Other-Worldly Words Both Strange and Lovely

To my brother and family, and to the authors
who taught me to love words

—Y. L. M.

To Mom, Dad, Collin, and Eliza, & to Erik
yanoud athreehmoymreeftehraetnlcaenfgouratgheesftereuligngglsesoftolodveefine

—K. G. R.

Text copyright © 2016 by Yee-Lum Mak.
Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Kelsey Garrity-Riley.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written
permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Mak, Yee-Lum.
Other-Wordly : words both strange and lovely from around the world /
By Yee-Lum Mak, illustrated by Kelsey Garrity-Riley.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-4521-2534-3 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4521-5906-5 (epub 2)
ISBN 978-1-4521-6310-9 (mobi)
ISBN 978-1-4521-6311-6 (epub 3)
1. Language and languages—Foreign words and phrases.
2. Language and languages—Foreign elements.
3. Vocabulary—Influence on English. I. Garrity-Riley, Kelsey, illustrator. II. Title.

P324.M35 2015
415—dc23

2014039037

Design by Kristine Brogno.
Typeset in Museo Sans and Georgia.
The illustrations in this book were rendered
in gouache, ink, and collage.

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107

Chronicle Books—we see things differently.
Become part of our community at www.chroniclekids.com.

OTHER-WORDLY started when I stumbled across the

Portuguese word saudade: “the love that remains”; a longing for
someone or something that you had loved and then lost.

I’d never seen anything like it before. It seemed otherworldly:
bigger, stranger, and fuller than the words we use every day. It was
a word for a feeling I’d felt, but had never been able to name. If
there were more words like that, I wanted to find them.

And when I started looking, I found that every language has names
for the odd and wonderful, for the unexpected things that have
meaning, for the parts of our lives that are “other-wordly.”

Gliint.Öt“hdeKaewOarnTlypTimcAnoir(cnntoionuhgne,taonr,wtShawetecfhdiritsshhte)bibridrdsosnogr”t;othgeoact of rising
outside to appreciate nature
KthOe sMunOligRhtEthBaIt(fniloteurns,tJharpoaungehseth) e leaves of the trees



JhaEvNinTg AtoCdoUwLiAthRan(aedajerclytivber,eEankfgalissth)
eKaxsUcaeMsmsieMvaenEwsReoifSgrhPetlEigeaCviinnKegd(snttohruersonsu, ogmrh,seGtaretorinmnggaenm) otion





BofRgrUayMsOkieUs aSn(dadwjeinctteivred,aEynsg;lifsihll)ed with heavy
clouds or fog; relating to winter or cold, sunless weather
BthRe lOowNrTumIDblEe, (ansooufnd,iEsntagnlitshth)under



Nlit.E“cFlEouLdI-BwAalTkAer”(;noonuen,wmh+ofl,ivSepsainnisthheancdloPuodsrtoufgtuheesier)own
cimonavgeinntaitoinosnoofrsdorceieatmy,sl,itoerroantuerwe,hoordaorets not obey the
HjumOpPinPgÍiPntOo pLuLdAdle(vserb phr., Icelandic)



TwAhaTtEaMpeArsEon(nporuetne,nJdasptaonbeeslei)eve; the behavior and opinions
one must display to satisfy society’s demands



HwhOatNaNpeErso(nnoturnu,lyJabpealineevsees); the behavior and opinions that are
often kept hidden and only displayed with one’s closest confidants



ObuyNinIOg oCr sHhoApLpAinSgIaAs a(nmouetnh,oEdngoflisshtr)ess relief or relaxation
bTuSyUinNg bDooOksKaUnd(nnootunre,aJdaipnagnethseem) ; letting books pile
up unread on shelves or floors or nightstands
oBnIeBwLhIOo cTolHlecEtsC, mAaRinYta(ninosu,no,rEcnagrleisshf)or books



MuthnesAploMookkIeHnshuLanrAdePderIbsNytatAnwdToiAnpgPeooAprIlwe(nhwoohudoneh,sYairavegethrhaeenas)cahmede an
thing but each wish that the other would offer it first

SlbiytT. a“UsptRoarrMmenfFrt eRoerE”;sIuth(paeedrfjrieoecret;divboeem,iGnogefranmlooatnnbe)eaint ghowmaetcahnedd
having the ability to do what you want
CathheWucguTpoCbroaHacrud(nduodnuledn;e,arWtsehalesfehst)paliarcse; the space or

ABDITORY (noun, English)

daipsalapcpeeianrt;oawhhiidcihngyopulaccaento preserve
the things that are most valued

Rbtahe“EegtrirSnaeFssv,tEelwleBsfhesEevrneRarac”en(ntxhooiafeutttnhyc,eaacntn,rSdamwvaaeennldetiiirfcse’shisp)thaaetasiorantnbaierlfleontreaesnstghleejdoutorgneetyher;
FanEaRcNheWforEdHist(annotupnl,anc,eGs;etrhmeacnr)aving for travel

SCHWELLENANGST

l(snioto.m“utenht,hrfei,nsGhgoenlrdemwaannox)rieetnyt”e;rifneagraopfleamcebarking on

DÉRIVE (noun, f, French and English)

ltirta.v“delreirft”le;aavsepsoonrtdainneaoruyslijfoeubrenheiyndwfhoerre the
aartcimhietetcotulertetdheetesprmiriitnoefththeeplaatnhdscape and

AthBatLwUhVichIOhaNs b(eneonunw,aEsnhgeldishaw) ay
PonAeRwAhoLlIiAveNs b(ynothuen,seEanglish)

OFFING (noun, English)

tvhiseibdleeefpr,odmisttahnetlasntrde;tcthheoffotrheesoeecaeabnletfhuatut risestill

NtahheEafMuorneOtsetrPaoHnf dtIhLietsIwSboTeoad(unstoy; uoannn,edEwnsohgloliitsluhod)vees

PSITHURISM (noun, English)

the sound of the wind through the trees

RAÐLJÓST (noun, n, Icelandic)

enough light to find your way by



SMULTRONSTÄLLE (noun, c, Swedish)

ltirte.a“psularceed,orfewtuilrdnsetdratowfboerrsroielas”c;eaanspderceialalxpalaticoend;iscovere,d
a personal idyll free from stress or sadness



UdtoeImtTaakWnedaAsbAorfeIlEaifkNeaton(vdcelwrebaa,rlDkounatewc’sha)hyefardom the

L’APPEL DU VIDE (noun phrase, French)

lotuihnnte.ee“sdxtephallenfofgcrraeeordlmlooausfdsatvahfeenentdyvtuouirnindetk,”on;etxothhpweeengriinufeuelnfxtcuoperfl,ieaco;anrtbhildeeeudarrgaewtoofthrow

Haa hhIooRmmAeeEswiTchkHincehs(nmsofaouyrnb,aemhn,oeWmveeerltswoh)awsh;itchheynooustcaalngnia,ot return,
the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past
tFmhUeemtUhoiBrnigeUss—TorfSeaeUnlitnSicgHisp,Ias(tcnieoonnutsno,f,iJamapapagarnetsei—csuetl)haartseevaoskoen

OBJETS TROUVÉS

o(nbojeucntspfhrroamsen, aFrteunrechoranmdaEnn-mglaisdhe) objects past their
iancteenrtdaeidnubseea,udtiyscaobvoeurtedthaegmain by chance, that have

KlmgiotIo.lNdr“teooTbrrSeesaUipluavtKeiirfrUuwllaRfictoqhOrugheIoar(lvndaio”nn;udgtnhub,eenJeaadnpretrabsnortfeoasrkneeedp)nianigritnhgatptohtetepryiecweitish



SOIGNÉ (adjective, French and English)

emploeasgnsaennsescrie,noagrtatdaneinsaieugdrnat;hoprfroesuosgephnhtciesadtriceoarftopirorntehpienafrdienrdeeswd,seitthaialsn

NAZLANMAK (verb, Turkish)

apcrteuteanlldyinwgilrlienlugcatanndceeaogrerin;dsiafyfeirnegnnceowanhdenmyeoaunainrge yes
tToAhResTitaLtEe w(vheirlbe,iSnctrootsd)ucing or meeting someone
because you have forgotten their name



CtoRcuOddOleDorLnEes(tvleertbo,gEenthgelirs,hf)rom fear or cold;
to make a noise like a dove
IagNactlGhoesLer,EfionNrtiwOmaaOrtmeKtcho(;rnnforeourmnb,iyEnnaglgefli,irsaehph)leaacretwh (hSecroetps)eople

TACENDA (noun, English)

things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence



Mto sBhUedKoIn-eM’s cVloUthKinIg(vseprobnptahnraeoseu,sBlyanatnud)
dance naked in celebration
stBokAidllaL,nbTcuEetRaursut(vlaeeslrlsbyl,ywE, nwitghiltiehsnhoju)otypmaerntitcular grace or

TARANTISM (noun, English)

trheestulenscsonnetsrsobllyagbleettuinrggeutpoadnadncdea;nocvinergcoming

SlitI.T“sZitFtiLngEfIlSesCh”Hor(npooustne,rnio, rG;etrhmeaanbialintdy Etongsiltisthh)roug,h
tolerate, or persist in something difficult or severely boring
atAobEhlOuasvtLeerIinSinsTgpiw(rnaiotniudonnb,aoEgrnogwfliiasshdp)oemrson who only pretends

NtuhneUspsNuobkCtelneHacorImt(nomof ueuvnna,iclKuaoatriteoinanngs)aonthdekrsn’omwoinodgs from their
what not to say in a certain social situation

DEIPNOSOPHIST t(naolkuonr, Einngcolinshv)ersing

someone skilled in small
around the dining table



EtmnhoRoetseLmtxEdeperBeeerpNieelxynIp,SceaeSrsni,Eedpnto(chnseroisto,uiuvbngeu,hotprElw, nxnhpe,igecGhraeitewrinmveceae,tnrstuh) layt lwivee;feel

SttahOelktiBinmgRetEospMtehneEtpSaerAoopu(lnenodwutinhth,efw,taShbpolaemnaisyfhtoe)ur sluhnacrhedorthdeinmneearl;
time to digest and savor both food and friendship
aaQwrpheUelayrEcoeeuRofrnrEmeoNmfoesCewtlsaIhAauictthh(hneooonnmuteinec’s;,sfste,htlrSfeeppnalgnaticshehi)ws dhrearwe yn,ou
GcozEyZ, nEicLeL, iInGvit(aindgje,cptlievaes,aDnutt,ccho)mfortable;
caoftnenroatilnogngtimseepaspraentitownith loved ones or togetherness

NoarlYocvoCemToffoOrdtaPirnHknthIeLessIdAoarr(knnnoigeushnst,;Efinngdliisnhg) relaxation

CRYPTOSCOPOPHILIA (noun, English)

twhienudrogwestoofshecormetelsyapseyerouthpraosusgbhythe

SCINTILLA (fnlaosuhno, rEnspgalisrhk); a small thing; a barely visible trace

a tiny, brilliant

PthHe sOtraSnPgHe mEoNviEngSc(onlooursn,oErn“gstliasrhs)”
you see after you rub your eyes

DtheOspRaMceItVhaEtGstrLeItAch(ensobuentw, mee,nItaslleiaenp)ing and waking
Da dWreAamAiLng(,ndoruinft,inSogu, dthroAwfrsicyasntaEtneg;lish)
(verb, Afrikaans)to wander or stray as if one is dreaming

R(avwAeriNbld, T,ErnIePgclkOislehLs)sEtoyo(bnueonwugnilp,deEransngodlnis;rhe)ckless;
(adjective, English)wild and reckless
sNomOeConEeUwRho(gnooeusnt,oms,leFerpenlacthe)or not at al,l
or one who stays out late to revel and party

SPHALLOLALIA (noun, English)

flirtatious talk that leads nowhere