Have you ever experienced an emotion so deep and overwhelming that you can't describe it? Or felt something so complex that no single word could encapsulate your emotions? As we go through the ups and downs of life—whether it's work, school, or just day-to-day activities—we encounter a wide spectrum of emotions such as joy, sadness, frustration, and anger. Yet, there are moments when our feelings seem almost unidentifiable, leaving us struggling to express exactly what we’re going through. However, the good news is that emotions don’t always have to be described with just one word. Despite us learning countless vocabulary words throughout our education, there are still countless unique words across languages and cultures that many of us have never even heard of. These words capture feelings so particular that they make us see emotions in a whole new light. In this blog, we’ll dive into eight words—from English to Inuit—that encompass a wide range of emotions.
1. Ambedo
Imagine being so fully immersed in the sensory world around you that you lose yourself in it. In a moment where the raindrops race down a window, trees are swaying in the wind, and the cream is swirling in your coffee. Ambedo is that melancholic trance, where you momentarily pause to soak in the beauty and nature of life.
2. Pâro
In moments where every one of your attempts at doing something is just wrong and even when others try to help, you still end up disappointing them., Pâro describes that overwhelming effort to navigate life when you feel lost while everyone else knows a secret you don't.
3. Sobremesa (spanish)
The magic that happens after a meal such as the time spent around the table with family and friends, chatting, laughing, and savoring both the food and their company. It’s a post-meal moment where you sit around and have time to digest life, not just dinner.
4. Onism
This word expresses that peculiar realization of how small your personal experiences are in the grand scope of the world. Onism is that fleeting awareness that, no matter how much you’ve seen or done, there’s so much more out there that you may never touch.
5. Enouement
The bittersweet feeling of arriving at the future and seeing how things have turned out, but being unable to tell your past self what’s in store.While you realize that you have come full circle you know you can’t go back to the past.
6. Nodus Tollen
The realization that your journey has taken unexpected turns, and you can no longer follow the narrative you once believed was true. Something that you once were so sure about no longer makes sense to you anymore.
7. Iktsuarpok (Inuit)
The feelingFeeling of anticipation where you find yourself repeatedly looking out the window, waiting for someone who may or may not show up. A moment filled with a mixture of anxiety and hope for a visitor you hope will arrive.
8. Saudade (Portuguese)
Describes the feeling of missing someone or something that once brought you joy but is now not in your life. It’s nostalgia with a twist, a bittersweet longing that never quite goes away.
Emotions are a fundamental part of what makes us human. While they can feel complicated, overwhelming, or even unnecessary at times, embracing their complexity is necessary. By understanding the depth and variety of how we experience emotions, we can make deeper connections with those around us and most importantly, ourselves. From fleeting interactions to profound, life-altering moments, our emotions are the strongest part of our being. So, as you continue to navigate your personal journey, take a moment to appreciate what you’re feeling and consider how it shapes you. Embrace the complexities of your emotions, after all, they are what make life meaningful.
Works Cited
Wiest, B. (2024, November 14). 40 words for emotions you’ve felt, but couldn’t explain. Thought Catalog. https://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2016/02/40-words-for-emotions-youve-felt-but-couldnt-explain/
Weaver, N. (2022, August 12). 30 words for emotions you feel but can’t explain. YourTango. https://www.yourtango.com/self/words-for-emotions-you-feel-but-cant-explain
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