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It’s right there—right on the tip of your tongue.
What the heck was that silly word you were thinking of?
Have you ever tried to describe something and been unable to find the right words for it?
Of course you have—that’s a natural part of learning any language.
Sometimes you even end up using a horribly wrong word or two.
It happens in your native language too, though, doesn’t it? Sometimes your language isn’t capable of describing a specific situation or item without using ten million extra words.
One of the great things about learning Spanish is that, the more you learn, the more you expand your mind.
For instance, there are numerous words that exist in Spanish that don’t have a direct English translation. That means that if you type them into Google for an English equivalent, chances are you’ll come up with a smattering of different words or sentences strung together to get the idea across.
That’s the point. For some, there’s simply not an easy translation. For others, the words may mean something direct in English (literally) but they mean something completely different when spoken in Spanish (context). All in all, you’ll be giving your brain tons of new ways to express ideas.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere.
34 Unique and Untranslatable Spanish Words You’ve Gotta KnowSo, now it’s time to expand your vocabulary and expand your mind. Here are some wonderfully unique Spanish words that’ll introduce you to a world of new ideas and expressions.
Just a quick note: Remember not to simply learn words in isolation! Put these words into sentences, use them in everyday conversations and watch authentic videos to remember them.
One great way to hear authentic Spanish speech is with FluentU.
PardoSome of the first things we teach our children are their colors right? Red, purple, black and so forth.
Have you ever seen a car that isn’t quite gray but it isn’t quite brown either? I have one, actually, and whenever English-speaking people ask me what color my car is I just shrug. When Spanish-speaking people ask me, I’ve got an answer.
Pardo — the color between gray and brown.
LampiñoI have a friend who looks like he’s twelve even though he’s in his thirties. He doesn’t really have substantial facial hair, can’t grow a beard and has evidently found the fountain of youth.
I think we can all agree that we know someone or have seen someone like this. Maybe you can envision a boy in your middle school who was so proud of that one little whisker on his chin.
Lampiño — Hairless, but more specifically a man who cannot grow facial hair or has very thin facial hair.
MancoIt’s interesting that we don’t have this word in the English vocabulary. We have words that come close, but most of them are derogatory.
Manco — A one-armed man.
TuertoApparently the Spanish-speakers of the world are much better at describing people’s physical features. I feel like having a word like this in English would make it much easier to describe pirates.
Tuerto — A one-eyed man.
Vergüenza AjenaHave you ever heard of the website People Of Walmart?
If not, you should hop on over there once you’re done reading this post. It’s full of pictures of people who decided to go to Walmart with no shame. Some of them are in pajamas. Most are wearing clothes that are too tight, inappropriate or downright scary.
Or, if that’s not ringing a bell, have you seen the TV show “What Not To Wear?” All episodes feature hidden camera footage of someone walking down the street clearly unaware of how ridiculous or frumpy they look. Of course, you can’t say anything if you see something like this in real life. Instead, you just shake your head.
Vergüenza Ajena — To feel embarrassed for someone even if they don’t feel embarrassed themselves. This is sometimes referred to as “secondhand embarrassment.”
MorboDo you love Tim Burton? Or the sight of blood? Maybe you enjoyed reading “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe. You have a love for something dark and you aren’t sure why because, let’s be honest, it’s a little creepy or gross.
Morbo — A morbid fascination.
EmpalagarThis one doesn’t happen to me very often because my sweet tooth is out of control. On a rare occasion, I’ll take a bite of dark chocolate cake with decadent chocolate frosting and think to myself, “Wow! That’s sweet!” Then a minute or two later I’ll regret that chocolate cake because my head is pulsing from sweetness overload.
Have you ever felt a little nauseated after seeing a couple being overly affectionate with each other, perhaps smothering each other in kisses on the street corner? This verb works for that, too.
Empalagar — When something’s sickening or nauseating because it’s too sweet.
QuincenaEveryone is waiting for the quincena!
That’s the bi-monthly payment that many employees receive in the Spanish-speaking world: Once on the 15th of the month, and once at the end of the month. It’s almost like saying “a fortnight,” but they use 15 days as a marker instead of 14.
For people awaiting paychecks, that first payment of the month always falls on the 15th. Apparently 15 is more significant in Spanish than in English in general!
Quincena — A period of 15 days.
DuendeIt’s sometimes argued that this is the most difficult Spanish word to translate into English. Why? In Spanish literature, especially poetry, this word is used very often to describe how a person feels about nature. However, especially in Spain, it can be used to describe an indescribable charm or magic that isn’t limited to nature. You might hear about the duende of flamenco singing, for example.
Duende — The feeling of awe and inspiration had, especially when standing in nature. The overwhelming sense of beauty and magic.
AturdirI have two daughters that are under the age of two. Naturally, my house is always a mess. I’m always a day behind and a dollar short.
This is a feeling I’m incredibly familiar with, but there’s no real way to describe it in English. Another time I often felt this way was when I was in college and I had two papers, an exam, a project and twenty pages of reading due the next day. Maybe I wouldn’t feel this so often if I were more organized…
We can also use this verb when we hear a piece of news that dumbfounds us or stuns us, leaving us speechless and/or bothered.
Aturdir — When something overwhelms, bewilders, or stuns you to the point that you’re unable to focus and think straight.
EnmadrarseWhile we’re on the subject of my daughters, my oldest daughter becomes very frantic when I leave her. Whether I’m leaving for work or just leaving the room, oftentimes she’ll panic. Even if her dad is still in the room with her, she’ll stress when I’m not with her.
Enmadrarse — When a child is very attached (emotionally) to their mother.
ConcuñadoThis summer my husband was shadowing a doctor to learn more about his practice. When people asked how we knew the doctor it became really confusing really fast. If only concuñado were a word in English.
Concuñado — The husband of your spouse’s sister or the husband of your sister-in-law.
ConsuegroAnother word about family that would solve a lot of confusing explanations.
My daughter has two sets of grandparents, my parents and my husband’s parents. We can clearly explain the relationship of both sets of grandparents to my daughter, to me and to my husband (mom and dad and the in-laws). But what are they to each other?
Consuegro — The relationship between two sets of in-laws. My parents and my husband’s parents are consuegros.
ResolHave you ever held a mirror in your hand, caught the sun’s glare just right and shined it in your older brother’s eyes? Let’s be honest, who hasn’t?
Resol — The reflection of the sun off of a surface or the glare of the sun.
RecogerseYou’ve been sitting on the porch enjoying the evening. But now the sun has set. The yawns are starting to set in. The evening’s coming to an end and you all decide to go indoors.
Recogerse — To go indoors in the evening once the day is over or to go home to rest or go to bed.
EstrenarAfter you go shopping, you’re beyond excited to wear your new clothes for the first time. At least, that’s how I always feel. Sometimes I’ll even wait until I know that I’ll be around a lot of people so I can show off my new digs.
Estrenar — To wear something for the first time or to break something in.
MerendarIn English we often call this “going out for coffee.” But that’s very limiting to just getting coffee. Merendar widens that idea up quite a bit.
Merendar — Going out to have a snack, coffee, brunch or some other small meal.
SobremesaWhile living in Argentina, my family loved to go out to eat at the local restaurants. The atmosphere was incredibly different from any restaurant I’ve been to in the United States.
Once the meal is over in the United States, the waiter usually will bring you the check, you’ll pay immediately and you’ll leave. In many Spanish cultures, it’s very common to stay at the table for hours after the meal is over and just talk over a cup of coffee.
Sobremesa — The conversation that takes place at the dinner table after the meal is over.
PuenteMuch like sobremesa, puente speaks to the Spanish culture. Now, puente does mean bridge but, in some cases, it’s a very specific (and abstract) bridge that we don’t talk about much in English.
Puente — When Thursday is a holiday and you take off Friday to bridge the holiday to the weekend, or, likewise, when Tuesday is a holiday and you take off Monday to extend your weekend.
AntierTechnically this word can be translated directly into English, but it’s a lengthy, wordy phrase. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a single word?
Antier — The day before yesterday.
Antier is a bit antiquated, and anteayer is the more common phrase in modern day.
FriolentoMy neighbor’s mom was in town staying with her for a few days. Overall, the weather was pretty nice and sunny. Then all of a sudden it started snowing. She came downstairs and told her daughter, “There’s a flight leaving in an hour, I’m out of here!”
Friolento — Someone who’s sensitive to the cold. The cold can refer to the weather, drinks or food.
DesveladoWe’ve all had those nights when we’ve tossed and turned and tried to sleep but just couldn’t convince the sandman to stop at our mattress.
Desvelado — Unable to sleep or sleep-deprived.
Te QuieroYou’re in a new relationship. You’re really starting to fall for this guy/girl. You like them as more than a friend, but jumping from friend to “I love you” is like trying to jump across a wide lake. If only you had a stepping stone.
Te Quiero — More than “I like you,” but not quite “I love you.”
TutearUsted versus tú is a confusing concept for someone who’s just learning Spanish or for someone who speaks no Spanish at all. We don’t have a formal and an informal speech in English.
Tutear — When you speak to someone in the informal tú form.
EstadounidenseWhile I was living in Argentina, I’d have friends ask me about my nationality. “I’m American,” I’d reply. “North American or South American?” “North American…I’m from the States…” would be my unsure reply to that follow-up question.
If only I’d known that Spanish has a more specific word for this than English does!
Estadounidense — Someone who’s from the United States.
EntrecejoDo you remember Bert and Ernie from “Sesame Street”? Bert had that fabulous unibrow which was really a fuzzy line across his puppet face. He didn’t have an entrecejo.
Entrecejo — The space between your eyebrows.
ChapuzaHave you ever seen a car that’s literally being held together by zip ties and duct tape? Or maybe someone has made a cake and it looks awful?
Chapuza — A lousy job, a shabby piece of work. When something’s put together poorly.
Dar Un ToqueThis phrase was probably more applicable before texting was so widely used. But it’s still something that I find myself doing when I want someone to call me back and I know they won’t answer my initial call.
Dar Un Toque — Calling someone, letting it ring once, then hanging up so the person knows to call you back.
GolpistaPerhaps it’s a good thing that in English we haven’t needed this word. It makes sense that, with as much political unrest as there has been in Spanish-speaking countries, there would be a specific Spanish word for someone like Franco.
Golpista — The leader of a military coup.
MimosoWe all know that person who loves hugs and kisses and affection in general. They may even like to be fussed over. We could be talking about our grandma who loves hugging and kissing us, or our cat who wants your constant attention and petting.
Mimoso — Someone who enjoys being given affection or wants to give affection in the form of physical contact.
PavonearseSometimes, the mimosos in our lives enjoy pavonearse.
Pavonearse — Strutting around like a peacock, acting like they own the place.
SolerEveryone does this a million times a day without even realizing it. Tying our shoes. Washing our hands a certain way. Pouring our cereal first then the milk.
Soler — Doing something out of habit, doing something that you’re used to doing.
TocayoMaybe if we had a fun word in English like this, children would stop being annoyed when someone else has the same name as them.
Tocayo — Someone who has the same name as you.
AmigovioThis isn’t a concept that’s uncommon in any culture worldwide. However, Spanish has consolidated another wordy English phrase into a single elegant word.
Amigovio(a) — Friend with benefits.
Well, there you have it!
Next time you can’t find the word in English, just drop the Spanish word casually.
“Oh your name’s Jessica? My name’s Jessica. We’re totally tocayas.”
Try it out!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere.
If you liked this post, something tells me that you’ll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos.
Experience Spanish immersion online!
34 Unique And Untranslatable Spanish Words You’Ve Gotta Know
Have you ever tried to describe something and been unable to find the right words for it?
Of course you have-that’s a natural part of learning any language.
Sometimes you even end up using a horribly wrong word or two.
It happens in your native language too, though, doesn’t it? Sometimes your language isn’t capable of describing a specific situation or item without using ten million extra words.
One of the great things about learning Spanish is that, the more you learn, the more you expand your mind.
For instance, there are numerous words that exist in Spanish that don’t have a direct English translation. That means that if you type them into Google for an English equivalent, chances are you’ll come up with a smattering of different words or sentences strung together to get the idea across.
That’s the point. For some, there’s simply not an easy translation. For others, the words may mean something direct in English (literally) but they mean something completely different when spoken in Spanish (context). All in all, you’ll be giving your brain tons of new ways to express ideas.
So, now it’s time to expand your vocabulary and expand your mind. Here are some wonderfully unique Spanish words that’ll introduce you to a world of new ideas and expressions.
Just a quick note: Remember not to simply learn words in isolation! Put these words into sentences, use them in everyday conversations and watch authentic videos to remember them.
One great way to hear authentic Spanish speech is with FluentU.
PardoSome of the first things we teach our children are their colors right? Red, purple, black and so forth.
Have you ever seen a car that isn’t quite gray but it isn’t quite brown either? I have one, actually, and whenever English-speaking people ask me what color my car is I just shrug. When Spanish-speaking people ask me, I’ve got an answer.
Pardo – the color between gray and brown.
LampiñoI have a friend who looks like he’s twelve even though he’s in his thirties. He doesn’t really have substantial facial hair, can’t grow a beard and has evidently found the fountain of youth.
I think we can all agree that we know someone or have seen someone like this. Maybe you can envision a boy in your middle school who was so proud of that one little whisker on his chin.
Lampiño – Hairless, but more specifically a man who cannot grow facial hair or has very thin facial hair.
MancoIt’s interesting that we don’t have this word in the English vocabulary. We have words that come close, but most of them are derogatory.
Manco – A one-armed man.
TuertoApparently the Spanish-speakers of the world are much better at describing people’s physical features. I feel like having a word like this in English would make it much easier to describe pirates.
Tuerto – A one-eyed man.
Vergüenza AjenaHave you ever heard of the website People Of Walmart?
If not, you should hop on over there once you’re done reading this post. It’s full of pictures of people who decided to go to Walmart with no shame. Some of them are in pajamas. Most are wearing clothes that are too tight, inappropriate or downright scary.
Or, if that’s not ringing a bell, have you seen the TV show “What Not To Wear?” All episodes feature hidden camera footage of someone walking down the street clearly unaware of how ridiculous or frumpy they look. Of course, you can’t say anything if you see something like this in real life. Instead, you just shake your head.
Vergüenza Ajena – To feel embarrassed for someone even if they don’t feel embarrassed themselves. This is sometimes referred to as “secondhand embarrassment.”
MorboDo you love Tim Burton? Or the sight of blood? Maybe you enjoyed reading “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe. You have a love for something dark and you aren’t sure why because, let’s be honest, it’s a little creepy or gross.
Morbo – A morbid fascination.
EmpalagarThis one doesn’t happen to me very often because my sweet tooth is out of control. On a rare occasion, I’ll take a bite of dark chocolate cake with decadent chocolate frosting and think to myself, “Wow! That’s sweet!” Then a minute or two later I’ll regret that chocolate cake because my head is pulsing from sweetness overload.
Have you ever felt a little nauseated after seeing a couple being overly affectionate with each other, perhaps smothering each other in kisses on the street corner? This verb works for that, too.
Empalagar – When something’s sickening or nauseating because it’s too sweet.
QuincenaEveryone is waiting for the quincena!
That’s the bi-monthly payment that many employees receive in the Spanish-speaking world: Once on the 15th of the month, and once at the end of the month. It’s almost like saying “a fortnight,” but they use 15 days as a marker instead of 14.
For people awaiting paychecks, that first payment of the month always falls on the 15th. Apparently 15 is more significant in Spanish than in English in general!
Quincena – A period of 15 days.
DuendeIt’s sometimes argued that this is the most difficult Spanish word to translate into English. Why? In Spanish literature, especially poetry, this word is used very often to describe how a person feels about nature. However, especially in Spain, it can be used to describe an indescribable charm or magic that isn’t limited to nature. You might hear about the duende of flamenco singing, for example.
Duende – The feeling of awe and inspiration had, especially when standing in nature. The overwhelming sense of beauty and magic.
AturdirI have two daughters that are under the age of two. Naturally, my house is always a mess. I’m always a day behind and a dollar short.
This is a feeling I’m incredibly familiar with, but there’s no real way to describe it in English. Another time I often felt this way was when I was in college and I had two papers, an exam, a project and twenty pages of reading due the next day. Maybe I wouldn’t feel this so often if I were more organized…
We can also use this verb when we hear a piece of news that dumbfounds us or stuns us, leaving us speechless and/or bothered.
Aturdir – When something overwhelms, bewilders, or stuns you to the point that you’re unable to focus and think straight.
EnmadrarseWhile we’re on the subject of my daughters, my oldest daughter becomes very frantic when I leave her. Whether I’m leaving for work or just leaving the room, oftentimes she’ll panic. Even if her dad is still in the room with her, she’ll stress when I’m not with her.
Enmadrarse – When a child is very attached (emotionally) to their mother.
ConcuñadoThis summer my husband was shadowing a doctor to learn more about his practice. When people asked how we knew the doctor it became really confusing really fast. If only concuñado were a word in English.
Concuñado – The husband of your spouse’s sister or the husband of your sister-in-law.
ConsuegroAnother word about family that would solve a lot of confusing explanations.
My daughter has two sets of grandparents, my parents and my husband’s parents. We can clearly explain the relationship of both sets of grandparents to my daughter, to me and to my husband (mom and dad and the in-laws). But what are they to each other?
Consuegro – The relationship between two sets of in-laws. My parents and my husband’s parents are consuegros.
ResolHave you ever held a mirror in your hand, caught the sun’s glare just right and shined it in your older brother’s eyes? Let’s be honest, who hasn’t?
Resol – The reflection of the sun off of a surface or the glare of the sun.
RecogerseYou’ve been sitting on the porch enjoying the evening. But now the sun has set. The yawns are starting to set in. The evening’s coming to an end and you all decide to go indoors.
Recogerse – To go indoors in the evening once the day is over or to go home to rest or go to bed.
EstrenarAfter you go shopping, you’re beyond excited to wear your new clothes for the first time. At least, that’s how I always feel. Sometimes I’ll even wait until I know that I’ll be around a lot of people so I can show off my new digs.
Estrenar – To wear something for the first time or to break something in.
MerendarIn English we often call this “going out for coffee.” But that’s very limiting to just getting coffee. Merendar widens that idea up quite a bit.
Merendar – Going out to have a snack, coffee, brunch or some other small meal.
SobremesaWhile living in Argentina, my family loved to go out to eat at the local restaurants. The atmosphere was incredibly different from any restaurant I’ve been to in the United States.
Once the meal is over in the United States, the waiter usually will bring you the check, you’ll pay immediately and you’ll leave. In many Spanish cultures, it’s very common to stay at the table for hours after the meal is over and just talk over a cup of coffee.
Sobremesa – The conversation that takes place at the dinner table after the meal is over.
PuenteMuch like sobremesa, puente speaks to the Spanish culture. Now, puente does mean bridge but, in some cases, it’s a very specific (and abstract) bridge that we don’t talk about much in English.
Puente – When Thursday is a holiday and you take off Friday to bridge the holiday to the weekend, or, likewise, when Tuesday is a holiday and you take off Monday to extend your weekend.
AntierTechnically this word can be translated directly into English, but it’s a lengthy, wordy phrase. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a single word?
Antier – The day before yesterday.
Antier is a bit antiquated, and anteayer is the more common phrase in modern day.
FriolentoMy neighbor’s mom was in town staying with her for a few days. Overall, the weather was pretty nice and sunny. Then all of a sudden it started snowing. She came downstairs and told her daughter, “There’s a flight leaving in an hour, I’m out of here!”
Friolento – Someone who’s sensitive to the cold. The cold can refer to the weather, drinks or food.
DesveladoWe’ve all had those nights when we’ve tossed and turned and tried to sleep but just couldn’t convince the sandman to stop at our mattress.
Desvelado – Unable to sleep or sleep-deprived.
Te QuieroYou’re in a new relationship. You’re really starting to fall for this guy/girl. You like them as more than a friend, but jumping from friend to “I love you” is like trying to jump across a wide lake. If only you had a stepping stone.
Te Quiero – More than “I like you,” but not quite “I love you.”
TutearUsted versus tú is a confusing concept for someone who’s just learning Spanish or for someone who speaks no Spanish at all. We don’t have a formal and an informal speech in English.
Tutear – When you speak to someone in the informal tú form.
EstadounidenseWhile I was living in Argentina, I’d have friends ask me about my nationality. “I’m American,” I’d reply. “North American or South American?” “North American…I’m from the States…” would be my unsure reply to that follow-up question.
If only I’d known that Spanish has a more specific word for this than English does!
Estadounidense – Someone who’s from the United States.
EntrecejoDo you remember Bert and Ernie from “Sesame Street”? Bert had that fabulous unibrow which was really a fuzzy line across his puppet face. He didn’t have an entrecejo.
Entrecejo – The space between your eyebrows.
ChapuzaHave you ever seen a car that’s literally being held together by zip ties and duct tape? Or maybe someone has made a cake and it looks awful?
Chapuza – A lousy job, a shabby piece of work. When something’s put together poorly.
Dar Un ToqueThis phrase was probably more applicable before texting was so widely used. But it’s still something that I find myself doing when I want someone to call me back and I know they won’t answer my initial call.
Dar Un Toque – Calling someone, letting it ring once, then hanging up so the person knows to call you back.
GolpistaPerhaps it’s a good thing that in English we haven’t needed this word. It makes sense that, with as much political unrest as there has been in Spanish-speaking countries, there would be a specific Spanish word for someone like Franco.
Golpista – The leader of a military coup.
MimosoWe all know that person who loves hugs and kisses and affection in general. They may even like to be fussed over. We could be talking about our grandma who loves hugging and kissing us, or our cat who wants your constant attention and petting.
Mimoso – Someone who enjoys being given affection or wants to give affection in the form of physical contact.
PavonearseSometimes, the mimosos in our lives enjoy pavonearse.
Pavonearse – Strutting around like a peacock, acting like they own the place.
SolerEveryone does this a million times a day without even realizing it. Tying our shoes. Washing our hands a certain way. Pouring our cereal first then the milk.
Soler – Doing something out of habit, doing something that you’re used to doing.
TocayoMaybe if we had a fun word in English like this, children would stop being annoyed when someone else has the same name as them.
Tocayo – Someone who has the same name as you.
AmigovioThis isn’t a concept that’s uncommon in any culture worldwide. However, Spanish has consolidated another wordy English phrase into a single elegant word.
Amigovio(a) – Friend with benefits.
Well, there you have it!
Next time you can’t find the word in English, just drop the Spanish word casually.
“Oh your name’s Jessica? My name’s Jessica. We’re totally tocayas. “
Try it out!
If you liked this post, something tells me that you’ll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos.
Experience Spanish immersion online!
12 Beautiful Japanese Words You Have To Know
A few years ago, I was introduced to the language of Japanese through work. These 12 beautiful Japanese words you have to know, for me, sum up how incredible the language is.
I remember the first time diving into the language of Japanese, I was smitten with the way the language could describe something. It was “words” we didn’t quite have in English. I found often that the Japanese language would often describe those in-between moments – the moments that are so hard to verbalize.
12 Beautiful Japanese Words You Have to Know 1. Shinrinyoku (森林浴)You know that moment you walk through a forest and all of the natural, green light goes over you? This word describes that moment of soaking it all in and is translated as “forest bath.” How magical.
2. Ikigai (生きがい)This was one of the first Japanese words I learned – it describes the reason for being, the reason for why you get up in the morning.
3. Itadakimasu (いただきます)It’s often said before every meal and it means “I humbly receive.” It captures appreciation for the work that went into preparing the meal.
4. Natsukashii (懐かしい)A word that captures the nostalgia for the past or close memory.
5. Wabi-Sabi (侘寂)When I think of Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi comes straight to mind. It’s hard to capture in English but essentially describes the concept that beauty lies in the imperfections of nature.
6. Kanbina (甘美な)A word that describes when a word sounds pleasant to hear.
7. Mono-no-aware (物の哀れ)It essentially captures that beauty is subjective and that our senses to the world around us make it beautiful – especially that beauty is impermanent and makes us appreciate it more. The best example is cherry blossoms falling springtime.
8. Furusato (ふるさと)Though it describes one’s hometown, it’s not always about where we are from but often where our hearts long for.
9. Tsundoku (積ん読)I love this one. It describes someone who is a book lover and collects so many that they pile up. Like a cross between a book worm and a hoarder.
10. Majime (まじめ)This is a reliable someone who gets things done, san the drama.
11. Yugen (幽玄)A word that describes a deep emotional awareness when triggered by being aware of the universe.
12. Mamori Tai (守りたい)It’s a phrase that essentially says “I will always protect you” and often comes from a loved one.
Save this post for later on Pinterest:12 Greek Words You Should Know
By Daniel Scocco
Below you will find 12 Greek words that are commonly used in our society. The next time you hear someone saying “Kudos to you,” you will know where it comes from.
1. Acme
The highest point of a structure. The peak or zenith of something. One could say that Rome reached the acme of its power on 117 AD, under the rule of Trajan.
The acme of modular, factory-built, passively safe reactor design, however, is found in South Africa. People there have been experimenting with so-called pebble-bed reactors for decades. (The Economist)
2. Acropolis
Acro means edge or extremity, while polis means city. Acropolis, therefore, refers to cities that were built with security purposes in mind. The word Acropolis is commonly associated with Greece’s capital Athens, although it can refer to any citadel, including Rome and Jerusalem.
The Beijing Olympics torch relay reached the ancient Acropolis in Athens on Saturday amid heavy police security and brief demonstrations by small groups of protesters. (New York Times)
3. Agora
The Agora was an open market place, present in most cities of the ancient Greece. Today the term can be used to express any type of open assembly or congregation.
The most characteristic feature of each settlement, regardless of its size, was a plaza-an open space that acted as a cemetery and may have been a marketplace. It was also, the archaeologists suspect, a place of political assembly, just as the agora in an ancient Greek city was both marketplace and legislature. (The Economist)
4. Anathema
Anathema is a noun and it means a formal ban, curse or excommunication. It can also refer to someone or something extremely negative, disliked or damned. Curiously enough, the original Greek meaning for this word was “something offered to the gods.”
Some thinkers argue that while collaboration may work for an online encyclopedia, it’s anathema to original works of art or scholarship, both of which require a point of view and an authorial voice. (USA Today)
5. Anemia
Anemia refers to a condition characterized by a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of the red blood cells (or of the hemoglobin). Over the years, however, the term started to appear in other contexts, referring to any deficiency that lies at the core of a system or organization.
6. Ethos
Translated literally from the Greek, ethos means “accustomed place.” It refers to a disposition or characteristics peculiar to a specific person, culture or movement. Synonyms include mentality, mindset and values.
Consumerism needs this infantilist ethos because it favors laxity and leisure over discipline and denial, values childish impetuosity and juvenile narcissism over adult order and enlightened self-interest, and prefers consumption-directed play to spontaneous recreation. (Los Angeles Times)
7. Dogma
Dogma refers to the established belief or set of principles held by a religion, ideology or by any organization. Dogmas are also authoritative and undisputed. Outside of the religious context, therefore, the term tends to carry a negative connotation. Notice that the plural is either dogmata or dogmas.
It’s not a new type of web, it’s just where the web has got to – it’s also a terrific excuse for much chatter on the blogging circuit, and a huge amount of dogmatism. (Financial Times)
8. Eureka
The exclamation Eureka is used to celebrate a discovery, and it can be translated to “I have found!”. It is attributed to the famous Greek mathematician Archimedes. While taking a bath, he suddenly realized that the water displaced must be equal to the volume of the part of his body he had submerged. He got so excited with the discovery that he left his home and started to run and shout “Eureka!” through the streets of Syracuse.
Those eureka moments in the shower or on the bus when something suddenly starts to make sense only happen if you keep plugging away. (The Guardian)
9. Genesis
Genesis means birth or origin. There are many synonyms for this word, including beginning, onset, start, spring, dawn and commencement. Genesis is also the name of the first book of the Bible.
And when Mr McCain headed to the safe shoals of policy wonkery, Mr Obama flayed his idea of calling for a commission to investigate the genesis of the financial crisis as the resort of politicians who don’t know what else to do. (The Economist)
10. Phobia
Many people wrongly think that a phobia is a fear. In reality it is more than that. Phobia is an irrational and exaggerated fear of something. The fear can be associated with certain activities, situations, things or people.
11. Plethora
You have a plethora when you go beyond what is needed or appropriate. It represents an excess or undesired abundance.
In California, for example, some neighborhoods have been blighted by the plethora of empty homes. Joe Minnis, a real estate agent for Prudential California, knows foreclosed homes in San Bernardino that have been systematically stripped, trashed and tagged by gang members. (Business Week)
12. Kudos
Kudos means fame or glory, usually resulting from an important act or achievement. It is interesting to notice that in Greek and in the Standard British English, Kudos is a singular noun. Inside the United States, however, it is often used in a plural form (e.g., You deserve many kudos for this accomplishment!)
They deserve the kudos because they could be deemed responsible for the marked improvement in the commercials during Super Bowl XL last night. (New York Times)
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262 Sat Vocab Words You Must Know
A lot of students immediately think of vocabulary when they hear the word SAT. But are SAT vocab words really that important for doing well on the test? Kind of. If you’re aiming for a high score, you’ll definitely want to spend some time learning key SAT words.
In this guide, we give you a comprehensive list of 262 of the most common SAT vocabulary words. We also explain how vocab is tested on the SAT, what types of questions you’ll see, and how to get the most out of your vocab prep.
How Is Vocabulary Tested on the SAT?The SAT underwent a significant redesign in 2023, and since then vocabulary has become a far less important part of the test. This is because there are fewer vocabulary questions on the current SAT than there were on the old SAT.
That said, it’ll still benefit you to study vocab, especially if you’re aiming for a high or perfect score.
All SAT words are about medium difficulty and are tested in the context of reading passages, so you’ll get not just a sentence but an entire paragraph or passage to work with.
Context clues make memorizing SAT vocab words less important on the current SAT than it was on the old SAT, back when you had to memorize dozens of obscure words and answer questions that dealt with isolated sentences ( these were called Sentence Completion problems). This made vocab questions particularly hard since you were given minimal context with which to solve them.
What Do SAT Vocabulary Questions Look Like?Purely vocabulary-based questions don’t make up a large part of the SAT. Based on our analysis of official SAT practice tests, 13% of the Reading section (or about seven questions) ask you to match a word with its correct meaning. We call these Words in Context questions.
For these questions, you’ll need to know alternative meanings of relatively common words, such as “directly” and “hold.” While you might come across slightly more difficult SAT words, you generally shouldn’t see any as hard as those on the old SAT.
Here’s an example of a Reading vocabulary question (with the relevant part of the passage shown):
In addition to Words in Context questions, you’ll get With these questions, you must understand what questions that require you to pick a single word or phrase in order to paraphrase or clarify part of a passage. all the SAT vocab words mean so that you can choose the right answer.
Here are some examples of these questions:
In these examples, you’ll need to know the definitions of a variety of SAT vocabulary words, such as “substantiated,” “freewheeling,” and “scandalous,” so that you can select the right answer choice.
Are There Any Vocab Questions on SAT Writing?Aside from the Reading section, are there any SAT vocab questions on the Writing and Language section? The quick answer is yes-you will see vocab questions on Writing and Language.
While most questions in this section focus on grammar, transitions, and tense, you’ll also get some vocab questions that ask you to replace SAT words in a passage; we call these Precision questions. In total, you’ll get three Precision questions, making up about 7% of the SAT Writing section.
Here’s an example of a Precision question (with the relevant part of the passage shown):
262 SAT Vocab Words You’re Bound to See on Test DayNow that you know what kinds of vocab questions are on the SAT, let’s go over the 262 words and definitions we suggest memorizing if you want to get high scores on SAT Reading and Writing.
To compile this list, we dug through all official SAT practice tests, looking at both the Reading and Writing sections (and not just the questions but the answer choices and passages, too). We also looked at SAT words from other online vocab lists.
Though you don’t need to memorize all the words below, familiarizing yourself with most of them should help you better identify the tones of passages and make you more efficient at interpreting and answering questions correctly on SAT Reading and Writing.
Below, we give you each word, its part of speech, its definition, and an example sentence (or more if the word has multiple definitions/parts of speech). All words are listed in alphabetical order.
n. someone who promotes or defends something
v. to defend or promote something (usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.)
adj. stern and forbidding
adj. relating to self-denial
He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the woods.
My boss had an austere expression on her face.
An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for everybody.
v. to have as a characteristic
She bears a strong resemblance to your mother.
Judy will bear her first child later this year.
My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year.
I can’t bear her complaining any longer!
v. to increase or make grow
The boost in profits was a welcome change.
In order to boost profits, you need to cater to your customers.
v. to trap or take possession of
v. to successfully represent or imitate
v. to captivate, mesmerize
The spy was captured by the enemy.
Your painting beautifully captures the ephemerality of life.
I was captured by her beauty.
The cops captured the criminal three days after the incident.
This novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn.
v. to foster the growth of
Teachers don’t just pass on new information to students-they cultivate their academic potential.
The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the US.
The potion was definitely potent -it healed my wounds immediately!
n. a cue to begin something; instructions
v. to incite, propel, or cause to act
She is always prompt when it comes to turning in her homework.
I had to write an essay based on a prompt.
The possibility of a scholarship prompted him to apply to Harvard.
v. to make dependent on or put at a lower rank
The subordinate officers work every day.
My subordinate will check you in.
You aren’t my boss-you can’t subordinate me to the role of receptionist!
adj. unfair; not justified
The court’s decision is unjust -he should not go free.
v. to encourage or persuade
He had the urge to tell his parents about his acceptance to Columbia but decided against it.
She urged her sister to apply to Stanford.
n. production of an amount
v. to give way to or surrender to
The farmer’s annual pumpkin yield exceeded 10,000.
Cars turning right on red must yield to oncoming traffic.
Our experiment yielded many unique-looking vegetables.
How to Study SAT Words Effectively: 3 Essential TipsNow that you’ve got a huge list of SAT vocabulary words you can work with, what’s the best way to study them? Here are three key tips to help you get the most out of your SAT vocab studies.
#1: Make Flashcards and Use the Waterfall MethodOne of the absolute best ways to study SAT vocab words is to make flashcards. This lets you control which SAT words you study and even randomizes them so that you don’t accidentally memorize words in a predetermined order.
We recommend using the waterfall method to study your chúng tôi this method, you’ll get to see all the words in your deck, going over the most challenging words more often than the ones you already know or sort of know.
Here’s how to use the waterfall method:
Once you’ve made your flashcards, split them up into decks (you can put whatever words you want in these decks) of about 30-50 cards each. Choose one deck to be your Starting Stack.
Go through your Starting Stack, looking at each and every card. For the words you know, put them in a Know It pile. For the words you don’t know, put them in a separate Struggled pile as so:
Now, pick up your Struggled pile and go through each card in it (leave your Know It pile where it is). Put the cards you know in a second Know It pile and the ones you don’t know in a Struggled pile.
You should now have two Know It piles and one Struggled pile:
Repeat this process of picking up your Struggled pile and going through each card until you’re left with about one to five cards in your Struggled pile:
By now you should know most, if not all, cards in your deck. But it isn’t enough to just go through them once- you also have to work back up your “waterfall” of cards.
To do this, combine your Struggled pile with your last Know It pile (the pile closest to the Struggled pile). T his will be your Working pile. Go through all the cards in this pile. If there are any words you forgot, go through the entire pile again and again until you’ve learned all the definitions in it.
Continue this pattern by combining your current Working pile with the next Know It pile. Go through all these cards until you know each one.
At the end, you should have made your way all the back to your original Starting Stack. You now know all the SAT words and their meanings in your deck! Repeat this waterfall method with the other decks you make so that you can learn even more critical SAT vocab words.
#2: Focus On Words You Don’t KnowIf you don’t have time to study the entire list above or only want to learn some SAT words, use our list to make a new vocab list containing only the words you don’t know. So if you know a word or are fairly sure you’ll be able to recognize it on test day, skip it and instead focus on the words you’ll have the most trouble remembering. Once you have your list, use the waterfall method to study it.
If you’re not a fan of paper flashcards, you can opt for digital flashcards. Anki is a free software you can download and use to make your own flashcards. The program uses spaced-repetition software (SRS) to show you difficult cards more often than those you know (basically, a digital version of the waterfall method).
#3: Take Official SAT Practice TestsSince the majority of the words in our list above come from you see whether you truly know the meanings of the words and official SAT practice tests, once you’ve studied these SAT words, you can put your knowledge to the test by taking a practice test. This lets whether you’ll be able to get the right answers in the context of a full-length, timed test-just like the real SAT.
If you miss any questions because you forgot the meaning of a word, go back over our SAT vocab words list using your flashcards and the waterfall method.
The Best SAT Vocab FlashcardsIf you plan to make your own SAT vocab flashcards from our list, you’ll need at least 300 blank index cards and a system to keep them organized. These basic cards are an affordable option that are also available in fun colors. You can keep them organized with plastic baggies or rubber bands, or you can get an organizer. Alternatively, try these easy-flip flashcards that include binder clips.
Though we strongly recommend making your own flashcards, you can also buy pre-made ones. There aren’t a lot of options for the new SAT. We’d recommend going with Barron’s 1100 Words You Need to Know, a series of exercises to master key words and idioms, or Manhattan’s GRE flashcards if you’re looking for a challenge.
Conclusion: The Importance of Studying SAT VocabularyOverall, vocabulary words don’t play a huge part on the SAT. That said, you’ll definitely have some questions on both the Reading and Writing sections that test your knowledge of SAT words, so it’s important to study those most likely to appear on test day.
The best way to study SAT vocabulary is to make flashcards and use the waterfall method. This ensures you know all the words in your deck and aren’t glossing over any difficult ones.
If you don’t want to make flashcards or don’t have time to study the whole list, however, it’s a good idea to pick out the words you don’t know and study just those. With these, you can either make a smaller deck of paper flashcards or opt for digital flashcards.
No matter how you choose to study SAT vocab words, be sure to test out what you’ve learned in the context of full-length practice tests. Nearly all the words in our list above come from official SAT practice tests, so you’re guaranteed to come across them in some form!
What’s Next?Want more tips on how to study SAT vocabulary words? Check out our expert tips for memorizing SAT words fast and learn why the waterfall method works so well.
Aiming for a high SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score? Take a peek at our in-depth guides to getting a perfect Reading score and learning how to read SAT passages.
Taking the ACT instead? Then you’ll need to know vocab for that test, too. Learn what words to expect on the ACT and how to study them.
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77 Latin Words, Abbreviations, And Expressions That You Should Know
ad nauseamto the point of disgust
Alternative to ad infinitum; repeating until it makes one sick.
Tom complained ad nauseam about his new job.
aurora borealisnorthern lightsA natural light display visible in the night time sky in Arctic regions; the same phenomena in the south is known as the aurora australis.
Even after twenty years of living in northern Alaska, Carol never ceased to be astonished by the sudden beauty of the aurora borealis.
coram deoin the presence of godThe theological idea that we live ever in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God.
We are never really alone, because all of life is lived coram deo.
cum laudeA title applied to academic graduates who attain to a level of excellence. Students can also graduate magna cum laude (with great honor) or summa cum laude (with highest honor).
Sarah is naturally smart, but it was her dedication to academic study that caused her to graduate summa cum laude.
deus ex machinaGod from the machineAn unexpected, artificial, or improbable resolution to a plot situation in a work of fiction.
The action movie was entertaining, but the ending was an unconvincing deus ex machina.
in vitroRefers to studies done on organisms isolated from their normal biological surroundings; commonly called test tube studies or experiments.
persona non gratanot-pleasing personAn unwelcome, unwanted, or undesirable person.
After I broke Aunt Wilma’s antique vase, I was persona non-grata at the Thomas home.
semper fidelesalways faithfulThe motto of the U.S. Marine Corps; sometimes abbreviated semper fi.
My uncle, the retired Marine sergeant, has “semper fideles” tattooed on his arm.
sicJust so; used to indicate that a preceding quotation is copied exactly, despite any errors of spelling, grammar, or fact.
The student wrote “the communists were probly right about some things [sic].”
sola fidefaith aloneOne of the “Five Solas” of the Protestant Reformation that summarize the theology of the reformers. The others are sola scriptura (by Scripture alone), sola gratia (by grace alone), solo Christo (Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone).
An important tenet of Protestantism is the idea of sola fide – that salvation is attained by faith, not works.
p.s. (post scriptum)After writing; used to indicated addendums to otherwise completed personal letters.
Sincerely,George
p.s., Don’t forget to feed the parrot.
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