16 untranslatable words from other languages

Donaldkacsázás (Hungarian): literally ‘Donald Ducking’, or wearing a shirt, but no pants or underwear, at home.

Age-tori (Japanese): coming out of the hairdresser’s looking worse than when you went in.

Verschlimmbesserung( German): an attempted improvement that makes things worse than they already were. 

Prozvonit (Czech): when you call someone’s mobile and let it ring once so the other person will call you back, saving you money.

Schnappsidee (German): a supposedly brilliant drunken idea that falls far short in the sober light of day.

Seigneur-terraces (French): people who go to a café and sit at the table for a long time, but don’t spend much money.

Jayus (Indonesian): a joke that is so poorly delivered, you can’t help but laugh at it.

Mangata (Swedish): the reflection of the moon on the water.

Pochemuchka (Russian): someone who asks a lot of questions.

Kummerspeck (German): the excess weight-gain that comes from emotional eating.

Iktsuarpok (Inuit): that feeling of anticipation that makes you keep looking outside to see if anyone is coming.

Tartle (Scottish): that moment of hesitation when introducing someone because you’ve forgotten their name.

L’appel du vide (French): that tiny voice in your head that urges you to jump when you’re standing on a high ledge.

Fernweh (German): the opposite of homesickness; a longing for far-off places.

Shemomedjamo (Georgian): continuing to eat, even though you’re full, because the food is just so delicious.

Utepils (Norwegian): enjoying a beer outside on a sunny day.