/kɪˈlɪɡ/ Literally: “butterflies, giddiness” The sudden rush of giddiness and butterflies you feel during a romantic moment — the delicious, involuntary thrill of being charmed, whether it’s happening to you or to characters in a movie. Etymology Kilig is a Tagalog word that has no direct etymological ancestor — it’s considered a native Philippine formation. … Read more
/ˈiktsuar.pok/ Literally: “going outside to check” The restless feeling of anticipation that makes you keep going outside to check if someone is coming — the anxious excitement of waiting for an expected visitor. Etymology Iktsuarpok is an Inuktitut word from the Canadian Arctic. It belongs to the polysynthetic structure of Inuit languages, where complex ideas … Read more
/kɔmbiˈnɔvatɕ/ Literally: “to combine, to scheme” The Polish art of creatively working the system — finding clever workarounds, bending rules, and improvising solutions in the face of bureaucratic or structural obstacles. Etymology Kombinować comes from the German kombinieren (to combine), but in Polish it acquired a much richer meaning. During the Partition era (1795-1918) and … Read more
/ɡotoŋ rojoŋ/ Literally: “mutual assistance” The Indonesian philosophy of communal cooperation — neighbors helping each other with shared tasks, from building houses to harvesting rice, without expecting payment. Etymology Gotong royong is a Javanese and Malay phrase: gotong means “to carry” or “to bear a burden” and royong means “together.” The concept predates Indonesian statehood … Read more
/kɹæk/ Literally: “fun, entertainment, news” The quintessentially Irish concept of fun, lively conversation, and good times — the electric atmosphere of a great evening with music, stories, laughter, and connection. Etymology Craic entered Irish English from the Scots/English word “crack,” meaning lively conversation or entertainment. The Irish spelling craic was adopted in the 1960s-70s as … Read more
/ˈmyːsa/ Literally: “to cozy up” To get cozy and snuggle in — wrapping yourself in warmth, comfort, and contentment, especially during cold dark evenings with candles, blankets, and loved ones. Etymology Mysa is a Swedish verb that likely derives from Old Norse words related to comfort and warmth. It shares roots with the Norwegian kose … Read more
/ˈlɑːɡɔm/ Literally: “just the right amount” Not too much, not too little — just the right amount. The Swedish philosophy of moderation, balance, and sufficiency in all things. Etymology Lagom comes from the Old Swedish lag, meaning “law” or “team.” A popular folk etymology claims it derives from laget om — “around the team” — … Read more
/ˈhɪraɪθ/ Literally: “longing, homesickness” A deep, bone-level longing for a home that may no longer exist — a grief for the lost places of your past mixed with a yearning for a homeland that might only exist in your imagination. Etymology Hiraeth is a Welsh word with roots in the Proto-Celtic *sīro- (long) combined with … Read more
/ˈfɾiːlʉftsˌliːv/ Literally: “free air life” The Scandinavian philosophy of open-air living — spending time outdoors in nature not as exercise or recreation but as a way of life and a path to spiritual well-being. Etymology Friluftsliv combines fri (free), luft (air), and liv (life). The word was popularized by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in the … Read more
/ˈθɛhtaˈrɛtast/ Literally: “it will all work out” The Icelandic national philosophy that everything will sort itself out in the end — a calm, pragmatic optimism rooted in centuries of surviving volcanoes, harsh winters, and isolation. Etymology Þetta reddast is composed of þetta (this/it) and reddast (the middle voice of redda, “to sort/fix”), meaning roughly “it … Read more