The Greeks Had a Word For It: Words You Never Knew You Can't Do Without

Doyoueversearchinvainforexactlytherightword?Perhapsyouwanttoarticulatethevaguedesiretobefaraway.Oryoucan’tquiteconveythatoddurgetogooutsideandchecktoseeifanyoneiscoming.Maybeyou’restrugglingtoexpresstherebeingjusttherightamountofsomething–nottoomuch,butnottoolittle.WhiletheEnglishmaynothaveawordforit,thegoodnewsisthattheGreeks,theNorwegians,theDutchorpossiblytheInuitsprobablydo.Whetherit’stheNorwegianforelsket(thatfeelingofeuphoriaatthestartofaloveaffair)ortheIndonesianjayus(ajokesopoorlytoldandsounfunnythatyoucan’thelpbutlaugh),thisdelightfulsmörgåsbordofwonderfulwordsfromaroundtheworldwillcometotherescuewhentheEnglishlanguagefails.Partglossary,partamusingmusings,butwhollyenlighteningandentertaining,TheGreeksHadaWordForItmeansyou’llneveragainbelostforjusttherightword.