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This is an interesting website from Steph Smith for “words that don’t translate.” Most of us will be aware of the German word schadenfreude which means “pleasure derived from the misfortune of others” but there are many other words that are pretty unique to one language.

I’m in Barcelona at the moment for a Mozilla alumni network event and MozFest so I’ll share some Catalan examples below.

Bixomets — Shame on behalf of others Capicua — A number that doesn’t vary if the numbers are inverted. Also it can be called a palindrome, but the word capicua refers especially to the numbers

Celístia — Brighness from the stars

Rauxa — Sudden determination or action; rapture

Seny — Common sense, is a form of ancestral Catalan wisdom or sensibleness. It involves well-pondered perception of situations, level-headedness, awareness, integrity, and right action

Source: Eunoia

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya