‘Te Reo Māori’, the language of New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people, is an Eastern Polynesian language and part of the Austronesian family. The language has a rich oral tradition, with traditional stories and legends passed down through generations orally. A beautiful example of the poetic nature of Te Reo Māori is the word “Aotearoa,” meaning “land of the long white cloud,” which eloquently refers to New Zealand in Maori.
Ongota, also known as Birale, is a language spoken by a handful of individuals in Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley. Unfortunately, the language has now been largely superseded by Ts’amakko, a neighbouring East Cushitic language and is on the verge of extinction. The language is important for its significance in understanding the cultural heritage of the area, and for that reason it’s important to record it before it disappears.
The longest word in the Oxford English Dictionary is “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis”, a technical term for a lung disease caused by inhaling very fine silicate or quartz dust.
A ‘Spoonerism’ occurs when sounds or letters in words are inadvertently switched. This term derives from Reverend William Archibald Spooner, a scholar who was known for making this kind of verbal slip. An example of this phenomenon is saying “Is the bean dizzy?” instead of “Is the dean busy?”.
There is a stunning Arabic word called “ya’aburnee”. It translates to “You bury me”, and expresses the hope that a loved one will outlive you, because of how unbearable it would be to live without them.
“Tarab” is a term used in Arabic culture to describe the profound emotional effect one can have while fully immersed in music. The verb itself translates to ‘a heightened sense of emotion or excitement’. The origins of Tarab trace back to Sufi traditions, Quran recitation, and religious practices. Tarab music is particularly popular in countries such as Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.
The term is not merely a descriptor, it is ingrained in cultural traditions, and reflects a belief that music can connect individuals on a deeper spiritual level.
“Tartle” is a Scottish word that encapsulates the awkward moment when you forget somebody’s name.You might say “look, I’m sorry, I’ve tartled there for a moment” after you have been rummaging around your brain for their name.
Shakespeare is credited with introducing thousands of words and phrases into the English language, including “bedroom”, “majestic” and “eyeballs”.
“So, then, two bosoms and a single troth. Then by your side no bedroom me deny, For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie.” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
“This is a most majestic vision, and Harmonious charmingly. ” – The Tempest
“Hold up thy head.
Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies.
Then why not lips in lips, since eyes in eyes?” – Venus and Adonis
You might have heard of the Linux distribution “Ubuntu”.
Ubuntu is in fact a word from the African language Xhosa. It expresses a profound concept of there being a shared understanding and humanity that exists between people. The concept extends beyond Xhosa, resonating in various Bantu languages across Africa.
Did you know that in Thai, the number 5 is pronounced as “ha”? People have embraced this and commonly use “555” as an expression for laughter online.