useful foreign words

moonbus

Über-Nerd (emeritus)

General

04 Aug 17

moonbus

Über-Nerd (emeritus)

Joined: 31 May 12
Moves: 8703

04 Aug 17

In German, there is a word, "Ohrwurm", literally "ear worm", which means an annoying tune or refrain you can't get out of your head. Like that blasted jingle you heard in a tv advert last night, or the current Ariana Grande hit (I need to be the one who takes you home) which my teenage daughters play incessantly, etc.

Any further suggestions from other languages?

wolfgang59

Quiz Master

RHP Arms

Joined: 09 Jun 07
Moves: 48794

04 Aug 17

Originally posted by @moonbus
[bAny further suggestions from other languages?[/b]

whanau
/ˈfɑːnaʊ/
NZ noun
plural noun: whanau

an extended family or community of related families who live together in the same area.

Great Big Stees

Joined: 14 Mar 04
Moves: 186458

04 Aug 17

kanata. Huron ( Iroquoian language ) meaning “village.” Adopted and changed to Canada.

Ghost of a Duke

Joined: 14 Mar 15
Moves: 29602

04 Aug 17

Atama ga warui. (Japanese).

Literally, 'bad in the head' = Stupid.

HandyAndy

Read a book!

Joined: 23 Sep 06
Moves: 18677

04 Aug 17

Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-duke
Atama ga warui. (Japanese).

Literally, 'bad in the head' = Stupid.

Is it more useful to say "atama ga warui" rather than "stupid"?

FMF

Joined: 28 Oct 05
Moves: 34587

04 Aug 17

1 edit

-1

Where I am: "ngawur", which doesn't translate well into English. If at all. In fact, it's hard to say exactly what it means. But it's a very useful word nevertheless. Say it at any time, in any situation, and people will be impressed by your insight. Whatever that insight might have been perceived as being.

Ghost of a Duke

Joined: 14 Mar 15
Moves: 29602

04 Aug 17

1 edit

-1

Originally posted by @handyandy
Is it more useful to say "atama ga warui" rather than "stupid"?

Indeed it is sir, if you want to call somebody stupid without them realising.

I say it to my Manager all the time (having previously told them it meant 'good idea' ).

moonbus

Über-Nerd (emeritus)

Joined: 31 May 12
Moves: 8703

04 Aug 17

atama ga warui 1200 pounds > my Swiss bank account = very good idea!

🙂

Ghost of a Duke

Joined: 14 Mar 15
Moves: 29602

04 Aug 17

Originally posted by @moonbus
atama ga warui 1200 pounds > my Swiss bank account = very good idea!

🙂

🙂

I've created a monster.

moonbus

Über-Nerd (emeritus)

Joined: 31 May 12
Moves: 8703

04 Aug 17

"It's alive!

-- Dr. Frankenstein

Torunn

Gothenburg

Joined: 11 Mar 16
Moves: 28312

04 Aug 17

-1

'Lagom' is a very useful Swedish word. It is close to 'enough' or 'moderate' or 'adequate'. It's so very typically Swedish because that's how we are most of the time - never exaggerate, never express much emotions, never get too angry etc etc - just 'lagom'.

HandyAndy

Read a book!

Joined: 23 Sep 06
Moves: 18677

04 Aug 17

Schadenfreude ~ Enjoying another person's misfortune.

moonbus

Über-Nerd (emeritus)

Joined: 31 May 12
Moves: 8703

04 Aug 17

Ah yes, Schadenfreude. Reminds me of a word peculiar to Swiss dialect, though Germans would understand it if they heard it: "Wohlweh." It translates as "pleasure-pain," the feeling when an aching muscle is massaged, for example, or when you scratch an itch until it bleeds. Ahhhhh-ouch!

Drewnogal

Constant Gardener

The Plot

Joined: 07 Aug 12
Moves: 53214

04 Aug 17

Originally posted by @handyandy
Schadenfreude ~ Enjoying another person's misfortune.

That's a favourite of mine. The Germans have many brilliant words:

Kummerspeck (Grief bacon)

When a relationship ends or during other times of sadness, anger, or worry, it’s common to put on a few pounds of Kummerspeck. What it means is the excess weight put on by emotional overeating. So when you find yourself on the couch watching “Bridget Jones’ Diary” with a tub of ice cream, you are in fact feeding your grief bacon.

Shallow Blue

Joined: 18 Jan 07
Moves: 12477

04 Aug 17

Originally posted by @drewnogal
That's a favourite of mine. The Germans have many brilliant words:

Backpfeifengesicht: Michael Gove.