The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World
Sign in to keep track of books you’ve read and want to read.
A divine gift for the word-obsessed—a deliciously eccentric world tour of words that have no English equivalentThe countless language freaks who've worn out their copies of Eats, Shoots and Leaveswill find inexhaustible distraction in The Meaning of Tingo. Where else will they discover that Bolivians have a word that means "I was rather too drunk last night and it's all their fault"? As for tingo, on Easter Island it means "to take all the objects one desires from the house of a friend, one at a time, by borrowing them." Organized by themes such as food, the human body, and sex and love, this irresistible book combs through more than 254 languages in search of those gorgeous oddities that have no direct English counterpart—words so strange and apt that if they didn't exist, they would have to be invented.
Read more
Highlights from The Meaning of Tingo:
mencomet(Indonesian): stealing things of small value such as food or drinks, partly for fun
scheissbedauern(German): the disappointment one feels when something turns out not nearly as badly as one had hoped
mono-no-aware(Japanese): appreciating the sadness of existence
mahj(Persian): looking beautiful after disease
plimpplamppletteren(Dutch): the skimming of a flat stone as many times as possible across the surface of the water
koshatnik(Russian): a dealer in stolen cats
ava(Tahitian): wife (but also means whisky)
Liked The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World? Here’s where I’d start.
These suit anyone who liked The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.
-
They Have a Word for It: A Lighthearted Lexicon of Untranslatable Words & Phrases Shares language, nonfiction, linguistics -
In Other Words: A Language Lover's Guide to the Most Intriguing Words Around the World Shares language, nonfiction, linguistics -
I'm Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears and Other Intriguing Idioms From Around the World Shares language, nonfiction, linguistics -
Anonyponymous: The Forgotten People behind Everyday Words Shares nonfiction, language, linguistics
“People who read The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World tend to reach for these next.”
“If you want more of the same (history about art), start with these.”
“If it was the language that hooked you, try one of these.”
-
The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
-
English as a Second F*cking Language: How to Swear Effectively, Explained in Detail With Numerous Examples Taken from Everyday Life
-
Lingo: A Language Spotter's Guide to Europe
-
Why You Say It : The Fascinating Stories Behind Over 600 Everyday Words and Phrases
