Better Than English

Putzfimm (German)

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:32:30 +0000

A mania for cleaning.

Ulykkesbilen (Danish)

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:31:54 +0000

An “ill-fated car.”

Bakku-shan (Japanese)

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:31:26 +0000

A woman who “seems pretty when seen from behind but not from the front.”

Pole (Swahili)

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:58:56 +0000

Means ‘I am sorry for your misfortune.’ It is pronounced ‘po-lay.’ It can be used for small or big things, and ‘pole sana’ also exists, where ‘sana’ is an intensifier.

Word donated by Grace

Me Yia (Greek)

admin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:58:33 +0000

Said to someone when they buy something new, usually applied to large purchases such as jewelry or a car or new home, Me Yia means “with joy.” You are essentially wishing that their new purchase brings them joy and that they enjoy it.

Word donated by Ariana

Vrtičkar (Slovene)

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:16:32 +0000

An elderly person, usually living in the city, who owns a tiny piece of land in the country or on the outskirts of the city–these pieces of land are usually remnants of “common land” from the communist era. On his land he will have built a small hut and be growing small amounts of beans, lettuce and other vegetables for his own use; but the main purpose of such establishments now is to permit the vrtičkar to spend weekends there drinking beer and socializing with other vrtičkars whose huts and fields are nearby.

Word donated by Jan

Eno (Finnish)

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:20:48 +0000

Your mother’s brother.

Word donated by Suvi Aho

Tokka (Finnish)

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:31:09 +0000

A grazing, large herd of reindeer.

Word donated by Suvi Aho

Koev halev (Hebrew)

admin — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:10:57 +0000

Identifying with the suffering of another so closely that one hurts oneself, that one’s heart aches.

Viitsima (Estonian)

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:07:34 +0000

A mild feeling of laziness and disinclination towards being “bothered” by anything. One doesn’t want to work, go anywhere, or do anything specific.