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[nerdfury.livejournal.com]

L’appel du vide

French

“The call of the void” is this French expression’s literal translation, but more significantly it’s used to describe the instinctive urge to jump from high places.

Ya’aburnee

Arabic

Both morbid and beautiful at once, this incantatory word means “You bury me,” a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person because of how difficult it would be to live without them.

Duende

Spanish

Originally used to describe a mythical, spritelike entity that possesses humans and creates the feeling of awe of one’s surroundings in nature, its meaning has transitioned into referring to “the mysterious power that a work of art has to deeply move a person.”

Saudade

Portuguese

This word “refers to the feeling of longing for something or someone that you love and which is lost.” Fado music, a type of mournful singing, relates to saudade.

Comments

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

It's good to know I'm not the only one who's experienced l'appel du vide.

[temperance14.livejournal.com]

Have you been reading Lorca, by any chance?

Lorca's Lecture: Theory and Play of the Duende (http://ebooks.gutenberg.us/TonyKline_Collection/Html/LorcaDuende.htm)

[meridian_rose]

I've heard of duende though I wasn't entirely sure of the meaning, and I was recently introduced through fanfic to the concept of saudade. The other two are completely new to me and fascinating. I love these 'no equivalent in English' words that are so deeply expressive.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

*turns up Cesaria Evora's "Sodade"*

(She's from Cape Verde, where they spell Portuguese differently.)

---L.