Abbiocco
Meaning: The heavy, irresistible drowsiness that comes after a large meal — the post-lunch stupor that demands a nap.
Language: Italian
Literally: drowsiness / nodding off
Category: Everyday
Origin: Italian; possibly from Arabic; that specific after-Sunday-dinner fog.
More untranslatable words — Everyday
- Culaccino — The ring or stain left on a surface by a wet or cold glass — that small, damp circle that…
- Merak — An intense, almost obsessive intellectual curiosity — not idle interest, but a passionate…
- Flemme — A total absence of motivation to do anything — a profound, almost existential reluctance…
- Ressourcement — The act of returning to one's roots or origins to find renewal — going back to a place, t…
- Chōu kōng — To steal a moment of escape from a hectic schedule — finding a sliver of free time and us…
- Jugaad — A creative, frugal fix — a clever improvised solution that gets things done with whatever…
More Italian untranslatable words
- Gattara — A woman — often elderly — who dedicates herself to feeding and caring for stray cats in h…
- Meriggiare — To take a quiet midday rest in a cool, shaded spot, escaping the fierce afternoon sun.
- Magari — One word doing the work of 'if only', 'I wish', 'perhaps' and 'you bet' — the tone decide…
- Sprezzatura — The art of making something difficult look wholly effortless, hiding every trace of the w…
- Dietrologia — The conviction that the official account is never the real one — that some hidden motive…
- Attaccabottoni — The person who corners you and holds you in an endless, tedious story you cannot politely…
From our idioms
- andare a nozze — To be perfectly suited or to delight in something.
- calcio dell'asino — A cowardly or treacherous attack from an unexpected quarter.
- a bocca asciutta — Hungry and wanting food, or disappointed and empty-handed.