Tingo, nakkele and other wonders

(By Georgina Pattinson, BBC News)

English is a rich and innovative language. But you can't help feeling we're missing out.

While English speakers have to describe the action of laughing so much that one side of your abdomen hurts (hardly an economical phrase), the Japanese have the much more efficient expression: katahara itai.

Of course, the English language has borrowed words for centuries. Khaki and croissant are cases in point.

After this article BBC compiled some of the unusual word that readers submitted; you cand finde them all in here: 20 of your unusual words. Here are some of my favourites...

9. "My favourite is the Spanish for handcuffs...'esposas'...mi esposa means 'my wife'. So 'mi esposa, mis esposas' means 'my wife, my handcuffs'."
Ben, Bristol, UK

11. "There are a few more interesting German words such as 'handschuhschneeballwerfer', which means somebody, who wears gloves to throw snow balls. It is used in general for all cowards."
Bernie, Duesseldorf

14. "The Fuegians (from Tierra del Fuego) have a succinct word - 'mamihlapinatapai' and it means 'two people looking at each other each hoping the other will do what both desire but neither is willing to do'."
Zephyrus, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

And here are the related links:
- Tingo, nakkele and other wonders
- 20 of your unusual words
- The Meaning of Tingo

Posted by Fikirbaz at October 11, 2005 01:24 PM

- Save This Page At Del.icio.us