Word Study

Massava (מצבה) — Standing stones used to tell a story. (Hebrew)

Machloket l’shem shamayim — A dispute for the sake of heaven; disagreement in good faith about matters of value, where the argument itself has merit. (Hebrew)

Shokunin (職人) — Master artisan; craftsman. (Japanese)

Homo narrans — “The storytelling animal.” (Latin)

Communitas — A state of intense social solidarity, togetherness, and equality, often experienced during rituals or ceremonies. (Latin)

Je sais tout — “I know all.” (French)

Verstiegenheit — Wandering alone in blasted, disorienting territory beyond all charted limits and orienting markers. (Bavarian)

Shokunin kishitsu (職人気質) — Craft perfected for its own sake; artisan spirit. (Japanese)

Mox nox — “Good night.” (Latin)

Saudade — A feeling of melancholy, nostalgia, or yearning for something beloved but not present. (Portuguese)

Tekhnē (τέχνη) — Craft, art, or skill; root for “technology.” (Greek)

Trompe l’oeil — “Deceive the eye”; modeling/shading that emphasizes tangibility—solidity, texture, weight, graspability. (French)

Genchi genbutsu (現地現物) — “Go and see”; make decisions based on direct observation at the source. (Japanese)

報復性熬夜 — “Revenge bedtime procrastination”: delaying sleep to reclaim nighttime freedom when daytime feels controlled. (Chinese)

Abendrot — The color of the sky when the sun is setting. (German)

Donaldkacsázás — “Donald-ducking”: wandering around the house with a shirt but no trousers. (Hungarian)

Tachiyomi (立ち読み) — Standing in a bookstore reading without buying. (Japanese)

Tsundoku (積ん読) — Acquiring books/reading materials and letting them pile up unread. (Japanese)

Nintendo (任天堂) — “Leave luck to heaven”; leave fortune in the hands of fate. (Japanese)

Friluftsliv — “Free air life”; open-air living in tune with nature. (Norwegian)

Innerer Schweinehund — “Inner pig-dog”: the lazy voice in your head that resists effort. (German)

Torschlusspanik — Fear that time is running out to achieve life goals. (German)

Kintsukuroi — “Repair with gold”; seeing repaired brokenness as more beautiful. (Japanese)

Pisan zapra — The time needed to eat a banana. (Malay)

Gökotta — Waking up early to hear the first birds sing. (Swedish)

Wei-wu-wei — “Action without action”; effortless doing; deliberate, principled non-action. (Chinese)

Prozvonit — To call a phone and let it ring once so the other person calls back (saving money). (Czech)

Arbejdsglæde — “Work happiness”; joy provoked by a satisfying job. (Danish)

Petrichor — The smell of earth after rain. (English)

Ellipsism — Sadness that you’ll never be able to know how history will turn out. (English)

Seigneur-terrasse — Someone who spends time, but not money, at a café. (French)

L’esprit de l’escalier — Thinking of the perfect reply after the conversation is over. (French)

Kabelsalat — Tangled cables; “cable-salad.” (German)

Rückkehhrunruhe — The feeling of returning home after an immersive trip and sensing it fading rapidly from awareness. (German)

Sophrosyne (σωφροσύνη) — Healthy-mindedness: self-control, moderation, and deep self-awareness leading to happiness. (Greek)

Panapoo’o — Searching your head to help you remember something forgotten. (Hawaiian)

Tími — Not being ready to spend time or money on something, despite being able to afford it. (Icelandic)

Ikigai (生き甲斐) — A reason for being; what gets you up in the morning. (Japanese)

Kuidare — To eat yourself into bankruptcy. (Japanese)

Age-otori (上げ劣り) — The bad feeling after getting a terrible haircut. (Japanese)

Dapjeongneo — Asking a question despite already knowing the answer; expecting the listener to guess correctly. (Korean)

Tingo — Borrowing objects from a friend one-by-one until nothing is left. (Pascuense / Rapa Nui)

Desenrascar — The act of figuring things out; improvising a solution. (Portuguese)

Hanyauku — To walk on tiptoes across a hot surface. (Rukwangali)

Dolgostroj (долгострой) — A construction project that seems to go on forever. (Russian)

Tartle — Hesitating while introducing someone because you’ve forgotten their name. (Scots)

Mahj — Looking beautiful after having a disease. (Tamil)

Chandamama (చందమామ) — “Uncle moon”; referring to the moon while admiring it. (Telugu)

Ilunga — Ready to forgive once, tolerate twice, but not a third time. (Tshiluba)

Ubuntu — Being kind to others on account of one’s common humanity; “I am because we are.” (Zulu)

Mimesis (μίμησις) — Imitation. (Greek)

Yūgen (幽玄) — A profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe…and the sad beauty of human suffering. (Japanese)

Kairos (καιρός) — The exactly right moment to act; the “timing” that wisdom recognizes. (Greek)

Vox populi, vox dei — “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” (Latin)

Komorebi (木漏れ日) — Sunlight filtered through leaves; dappled light through a canopy. (Japanese)

ʿAsabiyya (عصبية) — Group feeling; social cohesion. (Arabic)

Paʻahi — The breaking / to be called; “Jaws” (wave). (Hawaiian)

Gom (སྒོམ) — Meditation; “to become familiar with.” (Tibetan)

Horror vacui — Nature (and humans) abhor a vacuum. (Latin)

Technē (τέχνη) — Mastery of craft as a kind of communion with the gods. (Greek)

Tenez — “Take it / heads up”; “coming at you” (etymological link to tennis). (French)

L’appétit vient en mangeant — “Appetite comes with eating”; motivation grows once you start. (French)

Kintsugi (金継ぎ) — Repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer. (Japanese)

Betriebsblind — “Operational blindness”: ignoring warning signs out of routine or convenience. (German)

Phronesis (φρόνησις) — Practical wisdom. (Greek)

Solvitur ambulando — “It is solved by walking.” (Latin)

Festina lente — “Make haste slowly.” (Latin)

Shehechiyanu (שהחיינו) — Gratitude for something new, unprecedented, or first in a cycle. (Hebrew)

Jeder ist seines Glückes Schmied — Everyone is the smith of their own luck. (German)

Pathei mathos (πάθει μάθος) — Learning through suffering. (Greek)

Logomachy (λογομαχία) — An argument over words. (Greek)

Élan — Dash; spirited self-assurance; flair. (French)

Sotto voce — Under the breath; in a low voice. (Italian)

Educo — To lead out; to draw forth. (Latin)

Liberosis — Wanting to care less; calm from letting go of unnecessary concerns. (English neologism)

Adronitis — Desire to get to know people more deeply; excitement of that potential connection. (English neologism)

Sonder — Realizing everyone has a life as complex as your own. (English neologism)

Enouement — Bittersweetness of realizing a period of your life is ending. (English neologism)

Soubhiyé — Quiet dawn time when you’re the only one awake. (Lebanese)

Anapanasati (आनापानसति) — Mindfulness of breathing; focusing on the breath. (Sanskrit/Pali)

Ripa — Resting in a state of open awareness. (Sanskrit)

Ashkuna — He/she who tracks it. (Afrikaans)

Colpas — Salt deposit where animals drink; minerals leaching out. (African)

Fauves — Wild beasts. (French)

Peredvizhniki (Передвижники) — Wanderers (art movement name). (Russian)

Nostalgie de la boue — “Nostalgia for the mud.” (French)

Le dernier mot — The fashionable must-see; the last word. (French)

Savoir-faire — Know-how; expertise. (French)

De gustibus non est disputandum — “In matters of taste, there can be no disputes.” (Latin)

Felix culpa — Happy fault; fortunate fall. (Latin)

Ostinato rigore — Tenacious appreciation / rigid persistence. (Latin)

Dzogchen — Taking the goal as the path. (Buddhist tradition)

Theravada — Gradualism; the natural starting point for any search. (Buddhist tradition)

Dialogos (διάλογος) — Free flow of meaning between people. (Greek)

Essayer — To try. (French)

Junto — Knowledge attained by the ear, not the tongue. (Term used in English)

Ennui — Weariness of spirit. (French)

Katischuo — The strength that prevails. (Unknown / as written)

Coup d’oeil — Power of the glance; the inward eye. (French)

Effervescence — Bubbling vivacity; lively energy. (French/English)

Calyx — The leftover bits of a withered apple flower. (English/Latin root)

Carnuntum — Roman legionary fortress (place name). (Latin)

Frisson — Aesthetic chills during a pleasant emotional experience. (French)

Semuta — The drug-music combination in Dune that plays itself in deep consciousness. (Dune term)

Kahu — Guardian; protector; steward of something precious. (Hawaiian)

Joie de vivre — Joy of living; life-joy. (French)

Misogi (禊) — Do one thing per year so altering it affects the other 364 days. (Japanese)

Hexadecanal — The smell of the nape of your neck. (Chemical term)

Wu wei (無為) — Not forcing; effortless action; going with the flow. (Daoist)

Valium — “To be well and strong.” (Latin)

Eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία) — A flourishing life; achieving full human potential. (Greek)

Alexithymia — Not having words for your feelings; substituting action-language for emotion-language. (English/Greek roots)

Rachamim (רחמים) — Compassion; tied to motherly nurturing. (Hebrew)

Humus — Earth/soil; root of “humility.” (Latin)

Earendil — Morning star; most distant star we know of (as written). (Name)

Rasa (रस) — Sensual delight / aesthetic essence. (Indian)

Susto — Healing trauma before onset of secondary disorders. (Peruvian)

Safar (سفر) — Journey. (Arabic)

Kuhunga — Trade goods as a peace offering. (African)

Takumi (匠) — Expert at a particular skill. (Japanese)

Sanhedrin (סנהדרין) — Truth. (Hebrew)

Bildung — Wholistic education of inner life, aesthetic sense, morals, and social learning. (German)

Tov me’od (טוב מאוד) — “Very good.” (Hebrew)

Zakar (זכר) — Remember. (Hebrew)

Shraddhā (श्रद्धा) — That which is placed in the heart; deep beliefs/axioms shaping perception and response. (Hindu)

Moksha (मोक्ष) — Spiritual liberation; life’s goal. (Hindu)

Karma (कर्म) — The web of cause and effect. (Hindu)

Dharma (धर्म) — The law maintaining unity of creation; the essence of a thing. (Hindu)

Ātman (आत्मन्) — The divine core of personality. (Hindu)

Brahman (ब्रह्मन्) — The godhead. (Hindu)

Mudrās (मुद्रा) — Code of hand gestures. (Buddhist)

Haoka — Sacred clown: everything is subject to mockery and cannot be viciously defended. (Lakota)

Kenshō (見性) — Seeing one’s true nature. (Japanese)

Timshol — You can choose to rule over your temptation. (Chinese, as written)

Boshan (博山) — Fairy mountain. (Chinese)

Ma’at — Right order. (Egyptian)

Prāṇa (प्राण) — Breath / spirit. (Indian)

Konoba — Food you can only get at home with that kind of atmosphere. (Croatian)

Sladoled — Ice cream. (Croatian)

Dolce far niente — The sweetness of doing nothing. (Italian)

Apapachar — To hug or cuddle. (Spanish)

Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会) — For this time only; once in a lifetime. (Japanese)

Flâneur / flâneuse — One open to the liberating possibilities of a good walk. (French)

Havâ do nafras — “Weather for two”; slightly chilly weather suited to romantic walks. (Persian)

Sobremesa — Time after a meal lingering at the table together. (Spanish)

Utepils — Going outside on a sunny day to enjoy a beer. (Norwegian)

La passeggiata — The ritual of taking a walk with no destination. (Italian)

Sielunmaisema — A landscape you carry in your heart. (Finnish)

Jakoś to będzie — “Everything will work out in the end.” (Polish)

Meraki (μεράκι) — Doing something with soul, creativity, or love—putting a piece of yourself into your work. (Greek)

Fika — Taking a coffee/pastry break. (Swedish)

Buža — Hole in the wall. (Croatian)

Madbir (מדביר) — Shepherd. (Hebrew)

Mishpat (משפט) — Restorative justice. (Hebrew)

Bema (בימה) — Raised platform in a synagogue. (Hebrew)

Mārga (मार्ग) — Path of renouncement. (Buddhist)

Nirodha (निरोध) — Cessation; letting go. (Buddhist)

Samudaya (समुदय) — Craving; desire. (Buddhist)

Dukkha (दुःख) — Suffering. (Buddhist)

Faire le leddive — Day of reckoning. (French, as written)

Dent-de-lion — “Lion’s tooth” (dandelion). (French)

Akallastos — Unstoppable. (Greek, as written)

Sungnōmē (συγγνώμη) — Sympathy; co-understanding. (Greek, as written)

Seios anēr — Godly man. (Greek, as written)

Sophos (σοφός) — Master; wise person. (Greek)

Clementia — Kindness. (Latin, as written)

Eutrapeloi (εὐτράπελοι) — Witty. (Greek, as written)

Authekastos — Straight talker. (Greek, as written)

Megalopsychia (μεγαλοψυχία) — Greatness of soul. (Greek)

Eleutherios (ἐλευθέριος) — Gentlemanly / free. (Greek, as written)

Chara (χαρά) — Happiness / joy. (Greek)

Kalos (καλῶς) — Honorably; ethically; rightly. (Greek)

Praxis (πρᾶξις) — Action. (Greek)

Wabi-sabi (侘寂) — Beauty of the imperfect and impermanent. (Japanese)

Inyeon (인연) — Direct + indirect causes; conditions that make an outcome possible. (Korean)

Hyggelig — Intimacy, comfort, coziness in basic family life. (Danish)

Kærlighed — (As written) “agape love.” (Danish)

Le baptême du feu — Baptism by fire. (French)

Rio da dúvida — River of doubt. (Portuguese, as written)

Kharakter (χαρακτήρ) — Mark left on a coin. (Greek)

Diakonos (διάκονος) — Servant. (Greek)

Assez cause — Enough talk. (French, as written)

Kaleō (καλέω) — To receive an invitation by name / to call. (Greek)

Akojumu — Dreamer. (Pygmies, as written)

Han nara — One nation. (Korean, as written)

Euthymia (εὐθυμία) — Trusting you’re on the right path; steadiness of spirit. (Greek)

Kadosh (קדוש) — Set apart; holy. (Hebrew)

Koinōnia (κοινωνία) — Gathering together; becoming closer through shared action. (Greek)

Oikonomia (οἰκονομία) — Managing the affairs of a household. (Greek)

Gemba (現場) — Place of making value; the real place. (Japanese)

Tellic — Purpose; meaning. (English)

Ghaflah (غفلة) — Forgetting origins. (Islamic/Arabic)

Islam (الإسلام) — Surrender. (Arabic)

Yada (ידע) — Knowing intimately. (Hebrew)

Phronēsis (φρόνησις) — Ability to figure out what to do while knowing what is worth doing. (Greek)

Tummo — Breathing technique to melt into inner fire. (Himalayan)