals are kept. Låve is more generic, but it's usually where you store stuff such as hay and produce. Sometimes the two are combined into one building and It's common to refer to the ground floor as Fjøs, and the floor above as Låve.

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deegeese sopuli.xyz deegeese@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2023-06-09
#34 · (edited) Quote Reply

Fjøs is where farm animals are kept. "Barn" is more general and translates to "Låve", while Fjøs doesn't really have an English translation. Nisse is a mythological creature that is part goblin, part santa, part Gnome, but not really either of them. They're usually benign and pretty cool. Hygge (noun) /hyggelig (adjective) means having a cosy, lighthearted or fun atmosphere, usually in company ...

Fjoøs ≈ Paddock or Corral ?

4
TheWeirdestCunt lemmy.today TheWeirdestCunt@lemmy.today
Joined: 2025-06-03
#35 · Quote Reply

Lightning being the literal translation but used in the same way as fast.

I always assumed lightning war was just a way of making it sound more interesting, I didn't realise blitz just meant lightning

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neidu4 piefed.social neidu4@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-09-10
#36 · Quote Reply

Fjoøs ≈ Paddock or Corral ?

Kind of, but referring more to the building itself.

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Lushed_Lungfish lemmy.ca Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-02-14
#37 · Quote Reply

Hinh in Burmese. The closest equivalent is curry, and while all curries are hinh, not every hinh is curry. It basically means something you eat with the rice.

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Captain Aggravated sh.itjust.works captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-06-20
#38 · Quote Reply

Never hearing anyone express optimism feels like a very Russian stereotype.

It does seem on-brand.

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leds feddit.dk leds@feddit.dk
Joined: 2023-06-01
#39 · Quote Reply

Hygge=gezelligheid

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bstix feddit.dk bstix@feddit.dk
Joined: 2023-06-09
#40 · Quote Reply

Javertus. (Danish)

It's a thing that sticks out, and you don't know what it is, but it has the function of sticking out. Like a naturally occurring bulgy peak or other unknown long shape coming out of something else.

It's most often used as slang for penis, but otherwise it might be found on trees or wooden objects.

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Hetare King piefed.social HetareKing@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-10-02
#41 · Quote Reply

Gezellig in Dutch. Used to describe a situation that's cosy and fun togetherness. Can also be used to describe a place that looks inviting (to have that good time in). I guess 😃

It's the word extroverts use to blackmail people into coming to social gatherings.

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Hetare King piefed.social HetareKing@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-10-02
#42 · Quote Reply

Bukkake.

It's just the noun-form of the verb "kakeru", in this context, to pour or splash a liquid, with the intensifier "bu" in front of it to suggest it's done forcefully. Like in bukkake udon, where the broth is splashed onto the udon noodles.

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grue lemmy.world grue@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-13
#43 · Quote Reply

Lanche, the meal between lunch and dinner

"Linner" in English, as the obvious counterpart to "brunch."

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grue lemmy.world grue@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-13
#44 · Quote Reply

Does it count if English just steals your words? Schadenfreude, Zeitgeist, Weltanschauung, Kindergarten.

Looking forward to "woonerf."

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Linda R nord.pub Lehmuusa@nord.pub
Joined: 2026-04-12
#45 · Quote Reply

It's just the noun-form of the verb "kakeru", in this context, to pour or splash a liquid, with the intensifier "bu" in front of it to suggest it's done forcefully. Like in bukkake udon, where the broth is splashed onto the udon noodles.

It also has a certain other, rather more precisely defined, meaning.

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Kairos lemmy.today LodeMike@lemmy.today
Joined: 2023-12-26
#46 · Quote Reply

In Spanish. Sobremesa, the period you stay at the table after lunch or dinner having a coffee or some drinks while chatting. Aprovechar, is basically the opposite of to waste. So depending on the context is to take advantage of something, to make the most of, make a good use, give a second use or reuse leftovers for something else.

Second one is "appreciate" in English.

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BeelzebubEiNukuKoskaan piefed.social BeelzebubEiNukuKoskaan@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-09-04
#47 · Quote Reply

Sisu. Its a mix of courage, determination, resilience, keeping your nerve, doing a scary or difficult thing even though you know that odds of succeeding are low. Its also done quietly, no complaining or boasting about it. You can mutter some curse words quietly to yourself.

Closest English word for it might be "guts" or "grit". But those don't really explain it completely.

Finnish.

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StillAlive piefed.world StillAlive@piefed.world
Joined: 2025-11-09
#48 · Quote Reply

झूठा खाना/पानी (Jhootha khana/pani)

Food/water that is cosumed by someone else and hence is unsuitable for eating/drinking. Especially for religious or devotional rituals.

In the similar vein, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prasada

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EtnaAtsume lemmy.world EtnaAtsume@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-07
#49 · Quote Reply

お疲れ様 (good job+"you look tired"+"I an acknowledging this and presenting recognition of your effort")

Keigo modifiers. ご覧 vs 見る. They both mean "look". One is, somehow, more polite.

Kansai dialect. しばいたろか ("wanna get smacked?" but it's playful) or まいど ("thanks" but also "nice to see you again" and "hello" but only in specific contexts between specific people. Mess it up and you'll probably hear the other Kansai term previously described.)

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nawa lemmy.world nawa@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-30
#50 · Quote Reply

Russian is more productive than English, so there's a bunch of "we just smushed a bunch of prefixes and suffixes on it" words that don't have a great English equivalent, like недоперепить -- to drink quite a lot but not succeed at drinking too much. I don't think we properly have листопад which is the equivalent of "snowfall" but for autumn leaves. I really miss успевать -- to successfully have...

I think авось has a general meaning similar to "god willing", or "with some luck", not simply some optimism. Like "авось успеем" -> "with some luck, we can make it in time". I do agree it's an old-fashioned word which I haven't really heard in a while.

5
Fluke feddit.uk Fluke@feddit.uk
Joined: 2025-07-01
#51 · Quote Reply

Sisu. Its a mix of courage, determination, resilience, keeping your nerve, doing a scary or difficult thing even though you know that odds of succeeding are low. Its also done quietly, no complaining or boasting about it. You can mutter some curse words quietly to yourself. Closest English word for it might be "guts" or "grit". But those don't really explain it completely. Finnish.

I know this one. From the title of the movie about one of your lads exacting cinematic vengeance on Nazis.

Beautiful stuff. 💛

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