With Valentine’s day around the corner, we take a look at some of the most beautiful words and phrases associated with love in various different languages.
Ya’arburnee: Literal translation: “You bury me”
This Arabic phrase is the ultimate declaration of love. When this phrase is uttered to another person, the meaning is that you wish to die before them, as you cannot bear to live without them.
Saudade: Literal translation: “Longing”
A Portuguese word which refers to a feeling of sadness or nostalgia, and the desire to return to a place or occasion evoking happiness. The feeling represents a deep and evocative feeling of longing, which cannot be explained in English with one word.
Koi No Yokan: Closest translation: “Love at first sight”
This Japanese describes the feeling when a person first meets someone, the presentiment that they will eventually fall in love with each other. There is no equivalent phrase for this in English, as the concept itself is not really known in English. The closest translation would be “love at first sight”, although this does have exactly the same meaning.
Onsra: Boro Language of India
In the Boro language of India, there are different words depending on the type of love. “Onsra” refers to a love between two people where they know that it will not last.
Gigil: Tagalog
This Tagalog phrase is used to describe a feeling that overcomes someone when they want to pinch something or someone very cute.
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