Untranslatables

Pana Po’o

Language: Hawaiian

Meaning: Scratching your head to help remember something.

He stood at the counter, deep in pana po’o, trying to recall his PIN.

Language: Samoan

Meaning: A squeaking sound made by sucking air to get attention.

She gave a quick faamiti to hush the kids from across the room.

Language: Tagalog

Meaning: The fluttery excitement of romantic attraction.

A single text from him gave her that unmistakable kilig feeling.

Language: Welsh

Meaning: Homesickness for a place that no longer exists or may never have been.

Looking at old photos filled her with hiraeth.

Language: Swedish

Meaning: Waking up early to hear the birds sing.

Her morning gökotta became a calming daily ritual.

Language: French

Meaning: The feeling of having experienced something before.

Walking into the old bookstore gave her strong déjà vu.