6 Words We All Wished Existed In The English Language

If only there were words in our language to express exactly how we are feeling or exactly what we are thinking. As complex as English is as a language it is not exact enough in many instances.  Have you ever looked worse after a haircut? We need a word for that. Have you ever seen a face that is bad need of a fist? We need a word for that. Fortunately while our language doesn't have singular narratives to describe those feelings and functions, other languages do. Let's get our learn on right now want to?

Bakku-shan (Japanese)- This means to admire a beautiful woman but only from the backside. True, we do have butter-face in English but that is derogatory. This eloquent Japanese word is complimentary and poetic and doesn't sound nearly as crass as our American expressions of derriere appreciation. Yes that is Kellie Pickler.

Desenrascanço (Portuguese)- This means to weasel your way out of a tangled situation. It could mean an angst ridden social gathering or going full blown MacGyver and using a paper clip, a chocolate bar and a toilet paper tube to sink an aircraft carrier. Obviously the folks in Portugal and Brazil find themselves entangled so often they needed a word to describe how to get out of trouble without admitting to much.

Forelsket (Norwegian)- This may be the greatest feeling in the world. The Norwegians have given verbiage to the feeling that we experience when we first fall in love. The sweaty palms, the euphoria, the quickened pulse, the tingle of a 9-volt battery on the tongue of heart. I guess in Norway they have time to sit around and think about falling in love. That isn't such a bad thing.

L’esprit de l’escalier (French)- This eloquent French expression describes the perfect witty come back comment that you have thought of to disarm your enemy. Except you have thought about it way too late. You know that zinger that you could have used on your co-worker at lunch but you didn't think about it until you were sitting on the toilet the next day? We now have a word to describe that total feeling of frustration that we feel when we could have beheaded the dragon with one swing of the sword but we didn't.

Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan)- There is a look of hunger, a feeling of lust that can be detected in the eyes. The flames of desire burning bright between two yearning souls. That is what this word describes. Think of it as the expression a woman gets on her face when she notices a buy one get one free shoe sale or a the expression a man gets when he views all the cool stuff at the Louisiana Outdoor Expo. There is an attraction that we now have a very hard to pronounce word for.

Pena ajena (Mexican Spanish)- We do have a word in our language that is close to this one. It is called Karaoke. Well to be more accurate it's more like watching Karaoke. This phrase describes the embarrassment you feel watching someone else look foolish. Think of anytime you have watched a middle aged white man try to dance. Think of when you have seen anyone with a comb over. Think of the first few rounds of American Idol, you get the idea.

We learned something today didn't we? In case you are wondering the word that describes the feeling of looking worse after a haircut is Age-otori (Japanese). The word that describes a face that could really use a fist is Backpfeifengesicht (German). Use these words in peace and just know that you aren't the only one who is feeling the way you are feeling when you want to use them.