Foto: BB.LV / Былое и думы
1. Drachenfutter Meaning of the word: a gift from a guilty husband. Language: German. Das Drachenfutter literally means "dragon food." It is a gift intended to appease the offended better half. Something small: candies, a bouquet of flowers, something that can be bought at a convenience store on the way home if you stayed a little too long at the bar with friends. It is surprising that the word originated in German. After all, it is not only German husbands who can be guilty towards their wives in certain situations. (Let’s be honest, sometimes wives can be guilty towards their husbands too!) However, for some reason, it is the people of Germany who felt the need for a specific tradition. Perhaps German men are too conscientious, or the anger of German women is too fearsome. Ich muss in den Späti gehen und meiner Frau etwas Drachenfutter kaufen. — I have to go to the convenience store and buy some dragon food for my wife. 2. Bakushan Meaning of the word: a woman who looks better from behind than from the front. Language: Japanese. Here he is, the man of your dreams, catching up, smiling, looking into your face, and then suddenly showing great interest in the sky, and then stopping altogether, giving you the chance to walk away proudly. You have become bakushan to him. From the Japanese バックシャン — "beautiful from behind." 3. Myötähäpeä Meaning of the word: someone did something foolish, but you feel embarrassed for some reason. Language: Finnish. The Finnish word myötähäpeä does not translate into Russian, but you might know this term through the English "Spanish shame." In Spanish, it sounds like: vergüenza ajena. And in German — fremdschämen. By the way, the phrase "Spanish shame" has already made its way into Russian slang. Now you know where it came from. Psychologists claim that the feeling of shame for others arises when a person recognizes themselves as part of the group that committed an unworthy act. If at a banquet your friend gets drunk and dances on the table, it will be funny to those around, but you will probably not find it amusing. For Finns, häpeä means "shame," "disgrace," while myötä means "shared." The word myötähäpeä has almost fallen out of use, and millennials likely do not know it, let alone Generation Z. What a pity. After all, decency and responsibility for others are valuable qualities. 4. Iktsuarpok Meaning of the word: the growing excitement you feel while waiting for someone or something. Language: Inuit. Each of us has experienced this feeling. You are waiting for guests, and they are late. Or they are not late, but you are still very much waiting, and your nerves are shot, and you can only run to the window (where are they, finally), then to the door (what if the doorbell is broken?), then to the phone (the sound must be off!). This anticipation is described in one word in the Inuit language — Iktsuarpok. They were likely waiting not for guests but for fathers and husbands — hunters. 5. Mamihlapinatapai Meaning of the word: a look shared between two people, expressing the desire of each for the other to initiate what they both want, but neither wants to be the first. Language: Yaghan Indians. Mamihlapinatapai is a word from the Yaghan people of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Art, cinema, music, poetry, and literature have been enchanted by the romanticism clearly hidden in this word and its ability to succinctly reflect complex human feelings. In 1994, the Guinness Book of Records included "mamihlapinatapai" as the most succinct word in the world. Perhaps it describes two chiefs longing for peace between their tribes but unwilling to take the first step. Or two lovers wishing to get closer but feeling shy. Unfortunately, no one speaks the Yaghan language now. In 2022, the last native speaker of the Yaghan language, Cristina Calderón, passed away.
