51 Unique Words That Don’t Have an English Equivalent

At times, we need to look beyond English to find le mot juste. Here’s a list of intriguing foreign words that lack a direct English translation.

1. Backpfeifengesicht (German)

A face that seems to be begging for a punch.

2. Bakku-shan (Japanese)

This Japanese slang refers to the phenomenon of a woman who looks attractive from behind but not when seen from the front.

3. Bilita Mpash (Bantu)

An extraordinary dream. Not merely a pleasant one, but the complete antithesis of a nightmare.

4. Boketto (Japanese)

It’s fascinating that the Japanese have a specific term for the act of staring blankly into space, lost in thought.

5. Cafune (Brazilian Portuguese)

The Brazilians have beautifully coined a term for the act of gently running your fingers through your partner’s hair.

6. Cavoli Riscaldati (Italian)

The outcome of trying to rekindle a failed relationship. Literally means "reheated cabbage."

7. Cotisuelto (Caribbean Spanish)

A term that perfectly captures the current fashion style of many American men under 40, referring to someone who wears their shirt untucked.

8. Faamiti (Samoan)

To produce a high-pitched noise by drawing air through the lips, often used to attract the attention of a dog or child.

9. Fernweh (German)

A deep yearning for faraway destinations—while wanderlust is similar, fernweh can also describe a desire for a place you’ve never visited.

10. Fisselig (German)

Have you ever been so overwhelmed that you couldn’t focus or complete your task? That’s what fisselig means.

11. and 12. Fremdschämen (German) and Myötähäpeä (Finnish)

These terms are the more compassionate relatives of Schadenfreude, both conveying a sense of "secondhand embarrassment."

13. Frühjahrsmüdigkeit (German)

Frühjahr means "spring," and Müdigkeit translates to "tiredness." Combined, it describes a unique condition where individuals feel low energy or sadness as spring begins.

14. Gigil (Filipino)

The irresistible desire to pinch or hug something that is overwhelmingly adorable.

15. Greng-jai (Thai)

That sense of reluctance when you don’t want someone to do something for you because it might inconvenience them.

16. Honigkuchenpferd (German)

Literally translating to “honey cake horse,” this phrase is akin to the English expression “grinning like a Cheshire cat.” It describes someone with a wide, unshakable smile.

17. Hygge (Danish)

Denmark’s cherished concept, hygge, embodies the cozy, warm, and intimate sensation of gathering around a fire with close friends during winter.

18. Iktsuarpok (Inuit)

That sense of eager anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to arrive, constantly checking outside to see if they’ve come? This word captures that exact feeling.

19. Kaelling (Danish)

You know that woman who stands on her doorstep (or in a supermarket line, at the park, or in a restaurant) yelling at her kids? The Danes have a word for her too.

20. Koi No Yokan (Japanese)

The feeling upon first meeting someone that you’re destined to fall in love.

21. Kummerspeck (German)

Extra pounds put on due to eating too much during emotional times. Literally translates to "grief bacon."

22. Lagom (Swedish)

Perhaps Goldilocks had Swedish roots? This elusive term is tricky to pin down but conveys the idea of “not too much, not too little, but just perfect.”

23. Layogenic (Tagalog)

Recall in Clueless when Cher describes someone as “a total Monet … fine from a distance but a disaster up close”? That’s precisely what this word captures.

24. L’esprit de l’escalier (French)

Literally meaning "staircase wit," it refers to the perfect comeback that comes to mind only after you’ve left the situation.

25. Litost (Czech)

Milan Kundera defined this feeling as “a state of agony triggered by the abrupt realization of one’s own suffering.”

26. Luftmensch (Yiddish)

Yiddish offers several terms for social outsiders. This one refers to an idealistic dreamer lacking practical sense.

27. Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego)

This term describes that meaningful glance exchanged between two people, each hoping the other will take the initiative for something both desire but neither wants to start.

28. Mencolek (Indonesian)

You know that classic prank where you tap someone lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to trick them? Indonesians have a specific word for it.

29. Packesel (German)

A packesel refers to the person burdened with carrying everyone else’s luggage during a trip. Literally, it means a pack donkey.

30. Pålegg (Norwegian)

Sandwich enthusiasts, rejoice! Norwegians have a versatile term for anything—ham, cheese, jam, Nutella, mustard, herring, pickles, Doritos, you name it—that you might consider placing between two slices of bread.

31. Pana Po’o (Hawaiian)

“Hmm, where did I put those keys?” he wondered, pana po’oing. It refers to scratching your head to jog your memory about something you’ve forgotten.

32. Pelinti (Buli, Ghana)

Your friend takes a bite of scorching hot pizza, then opens their mouth, tilts their head, and makes an “aaaarrrahh” sound. Ghanaians have a specific term for this. It means “to shift hot food around in your mouth.”

33. Razbliuto (Russian)

The sentimental feeling you might have for someone you once loved but no longer do.

34. and 35. Schlemiel and schlimazel (Yiddish)

A person often plagued by misfortune. Yiddish differentiates between the schlemiel and schlimazel, whose misfortunes might be lumped together as clumsiness in other languages. The schlemiel is the clumsy one who spills the coffee, while the schlimazel is the one who gets spilled on.

36. Seigneur-terraces (French)

Café loiterers who occupy tables for hours while spending minimal amounts.

37. Sentak Bangun (Indonesian)

This Indonesian verb describes the act of waking up suddenly.

38. Shemomedjamo (Georgian)

Ever been so full but the food is so irresistible that you just keep eating? Georgians understand this struggle. This word translates to, “I unintentionally ate everything.”

39. Shouganai (Japanese)

It’s somewhat like “Que será, será,” but with a unique twist: If you can’t change it, don’t waste energy being upset or anxious.

40. Slampadato (Italian)

Hooked on the artificial bronze glow of tanning beds? This term is for you.

41. Sobremesa (Spanish)

The moments lingered at the table after a meal. The dishes are cleared, but everyone remains seated, chatting, sipping coffee, or perhaps playing cards.

42. Tartle (Scots)

The almost onomatopoeic term for that anxious pause right before introducing someone whose name you’ve momentarily forgotten.

43. Treppenwitz (German)

Literally meaning “staircase joke,” it describes the moment you come up with a clever retort long after the conversation has ended—often while descending the stairs on your way out.

44. Tsundoku (Japanese)

Many of us are culprits of this habit—purchasing new books (or other reading materials) only to let them accumulate, unread.

45. Uffda (Swedish)

In states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, this word conveys empathy for someone or a difficult situation. It’s a mix of “Ouch!” and “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

46. Vybafnout (Czech)

A term perfect for irritating older siblings—it means to leap out and shout “boo!”

47. Weltschmerz (German)

This term might resonate deeply with many: It means world pain, describing “a melancholic, romanticized sadness about the state of the world, often felt by privileged young people.”

48. Ya’arburnee (Arabic)

This term expresses the heartfelt wish that you will pass away before someone you deeply love, as living without them would be unbearable. Literally, it means "may you bury me."

49. Yuputka (Ulwa)

A word perfect for nighttime forest walks, it describes the eerie feeling of something ghostly brushing against your skin.

50. Zeg (Georgian)

It translates to “the day after tomorrow.” Sure, English has overmorrow, but when was the last time you heard someone use it?

51. Zhaghzhagh (Persian)

The sound of teeth clattering, whether from biting cold or intense anger.