In the heart of communication

Mamihlapi—what? 10 words that defy translation

Image: Edurne Tx

Translations have made it possible for us to access an endless amount of information available in the world. And for many professionals in the field, there are no such things are "untranslatable" words. However, languages have a way of putting a whole concept within a few letters assembled together and even though we can describe it, there are no direct translations that make it possible to transfer all the glory behind them. So, we’ve gathered 10 words from different languages that show how each language has a charm of its own.

Image: Joe Roberts

Ever shared a look with someone where neither of you wants to make the first move, but you both know what you want? That’s mamihlapinatapai, a word from the Yaghan language of indigenous people from Tierra del Fuego.

It describes the moment when two people are waiting for the other to take the first step towards something they both desire. This word, which even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the "most succinct," describes how subtle, and sometimes awkward human interactions can be. Mind you, it’s not always about the romance of a love spark!

Image: Carlos Fernandez

Technology has made relationship bridges much shorter, but there’s nothing quite like seeing an old friend after a long time apart, and the Basque word aspaldiko reflects that feeling perfectly.

It expresses the joy of reuniting with someone after ages, and if you try to translate it "long time no see" is a full understatement.

You can also use it to greet someone, "Aspaldiko!" can show how thrilled you are to be catching up after a while. Joyful words indeed and we could all use a little more of this word in our lives, don’t you think?

Image: Toa Heftiba

Have you ever run your fingers through someone’s hair as a gesture of affection? Intimate and loving, the feeling is unique and the Brazilian dialect of Portuguese has a word for it. That tender act is called cafuné in this beautiful language.

It’s a simple yet intimate gesture, often between people who love and trust each other. The word itself has roots in the Yoruba language, which was brought to Brazil by African enslaved people, yet another proof that language can carry deep cultural history. From a mother soothing a child or a partner offering comfort, cafuné conveys a soft kind of love that words alone can’t fully capture.

Image: Atlas Green

Do you enjoy going for a walk? It’s a good way to reset our brain, and we all need that at some point in our days. Well, as long as the weather is appropriate, right? If you’ve ever taken a walk on a windy day to clear your head, you have experienced uitwaaien, you just didn’t have the word for it!

This Dutch word means "to blow out," and it refers to the refreshing practice of walking or jogging in the wind to relieve stress and recharge. Any walk? Not necessarily, it especially refers to walks in cold, blustery weather, but it works year-round for anyone who loves the feeling of wind on their face, anyway. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, why not go out and get a good uitwaaien?

Image: Glen Noble

Are you a book lover? We don’t mean to strike a chord, but how many books in your library are still on your "to-be-read" list? Every book lover has been there, we all buy more books than we can possibly read.

The difference is that the Japanese have a word for that: tsundoku. It combines two concepts which are tsumu, meaning "to pile up," and doku, meaning "to read," describing the habit of letting books accumulate unread.

Don’t worry, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. It’s actually a sign of your love for books and the endless curiosity that keeps you collecting them. If this sounds like your bookshelf, don’t worry, you’re in good company. After all, you can never have too many books, right?

Image: Steven Lewis

You know that feeling when you’re trying to speak a foreign language you barely know? Too many words for a feeling so clear, and so relatable. Fear not, the Japanese language is out to save us once more: They call it yoko meshi, which literally translates to "horizontal meal" and makes no sense at first sight.

It’s a quirky way of describing the stress of trying to converse in a non-native tongue, like you’re eating a meal sideways, which is awkward and equally difficult. We’ve all been there, especially when traveling or meeting new people, knowing the words in theory but fumbling under pressure. Yoko meshi captures that mental exhaustion that comes from not just speaking, but worrying about saying the right thing.

Image: Cece Hristova

Who doesn’t melt in the sigh of a puppy? The cuteness bar goes over the top when you see a little puppy taking their first steps or sleeping, right? Well, if you can relate to that feeling of wanting to squeeze them, you need to know the word for it.

That’s gigil, a delightful Tagalog word from the Philippines. It’s not simply joy or excitement, but a whole mix of emotions, like being overwhelmed by adorableness. Gigil is that irresistible urge to pinch cheeks or let out a high-pitched "aww!" Do you know what we mean?

Image: Liana S

If you’ve ever looked out the window on a sunny winter day and thought, "It looks great out there!" only to step outside and instantly regret it, congratulations, you’ve experienced gluggaveður.

This Icelandic word means literally "window weather," and it’s as funny as it sounds: It describes those days when the weather seems perfect from indoors but is deceivingly harsh once you’re outside. It’s the kind of cold that makes you gasp, despite the bright sunshine. Icelanders, who deal with this often, know better than to trust a sunny day in winter without checking the forecast!

Image: Erik Odiin

For those of us who always enjoy, love actually, travel, the German word fernweh will resonate deeply. It describes a longing for far-off places, similar to wanderlust, but with a stronger, almost painful desire to be somewhere else, can you identify the feeling?

It’s that of being restless, like the world is calling your name, and you just have to answer, to put it in poetic words. It’s the opposite of homesickness, which pulls you toward familiar comforts; fernweh pushes you toward the unknown, to new adventures. Do you relate to that?

Image: Jamie Brown

Ever kept eating after you were full, simply because the food was too delicious? We know we have! In Georgia, (the country, of course) there’s a word for that: shemomedjamo, which literally means "I accidentally ate the whole thing."

Accidentally might not be entirely true, but it refers to that moment when your stomach is signaling it’s had enough, and at the same time your taste buds are demanding just one more bite. It’s a common feeling when enjoying the flavorful cuisine of Georgia, known for its rich and hearty dishes. We’ve all been guilty of this, haven’t we?

Whose line is it, anyway?

No, Churchill never said that: 10 wrongly attributed quotes

Image: Crisoforo Gaspar Hernandez

We’ve all seen those inspirational quotes floating around with famous names attached, like Gandhi, Einstein, or Churchill, to name a few, but how many of them are genuine? As it turns out, a lot of the most well-known quotes were never actually said by the people they're credited to. Here are 10 of the most famously misattributed quotes. Did you know about any of these?

Image: Kaleb Duperre

This infamous line was never said by Marie Antoinette. Actually, it appeared in Rousseau’s writing when the Queen was just a child.

It became a symbol of elite ignorance during the French Revolution, but blaming her directly is unfair historical myth-making.

Image: Ishant Mishra

Gandhi said and did many inspirational things, but he never said it like that. The quote is more of a paraphrase of his broader teachings on self-responsibility.

While it fits his vibe, this line, ubiquitous on Instagram, isn’t something he wrote or said.

Image: Nicolas Michot

This quote was written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, summarizing Voltaire’s attitude, but not quoting him directly.

Still, it sounds very much like something Voltaire would say, which is probably why it has been associated with his name over the years.

Image: Kenny Eliason

Just as it happened with the fake quotes attributed to Gandhi and Voltaire, Burke never said this, but it is one of those lines that captures his general views, albeit not in the exact wording.

Despite that, it’s often slapped onto memes and motivational pictures with his name under it. Classic case of too good to fact-check.

Image: Clément Falize

This might come as a shock, but Sherlock Holmes never actually said this in the books. The phrase was invented by screenwriters later on.

It stuck because it's catchy, but Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes was a bit more verbose and formal in style.

Image: Taton Moïse

This phrase has been widely attributed to Albert Einstein, but, despite what every motivational poster wants you to believe, the brilliant man didn’t say it.

It supposedly came from a Narcotics Anonymous text or a novel by Rita Mae Brown in the 1980s.

Image: Preston A Larimer

Although Mark Twain was as witty as they come, he didn’t say this. Instead, Blaise Pascal did, way back in 1657. The idea is that concise writing takes time.

Others like Churchill and Cicero expressed similar ideas, but Pascal was the first to put it so clearly.

Image: Toby Dagenhart

And while we are on the subject of Churchill, we can mention this line. He said "blood, toil, tears, and sweat," which is slightly clunkier but still powerful.

The simpler version predates him and was used by others, including Theodore Roosevelt and Garibaldi.

Image: Jon Sailer

Believe it or not, the cherry tree story is fiction. It was made up by Mason Locke Weems to give Washington a moral glow.

There’s no real evidence that the first U.S. president ever said it, but it’s still in textbooks and kids’ stories.

Image: Jarvik Joshi

This famous line wasn’t said by Marilyn Monroe or Eleanor Roosevelt. It was written by historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.

The reputed historian meant it as an observation, not a call to rebellion, but the internet memes gave it a whole new meaning.