MAMIHLAPINATAPEI (YAGAN, AN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO):
The wordless yet meaningful look shared by two people who desire to initiate something, but are both reluctant to start.
YUANFEN (CHINESE):
A relationship by fate or destiny. This is a complex concept. It draws on principles of predetermination in Chinese culture, which dictate relationships, encounters and affinities, mostly among lovers and friends.
CAFUNÉ (BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE):
The act of tenderly running your fingers through someone’s hair.
RETROUVAILLES (FRENCH):
The happiness of meeting again after a long time.
ILUNGA (BANTU):
A person who is willing to forgive abuse the first time; tolerate it the second time, but never a third time.
LA DOULEUR EXQUISE (FRENCH):
The heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can’t have.
KOI NO YOKAN (JAPANESE):
The sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall into love.
YA’ABURNEE (ARABIC):
“You bury me.” It’s a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person, because of how difficult it would be to live without them.
FORELSKET: (Norwegian):
The euphoria you experience when you’re first falling in love.
SAUDADE (PORTUGUESE):
The feeling of longing for someone that you love and is lost. Another linguist describes it as a “vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist.”