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favourite words... in any language
federica
Seeker of the clear blue sky...Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
i was prompted by a word @ThailandTom used in another thread...
'slumber'...
to start this idle chatter thread....
the word 'slumber' is actually beautiful, to me, but of course, it's never heard in everyday conversation, it's so poetic....
What words ring beautifully in your ears, and you'd like to hear more, but seem to have fallen by the wayside?
In these days of fast communication, and 'txt-spk', how do you think we should preserve the beauty of the language you usually converse in, and maintain its beautiful poetic resonance?
In Italian, I love the word "Argento" though again, you rarely hear the word 'Argent', which is a poetic English form for 'silver'.....
And the word - 'Dunque' (pronounced 'doon-kweh') which can mean, 'right', 'well now', or even 'so, to begin'....)
what word?
Which language? (with translation, please!)
'slumber'...
to start this idle chatter thread....
the word 'slumber' is actually beautiful, to me, but of course, it's never heard in everyday conversation, it's so poetic....
What words ring beautifully in your ears, and you'd like to hear more, but seem to have fallen by the wayside?
In these days of fast communication, and 'txt-spk', how do you think we should preserve the beauty of the language you usually converse in, and maintain its beautiful poetic resonance?
In Italian, I love the word "Argento" though again, you rarely hear the word 'Argent', which is a poetic English form for 'silver'.....
And the word - 'Dunque' (pronounced 'doon-kweh') which can mean, 'right', 'well now', or even 'so, to begin'....)
what word?
Which language? (with translation, please!)
0
Comments
I have heard the word 'heckler' a million times in comedy stand-up shows, and as for 'ragazza'.... 'nuff said!
I'm talking specifically about archaic and lyrical words that sound beautiful and deserve to be heard more.....
READ THE OP PROPERLY, GUYS!!!
For me, "Resonant" has not exactly fallen to the wayside, but it's not exactly used a lot. It makes me think of a warm echo (if an echo can feel "warm") in a cavernous room. I like it.
"Illuminate" is also another word I like. Brings to mind soft, glowing light that permeates the darkest dark, yet not blindingly so.
In German, I like "und so weiter." It's commonly abbreviated to "usw." It has the equivalent meaning of "et cetera," literally "and so it goes on."
In Mandarin, "Zěnmeyàng" (怎麼樣) is a word/phrase I like, mainly because of the sound. It basically translates to "what do you think."
I can't think of any more, but I'm sure I have a bunch more I'm fond of.
Of course they are!
Silly me!
Ok. words we love in other languages, but words which have also seemingly fallen into disuse, or rare use.
(She said, just edging the goalposts out a leeeetle bit.....
hither has a kind of romatic sense to it, "come hither dalring" lol.
I like to sometimes use the word 'wanning' in the sense, 'the wanning sun'
absurd I like, also brutish and I know the Italian as well
He had a peaceful mien.
I reckon it wouldn't be odd if I lived in the southern USA but here in Michigan it's not a word you often hear. Funny thing is I'm not even sure how it entered my vocabulary.
Meander - 1. to proceed by or take a winding or indirect course: The stream meandered through the valley.
2. to wander aimlessly; ramble: The talk meandered on.
Choto-matte-kudasai
(It was said to me as a kid, often, when I went to Japan; it means 'slow down please!'; the phrase has always stuck with me)
And, for some reason, I really like the word "sto". Which means "what" in many Slavic languages; most notably Russian
I love 'le fromage' in French (cheese) and the title to Where the Wild Things Are, "Max et les Maximonstres"
In Danish aebelskiver and vinebred (food words)
Schadenfreude.
hyperbole. (which i used to think, as a child, was pronounced 'hyperbowl'....:D )
Punctilious.
pulchritude.
crepuscular.
comely.
carfuffle
bairn
canny
palaver
lad
lass
wee
dram
gloaming
All of Broad Scots origin - used sort of commonly in modern English - some more in King's English. Of these "gloaming" is my favorite.
Other Broad Scots favorites not so common at all - except maybe to Aberdonians:
bletherskite
clishmaclaver
argie-bargie
bahookie
collieshangie
countermacious
flumgummerie
whigmaleerie
With words like these influencing Old English it is easier to imagine some of the origins of words like:
balderdash
thingamajig
gobbledegook
thingamabob
jabberwockey
watchamacallit
doohickey
Conglomerate....
sounds like a high-throat impediment.....
Vicissitude....
muckraker
bailiwick
euphony
conundrum
heebie-jeebie
that's a compound!
(It sounds rude, too.....
However, it is a word: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunghole
Howd on a wee meenit - Spotted Dick doesn't sound rude?????
Eating a spotted dick doesn't sound obscene????
Touche!
:crazy:
OK ... how about asshole?
PS. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Please delete if you think there are tender ears about.
Cheeky.
I get riled up when people say something is "really unique". Either it's unique or it isn't!!
:eek2:
Don't get me started....!
Repeat again....
No, if you're repeating, you don't need to add 'again'....
Yellow Jaundice....
'Jaundice' MEANS yellow.....
'The Hoi Poloi....
'Hoi' MEANS 'The'.....
And i hate "Here Here" when it should be "Hear Hear!"
Sheeesh.....! I am SUCH a 'grammar-bitch'.....!
And as for words that have no translation, I love the word in Italian;
Merenda.
if you look it up in an English/Italian dictionary, you'll get the definition, 'snack'.
Ok.....
....But then, look up the word 'snack' in the English section, and you'll read the definition, 'Spuntino'.
what?
That's correct - a snack, is a 'spuntino'.
So - what is 'Merenda'?
Merenda is a specific small meal given to children, usually, between the time they get home from school, and the time the family sits down to dinner, because Italian families tend to eat quite late, so it kind of tides the children over an empty-stomach period...
it's usually a panino....
(No! NOT panini! Panini is plural! It's paninO for one, and for more than one, it's PaninI! Get it!?)
... with salame ....
(No! NOT Salami! Salami is.... oh, as above!!)
....or Nutella, and a glass of milk....
adults have merenda too but usually, with just a glass of mineral water.
^^ I first came across this term while listening to a baseball commentary :-) -- (Quit yer bellyachin')
mesmerized
gauche