Eunoia

Words That Don't Translate

Eunoia was built in 24h by Steph. Search 700+ untranslatable words by 80+ languages and 60+ tags, or click refresh to see a new batch. Enjoy!


Word Definition Language Tags Audio
Crapoter verb. To not take a lungful of a cigarette. French health action society
En plein air Outdoors; in the open air. French nature physical
Adroit Lit. according to right; skilled, resourceful; dexterous. French attribute
Sous-entendu Don't listen to what you heard. Listen for the message embedded. French awareness reflection
Débrouillardise Quality of someone who is resourceful and lives with the ability to creatively improvise; someone who can make do and solve problems without much French creative
Décidément When coincidences occur or when events repeat themselves by chance (for example, when you run into the same person many times in one week) French surprise interaction fate
Rire dans sa barbe To laugh in your beard quietly while thinking about something that has happened French funny reflection action
Énouement The bittersweetness of having arrived in the future, seeing how things turn out, but not being able to tell your past self. French awareness philosophy
La douleur exquise The pain that comes from wanting someone you can’t have French feeling awareness love
Dépayser Disorientation; not necessarily unpleasant (e.g., a pleasant sense of strangeness from being in a foreign country). French change feeling
S’encoubler To describe a fall, but specifically one where you fell due to being tangled in something French physical event adverse
Nostalgie de la boue A yearning for degradation, depravity, or other crude/base aspects of life, literally "a yearning for mud" French feeling
Se défouler Let off steam to release or get rid of excess energy French energy stress
Retrouvailles Lit. 'rediscovery'; a reunion (e.g., with loved ones after a long time apart). French friends family
Épater les bourgeois To shock the middle classes French society surprise extreme
Jouissance "an excess of life", often translated as joy but also can be understood as catharsis French attribute
Gourmand One who is excessively fond of eating and drinking. French food attribute
Arlésienne Used to describe people who are at the centre of a conversation/situation/problem but can’t be found anywhere French society interaction
Chantepleurer Singng and crying simultaneously French action
Recherché Rare, exotic, unusual; not understood or appreciated by many people. French beauty attribute
Bon vivant Someone who enjoys and appreciates the good life. French positive happiness
Flâner verb. to purposely wander, to decide to explore with no final destination. French explore travel
Avoir la molle A listless unwillingness to do any work French adverse
Beau geste A gesture noble in its nature or intention but ultimately meaningless in substance French action
Spleen Melancholy without apparent cause French feeling




If you like Eunoia, you might like some of my other projects...


PS: You might notice above that I launched 12 scholarships in 12 months last year, raising $13450. You can follow the instructions in this guide, if you'd like to create a scholarship of your own.







Integral Labs Inc.