Multi-channel signs

Similarities in Spoken Languages

Spoken languages also have unique words that express specific ideas or feelings that don’t translate easily into English. Here are some examples:

Japanese

• Kuchisabishii – directly translates to ‘lonely mouth’, but it’s a phrase that’s better translated as boredom eating.

Icelandic

• Gluggaveður – Roughly translates to window weather. It describes the experience of looking outside and thinking the weather looks nice, only to step outside and find that it’s actually freezing.

German

• Schadenfreude – A combination of Schaden (damage) and Freude (joy). It describes the feeling of pleasure in response to someone else’s misfortune.
• Ohrwurm – Literally translates to ear worm. It refers to a song that gets stuck in your head, making you keep singing or thinking about it over and over again.
• Erbsenzähler – Literally translates to pea tally (counting peas). It describes someone obsessed with details, a control freak, or someone who is extremely stingy with money.
• Kummerspeck – Literally translates to sorrow bacon. It refers to the excess weight gained from emotional overeating, such as after a breakup or during a stressful period.