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What is your favourite non-English word?

 
gardener
Posts: 671
Location: Poland
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This forum is obviously English, but many users are from non-English speaking countries too, and/or their mother tongue is other than English. Permaculture also embraced many words from other languages, such as milpa from Nahuatl language, which is a system of producing a diversity of crops together.
I was recently listening to a podcast about books, in which a translator complained about "smaller" languages disappearing as the more popular ones dominate the world.
So I thought we could all come up with some words, maybe not your favourite ever, but a non-English word of the day?

Here is mine - not a very Polish word, but somewhat relates to permaculture concept of constructing and creating things. The word is "wihajster", and in Polish it means "tool", but not any specific tool; can be a multi-purpose thing, or your favourite item that you always have at hand, or something you're looking for, or something you're not really sure what's it for.
It is of German origin, and comes from wie heißt er - "what's his name" - as if you forgot the actual name of the thing, but also when it can be used in many different ways.
 
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5919
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
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My wife's family had part of it made up by a line of people of the Jewish faith. She grew up with a lot of Yiddish being thrown around and as I dated her I started to appreciate the language even if my learning of terms and words came rather slow.

I really like the term "Mensch" It means a person who has integrity and dignity. A real stand up guy or gal. It is an empowering compliment when truly meant.
 
steward
Posts: 17397
Location: USDA Zone 8a
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I like the Spanish word "pobrecita" which means "poor thing."

I was in a beauty once while in Mexico and one of the customers used that word so many times I have not forgotten the conversation. Someone or something must have really needed a lot of help.
 
pollinator
Posts: 2700
Location: RRV of da Nort, USA
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I'm with the famous American author Mark Twain on this one:  Kraftfahrzeughaftpflichtversicherung (motor vehicle indemnity insurance).
 
Posts: 609
Location: Stone Garden Farm Richfield Twp., Ohio
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Nyah-Weh.
-Seneca for ~Thank you.
 
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