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• Classic-Fiction

hu khay beseret (Hebrew) he lives in a movie; his whole life is like a movie

non avere tutti i venerdì (Italian) to be lacking some Fridays

tem macaquinhos no sotão (Portuguese) he has little monkeys in the attic

udaren mokrom čarapom (Serbian) hit with a wet sock

ikke at være den skarpeste kniv i skuffen (Danish) not to be the sharpest knife in the drawer

4. Social Animals

ui mai koe ki ahau he aha te mea nui o te ao, māku e kī atu he tangata, he tangata, he tangata! (Maori)

ask me what is the greatest thing in the world, I will reply: it is people, it is people, it is people!

Most of us are sociable creatures, unable to avoid relying on those around us to keep us happy:

bukaladza (Tsonga, South Africa) to dispel boredom by doing something such as paying a visit

buren (Dutch) to look in upon one’s neighbours

lishashamana (Lozi, Niger-Congo) the habit of running out to see anything that happens

gezellig (Dutch) an atmosphere of cosiness, of being with good friends, and spending time together laughing and having fun; the kind of moments that create memories

Hermit

Better that than being the odd one out:

lappsjuka (Swedish) a state of melancholy through being so isolated

encontrarse como un pulpo en un garaje (Spanish) to be like a fish out of water (literally, to be like an octopus in a garage)

nkunkula pansi (Mambwe, Zambia) an orphan who has no one to look after him and passes his time playing in the dust

Whacking aunt

When we do get together, are our conversations as morally improving as they might be?

gigirhi-gigirhi (Tsonga, South Africa) to go from village to village exchanging gossip

Klatschbase (German) a person who always gossips (literally, whacking aunt)

ngasngás (Tagalog, Philippines) a scandal caused by gossip

Bären aufbinden (German) to tell false tales (literally, to tie a bear onto someone)

False friends

sober (Estonian) male friend

drug (Russian) good friend

fun (Yoruba, Nigeria, Benin and Togo) to give

host (Czech) guest

Party spirit

For some the urge to socialize can get the better of their wiser instincts:

mawadishiweshkiwin (Ojibway, North America) the habit of making visits too often

mit der Tür ins Haus (German) failing to take someone by surprise, to be too direct, to be too forward (literally, to fall with the door into the house)

paglaguma (Tagalog, Philippines) the act of joining others in a party although uninvited

paracaidista (Central American Spanish) a freeloader, gatecrasher; also someone who jumps into a discussion without knowing anything about the subject (literally, parachutist)

Storm-free shack

But then who can resist a really good bash?

parapetowka (Polish) the first party in someone’s new apartment (literally, a windowsiller – as there’s no furniture yet)

ipeje (Yoruba, Nigeria, Benin and Togo) an invitation to a banquet

ponkal (Tamil) a boiling, a bubbling-up; a great festival in honour of the sun entering the sign Capricorn (the name comes from the cooking of the celebratory rice)

eine sturmfreie Bude (German) a flat without the parents, thus allowing the children to throw a party (literally, a storm-free shack)

nachspil (Swedish) a follow-up party

After-parties

In Japan, the second, sometimes spontaneous gathering that happens after you have left the main party is called nijikai. If you move on after a while to a third place, it’s called sanjikai.

Looking over the fence

Some guests are obviously more welcome than others:

partigangare (Swedish) a fanatical partygoer

laumaeläin (Finnish) a gregarious animal

Zaungast (German) a guest who looks over the fence to get at least the music of the party (literally, fence guest)

aguafiestas (Spanish) a killjoy, one who throws water on a party (literally, water party)

The sound of yoghurt

A little music often helps …

kanariom (Yoeme, USA and Mexico) the first tune played or danced

dorremifassolar (Portuguese) to play scales on the piano

yaourt (French) English pop music sung without any understanding