As opposed to the Americanisms being discussed elsewhere, what things from other languages have that certain je ne sais quoi for you?

I’m a fan of using Latinisms whenever possible, baffling colleagues with talk of ne plus ultra and sine qua non. Also, faute de mieux is one that should be used more often.

tout à fait: boff!

prego: always sounds so much more gracious.

chapeau

A siesta is a wonderful thing.

schadenfreude

dingsbum (thinamajig)

Ménage à trois
coupé
Schadenfreude (edit: oops late with that, then settle for Karma)

danke (schön)

De rien
je {vous/t’}en prie

bon, allons-y
on se casse

Vamos!
nos abrimos

Kummerspeck (German) Excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, grief bacon.

At work, tend to use ‘de minimis’

I’m a fan of using Latinisms whenever possible, baffling [b]making[/b] colleagues think I’m a poncey tosspot with talk of ne plus ultra and sine qua non

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doNjOg4SVnw[/video]

&

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-vpmgpnLzU[/video]

Chapeau is a good one- if you went around speaking english saying “HAT!” to people you’d get locked up.

bearnecessities – Member

Kummerspeck (German) Excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, grief bacon.

Sometimes it seems obvious that the german language can’t have been devised by germans.

Sometimes it seems obvious that the german language can’t have been devised by germans.

Hubschrauberlandeplatz 😀

&

7254 = Siebentausendzweihundertvierundfünfzig

Bungalow

Because otherwise how would oldies be diagnosed with “bungalow knees”?

i favour the non-verbal, the gallic shrug is of great use at work.

Man a man a mwnci

Welsh for “might as well” 😀

From my time working in Japan, Bakku-shan.
A girl who looks pretty from behind but ugly in front, the most German Japanese word I ever learnt.

BABFOC that
Body off baywatch face off crimewatch

I like Granny Barbie – old lady dressed young so you cannot tell from behind

When If I master my own language i may branch out

“me cago en la leche de la puta que te date la luz”

Crise de foie = a sophisticated hangover

I like the Welsh idea of calling people by their first (or last) name and their job. For example, Dai Sparks the electrician, Jones the Steam from Ivor the Engine etc. The Welsh father christmas is called Sion Corn which is sometimes translated as Jack the Chimney 🙂

my address book is full of Welshist style names.

James the plumber
Bob the gravel
Chris the wood
Jon the sparks
Neil the sheep
etc
etc

“Putain fait chier bordel de merde” trips off the tongue nicely 🙂

One useful French word that doesn’t have a single word translation:
Dénivelé – “difference in height or level”

Neil the sheep

Hmmm…

a personal favourite

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapoy

– i believe it’s used for anything up to a couple of weeks. My Russian ex was quite surprised to find out that we don’t really have a word in English for ‘two week drinking binge’

I like
Rhoi’r ffidil yn y to.
Literally means put the violin in the roof. Used when you finally give up on something.
Iar fach yr haf – little chicken of the summer – Butterfly
Mawredd mawr – Big Bigness – Godd grief
There’s many many more.

Man a man a mwnci

Welsh for “might as well”
That one must be a regional one as I’ve never heard it. It must be mid Wales as I’ve lived in both North and South Wales.

From French: L’esprit de l’escalier – which is when you think of a perfect witty retort sometime after the moment has passed.

Man a man a mwnci
Welsh for “might as well”

Malu cachu 😉

😆

My favourite German term is “Fuß Hupe”

It is used to describe small dogs (eg. chihuaua) and literally translates as “Foot-Horn”, because of the noise they make when you stand on them.

I’m so puerile.

Swedish has some great words i’m trying to introduce to Britain:

fika (fee-kah) : a social coffee break.

(i’ll admit i don’t know how to spell this: but i’m assured it’s correct)

Upehall (ooperhal) : it’s not raining, now… (with the implicit understanding that it was raining a moment ago, and surely will resume at any moment)

Tara (a bit)
My my
Bostin.

I like the Welsh idea of calling people by their first (or last) name and their job

A Welsh friend of mine always used to say things like “whose coat is this jacket?” and “whose shoes are these trainers”, which I believe is quite common Welsh parlance, but it always made me smile.

I enjoy getting as many Jewishisms into meetings as possible “schlepping”, “schmuk”, “oy vey” etc etc.

I’m a fan of using Latinisms whenever possible,

I am more in favour of Geordieisms.

Haddaway and shite, man.

😉

A Welsh friend of mine always used to say things like “whose coat is this jacket?” and “whose shoes are these trainers”,

Was your friend Shadwell?

Paid a mallu cachau 😉

ma dy sillafu di’n warthus

Je repose ma valise.

Just remembered this belter, from my recent trip to Germany