What is your Ikigai? 10 foreign words that celebrate life's pleasures

In English, we often rely on the single, broad term "happiness" to describe everything from winning the lottery to eating a piece of pie. Yet, around the world, different cultures have come up with precise words to capture the different flavors of joy. From the quiet peace of dawn in Scandinavia to the musical ecstasy of the Middle East, here are 10 foreign words that describe unique types of happiness.

Pronounced hoo-ga, this Danish word has captured global attention over the past decade. Hygge is a psychological state of warm, cozy contentment.

It’s the feeling of sitting around a wooden dining table illuminated by soft candlelight, sharing a cup of coffee with close friends. Hygge encourages us to forget about life’s superficial distractions and savor the present moment with warmth, safety, and human connection.

Originating from Okinawa, an island known for its high concentration of centenarians, ikigai (pronounced ee-kee-guy) translates to "a reason for being". It represents the sweet spot where your passions, talents, values, and practical skills overlap.

Unlike grand notions of success, ikigai is often quiet and deeply personal. It’s the joy that motivates you to get up in the morning, whether that reason is tending to your garden, perfecting a craft, or caring for your family. It’s happiness not as a distant goal, but as a daily practice.

It’s no surprise that the Scandinavian culture has a specific word for outdoor bliss. Gökotta (pronounced yoh-koh-tah) literally translates to "cuckoo-dawn". It describes the deliberate act of waking up early in the morning, often at the break of dawn in spring, specifically to go outside into nature.

Gökotta reminds us that peace and renewal are often waiting for us in the quietest hours of the morning, as long as we are willing to wake up early enough to catch them.

Who said happiness can’t be a little mischievous? Schadenfreude (pronounced shah-den-froy-duh) combines the German words for "damage" (Schaden) and "joy" (Freude). It describes the secret, malicious pleasure a person feels when watching someone else suffer a minor, non-tragic mishap.

Whether it’s smirking when a politician stumbles on stage or watching an arrogant rival lose a game, schadenfreude captures a raw side of human psychology that almost everyone has experienced but rarely admits to.

On the opposite side of schadenfreude is the Hebrew concept of firgun (pronounced feer-goon). This informal term, which entered modern Hebrew in the mid-20th century, describes genuine, unselfish joy felt for another person’s accomplishments or good fortune.

To practice firgun means celebrating someone else’s promotion, engagement, or success without envy or resentment. It’s an empathetic form of happiness that strengthens community ties.

While many societies view labor as a tedious chore, the Nordic countries have a different view. The Danish word arbejdsglæde (pronounced ah-beyds-gleh-theh) combines arbejde (work) and glæde (joy).

This term describes the satisfaction derived from a job well done. It stems from the feeling of enjoying your colleagues and having a healthy work-life balance. Also, knowing that your daily efforts contribute meaning to the world.

In Arab musical tradition, tarab (pronounced tah-rab) refers to a transcendent state of emotional ecstasy induced by listening to moving music.

It describes the moment when a performer’s vocals or instrumental mastery captivates the audience, filling the room with an overwhelming wave of emotion. In other words, tarab highlights music as a vehicle for profound joy.

In the Yoruba language of West Africa, Ayodele (pronounced ah-yoh-deh-leh) is both a traditional given name and a statement meaning "joy has come home".

The term conveys the happiness felt when a baby is born. This new child is more than an addition to the family; it’s an entity that carries warmth, light, and a renewed purpose.

Rooted in German Romanticism, Waldeinsamkeit (pronounced valt-ayn-zahm-kayt) joins Wald (forest) and Einsamkeit (solitude). It describes the feeling of bliss experienced when wandering alone through the woods.

It’s all about a restorative connection with the natural world. Stepping away from the buzz of city life to walk beneath a canopy of green leaves allows the mind to slow down, reset, and experience a quiet, elemental happiness.

Perhaps this is the most famous expression of happiness. The French phrase joie de vivre (pronounced zhwah duh veev-ruh) translates literally to "the joy of living".

It represents an infectious love for existence itself. Someone who has joie de vivre finds delight in a fresh baguette, a good conversation, or a casual afternoon walk. It’s a philosophy that treats living as an art form worthy of celebration.

Snack travel

Where in the world is my lunch? 10 foods named after places!

Image: angela pham

We all love hamburgers, and wieners, but have you ever stopped and wondered how some of your favorite foods got their names? Many of the dishes we enjoy today are named after the places they came from or through some historical twist of fate. We’ll call these "food toponyms" because they tell us about the food itself, and the regions, cities, and people that helped shape its history. Let’s take a flavorful trip around the globe, exploring how 10 famous foods got their geographic names!

Image: engin akyurt

You might think of hamburgers as the ultimate American meal, and the immediate picture is that of a juicy meal sizzling on the grill. But their name comes from the German city of Hamburg.

The term hamburger originally referred to a "hamburger steak," which was a minced beef dish that sailors from Hamburg loved. When German immigrants arrived in America in the 19th century, they brought this treat with them.

But something so delicious couldn’t stop there: Over time, it evolved into the sandwich we know and love today, losing the steak and gaining a bun. Despite the evolution of the treat itself, the name stuck. Today, it’s hard to imagine a barbecue without them, right?

Image: Philippe Murray-Pietsch

If they are the same word, they are probably related, don’t you think? But is thisone of those times when language is trying to play a trick on us? Actually no, the bird you feast on every Thanksgiving is named after Turkey the country.

As the story goes, back in the 1500s, European merchants traded guinea fowls, which they imported through Turkish traders. Because of who imported them, the birds were known as "Turkey fowl" or simply "turkey."

So, where is the mistake? When European settlers in America encountered the wild bird we now call a turkey, they mistook it for the same bird. They eventually saw the differences, but the name had already stuck!

Image: David Trinks

To the eye, scallions don’t say much. Scallions, these simple green onions, are in fact really tasty. But we’re not here for the taste, we’re here for the story behind them!

The term scallion comes from the ancient port city of Ascalon, now part of modern Israel. The Greeks and Romans named these flavorful little onions after the city where they believed they originated.

Today, they are no longer exclusively tied to this region in the Mediterranean, but the name stayed with the vegetable. And even if they are not the first choice for amateurs, they are a great addition to some meals.

Image: Andrik Langfield

Have you ever been to Vienna? Do you wish you could travel there for a much-deserved holiday? Try a wiener and you’ll be enjoying a piece of the city. Wiener is actually short for "wienerwurst," composed of two words that translate to "Viennese sausage" in German.

The name comes from Vienna, the capital of Austria, where this type of sausage was very popular. However, when the wiener made its way to the country, it evolved into our praised hot dog. And of course, each state, and each city, found new ways to make their own version of it!

Image: Martin Moore

Cantaloupes today are one the juiciest summer snacks, but did you know they were first linked to royalty? Or at least that’s one theory.

This fruit gets its name from the town of Cantalupo, near Rome, where Pope Paul V reportedly cultivated the fruit in his papal estate.

However, this is not the only story behind it: Some say the name could also come from the French village of Cantaloup in Languedoc, which had its own connection to the fruit.

Regardless of which story we choose to believe, cantaloupes were a European sensation when they first appeared. Today, no summer goes by without thousands enjoying a delicious piece of cantaloupe!

Image: LikeMeat

Maybe you didn’t believe us the first time, but in America, each city you visit has its own version of a hot dog. And Coney dogs are just one of those!

Coney dogs are beloved in places like Detroit, but their name is pure New York. Specifically, they’re named after Coney Island, the famous amusement park destination.

However, the hot dog slathered in chili sauce is thought to have originated with Greek immigrants who settled in Michigan in the early 20th century. Why the name "Coney"? Most likely, they named their creation after the popular hot dogs sold at Coney Island as a way to attract customers.

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

We know these are not everyone’s favorites: Some love them, and some hate them. But nobody can deny that tiny as they are, they are packed with flavor. Which team are you on?

In any case, sardines made it to this list because they are named after the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. This fish was once found in abundance in the waters surrounding the island, making it a natural hub for sardine fishing. The name sardine soon became synonymous with these small, oily fish, no matter where they were caught.

Today, you’ll find canned sardines from all over the world, but the name keeps the link to their Mediterranean roots.

Image: shraga kopstein

Our next stop is an ancient place: Greece. Not to be mistaken with grapes, although they are sold as raisins too, currants are seedless fruits that grow on shrubs. Now, what is their connection to Greece?

Well, the name comes from the phrase raysons of Coraunte which translates to "raisins of Corinth." Corinth was a port city in Greece, where they were exported from.

As with many other foods, and thanks to many advances, currants now come from many places, and one of them is California.

From California to your house, but it takes you straight to Greece. Quite an adventure!

Image: Alexander Kovacs

Just reading the title is enough: Few things are so mouthwatering as buffalo wings. They had to be included in the article!

Buffalo wings are named not after the animal, but after the city of Buffalo, New York. They were first made in the 1960s at the Anchor Bar, where the owner cooked up some chicken wings in a tangy hot sauce. Tressa Bellisimo was her name and we love her!

The spicy snack became an instant hit. They were so popular that they were featured in a story in the New Yorker many years after they were created. By that time, the wings were already spreading across the country. The dish has since become a staple of American cuisine, especially during football season. Despite their widespread popularity, the wings always carry the name of the city where they were born and they do so proudly!

Image: Kristijan Arsov

Baloney has a birthplace, and that is Bologna, in Italy. The popular deli meat traces its roots to mortadella, a finely ground pork sausage with chunks of fat, first made in the Italian city.

When mortadella crossed the ocean and made it to America, it was re-invented in more ways than one, each more American than the other. The ingredients became a mix of chicken, turkey, beef, or pork, often the extra bits.

What about calling something "baloney" to mean nonsense? Well, the credit goes to Alfred E. Smith, New York’s 42nd governor, who used it to criticize President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration. Just like the treat, the phrase stuck!