Untranslatable wordSocialSwedish

Fredagsmys

Meaning: The Friday-night ritual of soft clothes, snacks and television with the people you live with.

Literally: Friday cosiness

Origin: Swedish fredag ('Friday') + mys ('cosiness'); in the press from 1994 and in the Academy's dictionary about a decade later.

More Swedish untranslatable words

  • Gökotta Rising at first light for no reason but to go outside and hear the birds sing.
  • Mångata The shimmering, road-like reflection the moon casts across water.
  • Resfeber The mix of nervous excitement and anticipatory anxiety you feel before a journey — your h…
  • Lagom Not too much, not too little — perfectly moderate, appropriate, and balanced. A cultural…
  • Fika A ritual pause in the day — coffee, something sweet, good company — that is more about co…
  • Orka To have the energy or will for something. Jag orkar inte carries the whole of 'I can't fa…

Explore another collection: Proverbs

Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.

Browse all proverbs →

Keep exploring

Explore all untranslatable words →