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
Arlésienne Used to describe people who are at the centre of a conversation/situation/problem but can’t be found anywhere French society interaction
Dépayser Disorientation; not necessarily unpleasant (e.g., a pleasant sense of strangeness from being in a foreign country). French change feeling
Spleen Melancholy without apparent cause French feeling
Recherché Rare, exotic, unusual; not understood or appreciated by many people. French beauty attribute
Flâner verb. to purposely wander, to decide to explore with no final destination. French explore travel
Être dépaysé To be in an environment you're not used to French change society awareness
Sous-entendu Don't listen to what you heard. Listen for the message embedded. French awareness reflection
Seigneur-terrasse Someone who spends time, but not money, at a café French funny life
Nostalgie de la boue A yearning for degradation, depravity, or other crude/base aspects of life, literally "a yearning for mud" French feeling
Avoir la molle A listless unwillingness to do any work French adverse
Jouissance "an excess of life", often translated as joy but also can be understood as catharsis French attribute
Saucer To mop up the sauce from your plate with a piece of bread French action food
L'esprit de l'escalier Thinking of the perfect reply after the conversation is over. French friends interaction
Se défouler Let off steam to release or get rid of excess energy French energy stress
Mitonner Cooking with passion French food love beauty
Rire dans sa barbe To laugh in your beard quietly while thinking about something that has happened French funny reflection action
Sortable adj. Someone you can take out without fear of being embarrassed, usually used to refer to friends or family members. e.g. "Elle n'est pas sortable." French friends interaction society
Gourmand One who is excessively fond of eating and drinking. French food attribute
En plein air Outdoors; in the open air. French nature physical
La douleur exquise The pain that comes from wanting someone you can’t have French feeling awareness love
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
Chantepleurer Singng and crying simultaneously French action
L'appel du vide Describes the instinctive urge to jump from high places French habits physical
Beau geste A gesture noble in its nature or intention but ultimately meaningless in substance French action
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




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