- Zhaghzhagh (Persian) The chattering of teeth from the cold or from rage.
- Yuputka (Ulwa) A word made for walking in the woods at night, it’s the phantom sensation of something crawling on your skin.
- Slampadato (Italian) Addicted to the infra-red glow of tanning salons? This word describes you.
- Pana Po’o (Hawaiian) “Hmm, now where did I leave those keys?” he said, pana po’oing. It means to scratch your head in order to help you remember something you’ve forgotten.
- Gumusservi (Turkish) Meteorologists can be poets in Turkey with words like this at their disposal. It means moonlight shining on water.
- Mencolek (Indonesian) You know that old trick where you tap someone lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to fool them? The Indonesians have a word for it.
- Faamiti (Samoan) To make a squeaking sound by sucking air past the lips in order to gain the attention of a dog or child.
- Glas wen (Welsh) A smile that is insincere or mocking. Literally, a blue smile.
- Boketto (Japanese) It’s nice to know that the Japanese think enough of the act of gazing vacantly into the distance without thinking to give it a name.
- Kummerspeck (German) Excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, grief bacon.
jan 18 2012 ∞
jan 18 2012 +
jan 18 2012 +