Pana poʻo

Meaning: Scratching your head to help yourself remember something you've forgotten.

Language: Hawaiian

Literally: head-scratching

Category: Everyday

Origin: Hawaiian; names the small, universal gesture of jogging one's memory.

More untranslatable words — Everyday

Tsundoku — Buying books and letting them pile up unread — a habit, not a crime.
Sobremesa — The unhurried conversation that lingers long after a meal, when no one wants to leave the…
Meraki — Pouring your soul, love, and creativity into whatever you do — cooking, art, anything.
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…
Râler — To complain and grumble with a certain national flair — a beloved French pastime.

Loading the full interactive collection…