• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

kataobairi (Gilbertese, Oceania) to go under the surface of the water with only one’s nostrils above

terkapai-kapai (Malay) nervously moving the arms about (said of a bad swimmer)

tankah (Hawaiian Pidgin) a surfboard that seats six

limilimi (Hawaiian) to be turned over and over in the surf

Dizzy dancing

In many parts of the world, though, resources dictate that they have to make their own fun:

akkharikā (Pali, India) a game recognizing syllables written in the air or on one’s back

antyākshrī (Hindi) a poetic competition in which a contestant recites a couplet beginning with the last letter recited by the previous contestant and which is then carried on by rival teams

kapana (Setswana, Botswana) to catch each other with both hands when taking turns to fall from a height

sikki (Ilokano, Philippines) a game played by tossing pebbles aloft and catching as many of them as possible on the back of the hand

pitz/pokolpok (Mayan, Central America) a game in which the object is to put a rubber ball through a stone ring using only hips, knees and elbows

mmamadikwadikwane (Setswana, Botswana) a game in which a child spins round until dizzy; it’s also the term for ballroom dancing

Taking part

The Tagalog language of the Philippines has some great words to describe how – literally speaking – to play the game:

salimpusà asking someone to participate in a game to appease him, although he is not necessarily wanted

perdegana an agreement in certain games whereby the loser wins

haplít the final burst of energy when trying to win a race

Suits and tricks

If you’re grebleyi na kon’kakh (Russian) incompetent at sports (literally, to row on skates), perhaps it’s wiser to seek alternative thrills:

aéstomêhasené (Cheyenne, USA) to play cards for nothing; that is, to play without betting anything

hila’ (Manobo, Philippines) to take a trick with a winning card

orobairi (Gilbertese, Oceania) to hit the nose of the loser in cards

Kiebitz (German) an onlooker at a card game who interferes with unwanted advice

kofu kofu (Sranan Tongo, Surinam) a bet where the winner gets to hit the loser

Live entertainment

‘Those who have free tickets to the theatre have the most criticism to make,’ say the Chinese, but live entertainment can often be surprisingly enjoyable (for those taking part, that is):

recevoir son morceau de sucre (French) to be applauded the moment one first appears on stage (literally, to receive one’s piece of sugar)

Sitzfleisch (German) the ability to sit through long and boring events without losing concentration (literally, seat meat)

One is fun

For the Japanese, gentler pleasures suffice:

sabi a feeling of quiet grandeur enjoyed in solitude (normally involving the beauty that comes from the natural ageing of things)

shibui a transcendently beautiful and balanced image, such as an autumn garden (literally, sour, astringent)

Stories with bears

Or one could indulge one’s creative urges:

brat s potolka (Russian) to make something up (literally, to take something from the ceiling)

hohátôhta’hàne (Cheyenne, USA) to laugh while storytelling

istories gia arkudes (Greek) narrated events that are so wild and crazy it seems that they can’t possibly be true (literally, stories with bears)

Bookmark

Or just kick back and enjoy the efforts of others:

kioskvältare (Swedish) a bestselling film/book (literally, something that tips over the booth)

hinmekuru (Japanese) to turn a page over violently

ádi (Telugu, India) a mark left in a book to show the place where the reader left off

Drooping tongue

However hard you try to prevent it, our day of recreation draws to its inevitable end:

bantil (Bikol, Philippines) to pinch the back of the neck to relieve weariness

traer la lengua de corbata (Latin American Spanish) to be worn out; to be exhausted (literally, to have your tongue hanging out like a man’s tie)

Nodding off

And in different postures and places we drift into blessed oblivion:

corra-chodal (Gaelic) sleeping on one’s elbow

clavar