What’s in a word?

I’ve already explained to you why I chose the dutch word, “Gezellig”, for this blog. If you don’t recall, I’ll restate it here (my words):

The Dutch have a special word to describe “cosiness”, “comfort”, but it’s also something that goes a little beyond that. “Gezellig”. Pronounced correctly, it kinda sounds like you’re clearing your throat, but this blog explores its meaning by documenting experiences that make life richer and deeper; through food, family, and the making of a home.

On Instagram I just recently found stumbled upon an amazing-looking store in Toronto called “Saudade” (they don’t have a website yet but they are @saudadetoronto on Instagram), which fascinatingly, is a Portuguese word that also can’t be translated literally. Basically it means “to explain the feeling of missing something or someone”.

saudade

I wonder how many more of these words are out there? (Schadenfreude being an obvious other one) Don’t you love that in our increasingly interconnected, anglicized world, there are still some things that will always be out of touch with everyone save for a small group?

Although my family is East Indian, they are also Catholic, which in India means several things. Most significantly is that the Catholics in India got their existence from the colonizing Portuguese. So whether by intermarriage, or baptism, or whatever, all Catholic Indians have Portuguese last names. For example, my maiden name is Pinto (yes, it’s hilarious that it’s also a horse and a car, yada yada yada). My grandmother even spoke Portuguese, although not to her son (my father), so the language was quickly lost. He did know one song in Portuguese that I can remember him singing to me when I was younger. When I think of Portuguese things my mind always (unsurprisingly) goes to food, with those delicious little custardy pastry things being high on my list.

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