Tuesday, May 22, 2012

There's Got To Be a Word for That!

I know you've said that before! I have. Too many times to count. Now I have the perfect website for you:
25 Handy Words That Simply Don't Exist In English

English is the king mutt of languages with more words than any other and they are from many backgrounds. Check out my post The History of the English Language for a brief explanation of this truth. I used to prove this to my Latin students by comparing the Latin word for large--magnus-- to all the many ways you can say it in English--large, big, huge, gargantuan, etc., etc., etc.

I don't know about you, but I need L’esprit de l’escalier --French for thinking of the perfect comeback long after you need it-- nearly everyday.
And I've experienced Age-otori--Japanese for looking worse after the new haircut--a time or two.

What about you? Which of these words have you needed, but lacked?
Do you know some more I need to know? Please?