So you think you can spell? Youngsters in modern spelling bees are expected to memorize a wide range of words, from chemical processes to names of rare animals. Also: In many languages, the word for “mother” begins with the letter M — but not in all...
In Finland, the term pilkunviilaaja applies to someone who given to hairsplitting. This word for someone who’s “persnickety” literally means “comma-polisher” or “comma-filer.” The Finnish word pilkun means “of a comma” and viilaaja means “someone...
The Finnish verb kehrätä can mean “to spin thread” or “to purr like a cat.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Kehrätä” There is a lovely Finnish word that means both to spin thread and to purr as a cat does. It’s kerata. Kerata. Oh...
Finns say their word sisu meaning “guts” or “fortitude” characterizes their national identity. Does your culture have such a word, like the Portuguese term saudade, perhaps? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Cultural Terms for...
Holy wah, a Yooper corruption of “wow”, is specific to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Evidently, it comes in handy when spotting a bear. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Holy Wah” Hello, you have A Way with Words? Yes, this is...
kanny n.— «In most languages the terms used for mobile phones reflect their two salient features: mobility and intimacy. Finnish teenagers called mobile phones “jupinalle” (meaning yuppie teddy bears); now they call them “kannykka” or “kanny”, a...