Around The World In 32 Untranslatable Words
Take a look at these wanderlust-evoking words from around the world
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Today, there are around 6500 spoken languages in the world. Language binds us together - it is the strongest way in which we communicate and develop relationships. Sometimes, though, the English language can fall short of our feelings, and we just can’t express ourselves through one single word. That’s where we turn to other languages for help.
Here are some of our favourite untranslatable words from around the world with no direct English equivalent.
1. Eudaimonia
Meaning: The state of complete contentment and happiness.
Language: Greek
2. Fernweh
Meaning: A longing for faraway places. Similar to wanderlust, but it can also refer to places you’ve never visited.
Language: German
3. Dèrive
Meaning: To spontaneously wander, led by the landscape and architecture alone.
Language: French
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4. Resfeber
Meaning: The mixed emotions of fear and excitement before embarking on a journey.
Language**:** Swedish
5. Komorebi
Meaning: The sunlight streaming through the leaves of trees.
Language: Japanese
6. Novaturient
Meaning: Seeking meaningful change in your life that drives you to travel.
Language: Latin
7. Vagary
Meaning: A wandering journey.
Language: Latin
8. Ré Nao
Meaning: A desirable place, with an entertaining and appealing atmosphere. A place where you want to be.
Language: Mandarin
9. Trouvaille
Meaning: Something wonderful found by pure luck.
Language: French
10. Sehnsucht
Meaning: A pining for past travels and travels yet to come.
Language: German
11. Hiraeth
Meaning: Originating from traditional Welsh poetry, this is a feeling of homesickness for a home you can never return to, which might not have existed in the first place.
Language: Welsh
12. Gökotta
Meaning: To wake up early in the morning to go outside and listen to the early birds sing.
Language: Swedish
13. Waldeinsamkeit
Meaning: A desire to escape the crowds and have some time to yourself, to have the chance to appreciate the beauty of the natural world.
Language: German
14. Saudade
Meaning: A nostalgic longing for a place, person, or object that you are glad to have encountered in the past but recognise you may never encounter again.
Language: Portuguese
15. Jijivisha
Meaning: The desire to live the best, most enriched life you possibly can.
Language: Hindi
16. Flâneur
Meaning: A person who likes to stroll around, taking in the beauty of the environment around them (primraily of urban, city life).
Language: French
17. Hodophile
Meaning: A name given to somebody with a deep love for travel and exploring new places; Someone who has hodophilia.
Language: Greek
18. Dominguero
Meaning: A name given to people who live in constant 'holiday mode', always looking for their next trip or adventure.
Language: Spanish
19. Solivagant
Meaning: Somebody who embarks on solo travel; Someone who enjoys travelling by themselves.
Language: Latin
20. Onism
Meaning: The feeling of frustration and helplessness when understanding that one person will never see everything, usually triggered by the ever-growing desire to travel.
Language: Danish
21. Dépaysement
Meaning: The feeling of being a foreigner in a place that isn't your home.
Language: French
22. Eleutheromania
Meaning: A strong, captivating hunger for freedom.
Language: Greek
23. Dromomania
Meaning: An unusally strong drive to travel, to the extent where travelling becomes the main purpose and focus of someone's life.
Language: Greek
24. Livsnjutare
Meaning: A person who enjoys life to the maximum, and lives the fullest, most enjoyable life they possibly can.
Language: Swedish
25. Tîeow
Meaning: To roam or meander around a place with no worries or stresses.
Language: Thai
26. Yoko meshi
Meaning: The stress experienced when speaking, or having to speak, a foreign language.
Language: Japanese
27. Torschlusspanik
Meaning: The feeling of fear and anxiety caused by the realisation that time is running out to do all you want to do, and see all you want to see.
Language: German
28. Schwellenangst
Meaning: The fear of stepping forward in life and starting a new chapter; The fear one may feel before embarking on a new travel adventure.
Language: German
29. Peripatetic
Meaning: A name given to somebody who spends their time walking, moving, or travelling around from place to place.
Language: Greek
30. Ailyak
Meaning: Enjoying life in a calm, slow and peaceful way, without rushing around.
Language: Bulgarian
31. Vacilando
Meaning: When the experience of travelling itself is more anjoyable and important to a person that than actually arriving at a specific destination.
Language: Spanish
32. Sturmfrei
Meaning: The liberty and freedom of being alone, with the ability to do whatever you want to do and see whatever you wish to see.
Language: German
If this has evoked a feeling of fernweh, then take a look at our collection of homes and start planning for when the time is right to travel again.
