Dépaysement

Meaning: The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfamiliar.

Language: French

Literally: un-country-ing

Category: Emotion

Origin: French; literally 'being removed from one's country'.

More untranslatable words — Emotion

Retrouvailles — The joy of reuniting with someone after a long time apart.
Mono no aware — A bittersweet awareness of impermanence — the gentle sadness and appreciation that arise…
Natsukashii — A warm, nostalgic rush triggered by something from the past — a smell, a song, a sight. N…
Yugen — A profound, mysterious sense of the universe that is too deep for words — the feeling of…
Koi no yokan — The intuitive feeling upon first meeting someone that you will inevitably fall in love wi…
Weltschmerz — The weariness and sadness you feel when the world as it is falls painfully short of the w…

Flâner — To wander a city slowly and aimlessly, savouring it with no destination in mind — the art…
L'esprit de l'escalier — Thinking of the perfect comeback only after the moment has passed — on your way down the…
Terroir — The unique character that a place — its soil, climate and tradition — gives to a wine or…
Râler — To complain and grumble with a certain national flair — a beloved French pastime.
Flemme — A total absence of motivation to do anything — a profound, almost existential reluctance…
Spleen — A deep, existential ennui — a heavy, formless sadness and disgust with the world and ones…

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