Gigil
Meaning: The overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch something unbearably cute.
Language: Filipino
Literally: trembling urge
Category: Emotion
Origin: Tagalog; that helpless feeling at a puppy or baby.
More untranslatable words — Emotion
- Iktsuarpok — The restless anticipation that makes you keep stepping outside to see if someone is final…
- Toska — A dull ache of the soul; a great longing with nothing in particular to long for.
- Dépaysement — The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…
- 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…
More Filipino untranslatable words
From our tongue twisters
- Trentatré trentini entrarono a Trento tutti e trentatré trotterellando. — An unbroken stampede of 'tr' and 't'.
- 東京特許許可局 (Tōkyō tokkyo kyokakyoku) — A machine-gun of 'kyo' / 'kyoku' sounds.
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. — An 's' / 'si' minefield.