Five foreign words that we are (seriously) lacking

They are necessary.

However, the French translation of certain foreign words is not satisfactory: too vague or not nuanced enough... Translating a term into a language other than one's own is not easy.

Some of them resist exercise, and create a lack.

Thus the English verb

, which designates

, but also this black look that one throws at someone.

We don't have a single word for this.

Anthology of these few foreign terms which, alas, we lack.

Kitsch

This word is so evocative that we have adopted it as such in French.

What translation could match this

, with such an evocative sound?

It is said of an object, a decoration, a work of art whose bad taste, even frank vulgarity, intended or not, delights some and disgusts others, according to the Larousse.

Contrary to what is often thought, the word does not come to us from the English

,

, but from the German

, with the same meaning as ours.

The latter is probably derived from

, meaning:

.

Killfie

See that moment when you put yourself in an extremely perilous pose... to take a selfie?

The risk of death is then close.

But whatever.

What matters is that your photo is taken and published instantly on social networks.

This is what is called in English a

, from the verb

,

and from

, a photo that one takes oneself.

Abbiocco

Native to Dante's homeland, this term is pretty but also very practical.

It designates the moment of drowsiness, pleasant and delicious, after a meal.

The limbs relax, the head gently sags down, a slight hum is heard, sleep is not far off.

Unfortunately, we do not have such a clear French equivalent to translate this word

The French offers:

,

, or more colloquially

.

But nothing as evocative as

cursed

Imagine.

Your friend announces that he finally got the job of his dreams.

You see him fulfilled, relieved, overflowing with joy and enthusiasm.

You congratulate him warmly, tell him how proud you are, and above all, happy for him.

In Anskrit, an Indo-European language, this feeling can be expressed in one word:

.

It translates precisely this happiness that one feels to see the happiness of someone.

Gigil

Everyone has already felt one day, at the sight of a baby or a loved one, this irresistible urge to bite into it, to bite its cheeks.

Nothing violent in there, just a way (strange it is true) to physically show affection.

In the Philippines, this urge has a name:

.

How frustrating not to have an equivalent in French!