Have you ever experienced a really profound emotion, but lacked the right words to describe it? You're not alone!

Sometimes the words we already know aren't quite enough to describe nuanced and specific emotions…

Last year around this time, we explored words from different cultures that capture profound and often indescribable emotions.

These are feelings that are so nuanced they don't have a direct translation in English. You can check out the 5 words we explored here!

This theme was so popular with our community last year, we thought we would run it back again this year with five new words from around the world.

Dig in, explore, and you just might discover a word for an emotion you've experienced but didn't know how to describe — until now!

Saudade

Our first word is Saudade (sow-DAH-deh). Saudade is a Portuguese word with deep cultural roots in Portugal and Brazil.

Saudade captures a bittersweet mix of longing, nostalgia, and affection for something or someone absent, often without a clear hope for reunion.

It’s the ache of remembering something so deeply loved but that is now gone. It could be a person, a place, a chapter of life.

You might feel saudade when you hear a song from a different era of your life. When you smell a familiar scent and it takes you right back. When you pass a place you used to spend time with someone who’s no longer here.

Saudade also carries a sense of gratitude. It recognizes that something was so meaningful that it left a lasting impression. It doesn’t mean you want to go back. It means you honor what was.

Experiencing Saudade

Today I invite you to choose one memory that brings you Saudade. Think about a person, place, or time you miss. What do you remember most clearly about it? Share that memory with someone or jot it down today — without needing to change it or fix it.

Mamihlapinatapai

We’re going to explore a word that represents a feeling that lives in shared moments. Not with words, but with glances.

Our next word is Mamihlapinatapai (ma-MEE-la-pin-ah-TA-pie). This word comes from the language of the Yaghan people, an Indigenous group from the southernmost tip of South America, in Tierra (Tee-air-uh) del Fuego (FWAY-go). It's often cited as one of the most untranslatable words in the world.

Mamihlapinatapai is that charged, quiet moment when two people feel the same pull. This pull can be romantic, emotional, or simply a decision waiting to be made but neither wants to make the first move.

You both know what's happening, but no one says it out loud.

You might have experienced it during a long pause in a conversation, a glance that lasted just a little too long, or even in a work setting where two people clearly want to take action but hesitate.

Sometimes nothing comes of it. Sometimes everything does. But the moment itself? It stays with you.

Experiencing Mamihlapinatapai

Reflection question: Recall a time when something almost happened BUT didn’t. What did you feel at that moment? 💭

Sobremesa

Our next word focuses on the simple, relaxed moments we share when we just stay present together.

Sobremesa (soh-breh-MEH-sah) is deeply rooted in Spanish-speaking cultures, especially in Spain and Latin America, where it’s common to linger at the table after a meal.

It's a cultural tradition that values presence, conversation, and connection. Literally, it means "over the table."

It refers to the time after a meal when people stay seated, talking, laughing, digesting… not just food, but life. There’s no urgency to clear the plates.

It reminds us to slow down. To stay present. To let the moment last just a little longer.

Sometimes, the most meaningful parts of our day happen when we’re simply sitting, sharing, and being together.

Experiencing Sobremesa

After your next meal, whether you’re alone or with others, resist the urge to get up right away. Don’t rush to clean up or get back to your to-do list. Sit a little longer. Take 5 quiet minutes to sit, sip something warm or refreshing, and let your body and mind catch up to each other.

Ubuntu

Our next word is Ubuntu (oo-BOON-too). It roughly translates to "I am because we are."

Ubuntu comes from southern Africa and is rooted in the philosophies and traditions of the Nguni Bantu peoples. It speaks to a belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.

Ubuntu is the idea that how we treat people matters and that our own well-being is tied to the well-being of others.

You might feel Ubuntu when someone checks in on you without being asked. When a neighbor lends a hand. Or when coworkers cover for each other without hesitation.

When someone brings you a meal after a loss. When a community rallies around a family in need. When people show up and not because they have to, but because they care.

Ubuntu reminds us we’re part of something bigger than just ourselves. We don’t have to do everything on our own. We’re not meant to.

Experiencing Ubuntu

For today’s mini challenge, identify one to three people you can count on and then one to three people who might need a little extra support. What can you do to strengthen those connections? 💞

Tarab

Lastly, we wrap up with the word Tarab (tah-rab).

Tarab is a term from Arabic that describes a strong emotional response to music.

It comes from Middle Eastern and North African traditions, places like Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria, where music has long been a key part of culture, storytelling, and celebrations.

When someone experiences Tarab, they’re moved so deeply by the music that it can feel like being transported or even in a trance.

But Tarab isn’t only about music. It can describe any moment when something beautiful affects you so much it takes you out of yourself, while also making you feel more connected to who you are.

Experiencing Tarab

Today’s mini challenge: Play a “feel-good” playlist. Pick a few songs that never fail to move or uplift you. Take a moment to really listen, dance, sing along, or just let the music take you somewhere. 🎧

✧˖°. ⋆｡˚:✧｡

This week, we’ve looked at feelings that don’t always have easy translations. These are emotions that many of us have experienced but didn’t have words for. We’ve named those feelings, reflected on them, and recognized how deeply human they are.

As we finish this week, I hope you carry with you a deeper awareness of your feelings. ESPECIALLY those that are hard to name or explain.

Remember, emotions aren’t just reactions, they’re meaningful parts of your experience that deserve your attention and care.

P.S. If you could use help accomplishing your goals, busting through procrastination, or getting motivated — please join us at one of our live guided work sessions, or morning planning sessions! Our entire community is waiting for you.

Take care,

— Suliel, focused space host