12 Spanish Words With No Exact Equivalent
1. Jitanjáfora | Nonsense of words that create art
It is a poetic combination of meaningless or invented words with real ones, which take meaning and connotations within context. It is used to express everything because it means nothing.
Example: I’ve got so many things going on in my mind right now, It’s like a jitanjáfora in there.
2. Nefelibata | Cloud walker
A dreamer who lives in the clouds of their own imagination; one who does not abide the conventions of society, literature, or art.
Example: She thinks she can change the world with art. She is a nefelibata, like most artists.
3. Ataraxia | Peace of mind and soul
A lucid state of wholeness and tranquility, an ongoing freedom undisturbed by desire or fear.
Example: He claims the spiritual retreat made him fall into an ataraxia where he has found happiness.
4. Acendrado | Extreme pureness
Something or someone completely pure and flawless.
Example: She truly believed she could find an acendrado love, such as the ones she used to read about.
5. Empalagarse | To be made sick from sweets
Verb that describes being made sick after overeating too many sweets.
Example: It is quite normal to empalagarse after eating too much chocolate.
6. Engentar | To be overwhelmed by crowds
Verb that describes being trapped by a crowd and getting disturbed or anxious.
Example: You just missed him; he said he was engentado from all these people at the concert and left.
7. Friolento | Sensitive to the cold
The feeling of getting cold very easily.
Example: My brother is very friolento. He’s always wearing a sweater.
8. Macho | Pejoratively masculine
Denoting or exhibiting pride in characteristics believed to be typically masculine, such as physical strength, sexual appetite, etc. or a man who displays such characteristics.
Example: He thinks he’s macho enough to do all those dangerous things.
9. Madrugada | Early morning
It is used to express specifically the time elapsed from midnight to dawn.
Example: The incident occurred at two o’clock in the madrugada down Pine Street.
10. Pícaro | Person who is charming to the point of being devilish
A roguish character, charming feature or skill to flirt with a certain malice.
Example: I always knew he was a pícaro, but I did not realize it until he broke my heart.
11. Soponcio | Fainting feeling
A fainting feeling under an overwhelming or stressful situation.
Example: My mother almost had a soponcio when she found out about my grades.
12. Tocayo | Name twin
Someone who has the same name as another person.