THE BEAUTY OF UNTRANSLATABLE WORDS is in their ability to capture the feelings we don’t know how to put into words. And I’m so glad we don’t have English equivalents for these ones. If we did, illustrator Emma Block couldn’t have created these wonderful drawings for Vashi.
1
Flechazo (Spanish)
An arrow shot—love at first sight. Illustration: Emma Block / Vashi
2
Koi no yokan (Japanese)
When you meet someone and know you are destined to fall in love. Illustration: Emma Block / Vashi
3
Mamihlapinatapei (Yaghan)
The shared look of desire between two people too shy to make the first move. Illustration: Emma Block / Vashi
To see more of Emma Block’s illustrations, visit her website. Learn more about Vashi’s series, More than just a word: Untranslatable words of love from around the world, here.
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