Expressions that don't exist in English

[Jenac Azaela]

This is a topic for those around the globe who natively speak something else than English. There are plenty of expressions (words or phrases) that work in their own language, but don't translate to one that exists in the English speech (at least not literally). I'm curious as to which you furs know. Simply write it out in your own language, translate to English as close as you can, and then explain. Simple as that! 


I'll start with a few I know:


Brødhue = bread head = Someone who is dumb or unintelligent
Å ha støv på hjernen = to have dust on the brain = Being a neat freak
Klisterhjerne = sticky brain = The ability to learn very easily

[Brisky]

I'm gonna write down the Dutch word "gezellig" here. because it's not even so that if you translate it's compounds to english, it will somewhat reveal it's meaning. But, it truly hasn't got any english translation that will have it make sense.

If you litterally translate it, you will get "companyishly" in english.

In Dutch, the word is used to mention the feeling of having a good / pleasant time with other people, like friends, family, or even strangers in the bus...


And, then there's also the thirteen diffirent words for rain we Dutchies have, wich don't have any translatable compounds, at all.

Knowing the weather here, I think that that's just hilarious!

[Bricket]

Goesting, a Flemish word that also has no translation to any different language, but desire/Craving comes close yet it doesn't cut it.
In Belgium it seems we have alot of words to describe activities that relax and for desires to relax.

[lightstone]

buiten westen slaan - slap out of the west - it's just if you slap some-one so hard that they become sub-contious

[TenOfSwords]

The Spanish word "grima" is used to describe the emotion that is felt when you hear sounds such as nails on a blackboard, or a knife scratching a plate.

[Cheza]

Skadeglädje, _Swedish = Taking pleasure/finding enjoyment in the suffering/failure of others. Sort of exists in English borrowed from German, in the form of "schadenfreude".


Which means that my favorite saying of "Skadeglädje är den enda sanna glädjen" (Schadenfreude is the only true happiness) also doesn't exist in English.
(I use that one as a joke for when people goof up something silly, like spilling their drink and I can't help but laugh because it's so silly. Just harmless accidents. I'm not -that- evil.)

[Jenac Azaela]

Pålegg - "on-lay" - Non-specific term for something you put on bread, such as peanut butter, cheese, ham or jam.

[lightstone]

the dutch words "kop" and "bek", they mean an animals head and an animals mouth and in my past teachers used to say it was rude if you said something like that to a human, but does that logic aply to furries?

[Brisky]

Yes.

It's actually already rude to use those terms towards animals, as they are meant to be diminishing terms for use in mentioning animals wich are, according to the folks that made the Dutch language, supposed to be less than humans.

Since furries are kinda on the same level as humans, as a species, it would be rude to use those terms to them.


@Jc

"Beleg", The Dutch word for "anything you put on bread".

Really funny how much Dutch and Norwegian / Swedish resemble each other.

[Jenac Azaela]

@Brisky
Scandinavian (Norwegian, Danish and Swedish) and Icelandic are all North Germanic languages. The three Scandinavian languages are very very similar, so it's not overly difficult for the three to have a conversation.

[Bricket]

Kop isn't really considered rude here in Belgium 
In regards to "beleg": depending on where you are: it's either everything you put between your sandwich OR just the non-meat food you put between your sandwich
Muil: a word for mouth, but depending on the region here you are it's either a word for mouth OR an insult 

[Brisky]

Dutch words for mouth:

-Muil
-Waffel
-Bek
-Kanes
-Klep
-Snater
-

[Cheza]

Lokaltidningsbesvikelse: "Local newspaper disappointment"  = A word to describe the sometimes petty "news" articles that pop up in smaller local newspaper.
Like, "Mike found a piece of sawdust in his pack of cereal: "This is gross and unacceptable and my whole day is ruined!""
(And it's not just a short sentence or two of Mike being disappointed either, it's a full-feature article complete with images and Mike really spilling his guts about how terrible the experience was.)
In short, just people getting into the papers for really pointless reasons to acquire dat 15 minutes of fame. Rather inofficial, but I love it all the same.


"Den som sig I leken ger får också leken tåla" (He who agrees to play a game will also have to stand by it) = If you get yourself involved with anything well and fully aware of the T&C's, you're in no place to start whining once things aren't going your way.
Comparable to "You've made your bed, now you have to lie in it."
Actually more of a proverb, but whatever. I already typed all of it down.


Ankdamm: "Duck pond" = Refers to a small close-knit community where everyone knows everyone. Oftentimes used to jokingly refer to Finland-Swedes since supposedly all of us know each other.


Svenskatalande bättre folk: "Swedish-speaking better people" = Often shortened to just "Better people". Another joking way of referring to Finland-Swedes (usually by Finnish-speakers) because we're all supposedly extremely wealthy, haughty and high-born too!


Att bära hundhuvud: "To wear/carry a dog's head" = To take the blame/shame for something.


Gubbdagis: "Man/husband day care" = The shops/places husbands/men like to frequent/escape to when they've been dragged out on shopping trips.


Träskalle: "Wood-skull" = A stupid person.


Dumhuvud: "Stupid-head" = Another stupid person.


Korkad: "Something with a cork in it" = Stupid.


Skämskudde: "Shame pillow" = The feeling of watching something that's just so embarrassing/cringy/painful to watch you get a strong overwhelming urge to just hide hide your face in a pillow.

[Brisky]

Lokaltidningsbesvikelse: "Local newspaper disappointment"  = A word to describe the sometimes petty "news" articles that pop up in smaller local newspaper.

The Dutch have somewhat of a word for that too. "Komkommernieuws". (Cucumber news)



"Oplawaai", or "Opdonder". Used to mention either a sudden, but relatively harmless, hit / kick, or getting zapped by electricity.

[Jenac Azaela]

"Den som sig I leken ger får också leken tåla" (He who agrees to play a game will also have to stand by it) = If you get yourself involved with anything well and fully aware of the T&C's, you're in no place to start whining once things aren't going your way.
Comparable to "You've made your bed, now you have to lie in it."
Actually more of a proverb, but whatever. I already typed all of it down.

We have the same thing in Norwegian, except we say "Hvis du vil være med på leken, må du tåle steken" ("If you wanna join the game, you must handle the roast"). It's phrased like that just for the rhyme.