Épanouissement

Meaning: The full flourishing of a person — blooming into your most complete, radiant self. More than happiness; total self-realisation.

Language: French

Literally: blossoming / flowering

Category: Emotion

Origin: French épanouir ('to open up, to blossom'); used of flowers, and of people at their best.

More untranslatable words — Emotion

Razliubit — To fall out of love — the process of ceasing to love someone you once loved, leaving behi…
Kilig — The butterflies-and-shivers feeling of romantic excitement — the giddiness triggered by a…
Tampo — Pulling back your warmth and affection when you've been hurt — going quiet and distant, h…
Avos' — A blind, hopeful trust that things will somehow work out on their own — leaving the outco…
Vergüenza ajena — The squirming embarrassment felt on behalf of another person, who may be entirely untroub…
Koselig — Warmth, intimacy and ease at once — a room, a meal or an evening can be koselig, and so c…

Ressourcement — The act of returning to one's roots or origins to find renewal — going back to a place, t…
Dépaysement — The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…
Flâner — To wander a city slowly and aimlessly, savouring it with no destination in mind — the art…
Retrouvailles — The joy of reuniting with someone after a long time apart.
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…

Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. — A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. — A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
Un beau ver vert dans un verre vert verra un ver vert. — Ver (worm), vert (green), and verre (glass) are near-homophones — distinguishing them at…