Ten Relationship Words That Aren't Translatable Into English Mamihlapinatapei (Yagan, an indigenous language of Tierra del Fuego): "The wordless yet meaningful look shared by two people who desire to initiate something, but are both reluctant to start. "
Yuanfen (Chinese): "A relationship by fate or destiny. This is a complex concept. It draws on principles of predetermination in Chinese culture, which dictate relationships, encounters and affinities, mostly among lovers and friends. "
Cafuné (Brazilian Portuguese): "The act of tenderly running your fingers through someone's hair. "
Retrouvailles (French): "The happiness of meeting again after a long time. "
Ilunga (Bantu): "A person who is willing to forgive abuse the first time; tolerate it the second time, but never a third time. "
La Douleur Exquise (French): "The heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can’t have. "
Koi No Yokan (Japanese): "The sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall into love. "
Ya’aburnee (Arabic): "“You bury me.” It’s a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person, because of how difficult it would be to live without them. "
Forelsket: "(Norwegian): The euphoria you experience when you’re first falling in love. "
Saudade (Portuguese): "The feeling of longing for someone that you love and is lost. Another linguist describes it as a "vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist.""