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Celebrating UIC's linguistic diversity: What's your favorite word in any language you know?

Language learning is fun! Share your favorite word in the language you are learning or in any language you know.

Have more favorite words in other languages? Submit another response!

Ask your UIC students, friends, and colleagues to contribute, too! Everyone in the UIC community is welcome.

Share your favorite words with us!

ပျော်ရွှင်မှု is the Burmese word for Happiness. Several images surround the definition. From Left to right, they are a smiling Venn Diagram, two cheerful girls to either side, and a smiling sun in the opposite corner
Favorite Word: ပျော်ရွှင်မှု
Thursday, February 22, 2024
A joyful word meaning Happiness :)
Un chien-chaud from French (Québec) with the translation of the word and two hotdogs which are also represent meaning
Favorite Word: Un chien-chaud
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
While the Francophone Europeans will just order "un hotdog" with a French accent, the Quebecers instead double down on their French, opting for a direct translation of "hot" and "dog." - Julianne
Pranam from Hindi with the translation of the word and two pairs of two handshakes which is also represent meaning
Favorite Word: Pranam
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
It's a sign of greeting to anyone by giving them respect by bending the neck front - Manasvi
Eichhörnchen from German with the translation of the word and two squirrels to also represent meaning
Favorite Word: Eichhörnchen
Thursday, October 19, 2023
It's such a complicated word for such a small creature! Plus it's just tricky to pronounce -Emma
Ничего себе, from Russian. Meaning
Favorite Word: Ничего себе
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
I like this phrase because this is a common exclamation of surprise, but its meaning differs from the direct meaning of the words used. I think this difference also reflects the cultural aspect well. – Kate
Kaputt, from German. Meaning broken. A cracked glass effect is laid over the English definition and a stick figure stands to the right of it with their hands on their head, looking at broken boxes
Favorite Word: Kaputt
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
I think it’s a fun word to pronounce and it is sometimes used in English! – Dani
Scarpetta, from Italian. Meaning the act of scooping up leftover sauce with bread. Beside the English definition is a plate of pasta with red sauce and two pieces of bread, one of which is broken in half directly over the pasta sauce
Favorite Word: Scarpetta
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
While there is no true English equivalent to this word, scarpetta literally translates to "little shoe." This is one of my favorite words because... – Vincenzo
Dai, from Italian. Meaning go, hurry, come on. To the left of the English definition is a graphic of a flaming clock with speed lines behind it; to the right is a stick figure with a briefcase next to another clock
Favorite Word: Dai
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
It was one of the first words I had learned in class and it was used in many ways! It all just depends on the context and it can mean many things and that's the fun part to the word! – Cynthia
Passeggiata, from Italian. Meaning a leisurely walk or stroll. A group of people is depicted walking underneath the English definition, all smiling
Favorite Word: Passeggiata
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
I like this word because it is one of my favorite aspects of Italian culture, that is, evening strolls... – Yuli
die Zimtschnecke, from German. Meaning cinnamon roll. There are two illustrated cinnamon rolls, one above and one below the English definition
Favorite Word: die Zimtschnecke
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
It's a word I learned while living in Germany. Germany has amazing cafes and bakeries so it reminds me of that. The reason for it being my favorite word is that I think the literal translation, cinnamon snail, is really cute. – Kaleb
Parangaricutirimicuaro, from Spanish (Mexico). A word derived from a city in Mexico: San Juan de Parangaricutiro. A picture of an erupting volcano is beneath the English definition
Favorite Word: Parangaricutirimicuaro
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
I like this word because it is a tongue twister used when people are copying everything you are saying. So you say this word in hopes that they cannot repeat it since it is hard for some Spanish speakers to pronounce. – Lisset
Cielo, from Spanish (Mexico). Meaning sky. A sun is positioned to the left of the English definition, with the silhouette of birds flying underneath
Favorite Word: Cielo
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Joyful "song cielo azul cielo nublado" – Monica
Croissant, from French. Meaning a type of delicious bread. A large illustrated croissant sits to the left of the English definition; a plate with a Croissant and other pastries is depicted to the right
Favorite Word: Croissant
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
I just like the Cr sound in it. – Rica
سري مري (siree miree), from Palestinian Arabic. Meaning to come and go repeatedly. A small girl is depicted to the left exiting a door, and then to the right re-entering
Favorite Word: سري مري (siree miree)
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
It's fun to pronounce (more pertinent to the Palestinian dialect). – Iman
Youths, from US English. Meaning young people. A young man sits to the left of the English definition; a young woman stands to the right
Favorite Word: Youths
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
My mom and I always laugh when we hear this word because she remembers how someone pronounced it in a movie she watched and she thought it was funny. – Valeria
Champignon, from French. Meaning mushroom. There are four illustrated mushrooms beside the English definition
Favorite Word: Champignon
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
It's a fun word to pronounce and I also like mushrooms. – Frances
Claro, from Mexican Spanish. Meaning
Favorite Word: Claro
Thursday, October 12, 2023
I like the way it sounds and sometimes I just say it playing around with my friends instead of saying "yes" or another word. – Alejandra
Kaplumbağa, from Turkish, meaning
Favorite Word: Kaplumbağa
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Kaplumbağa, from Turkish: "turtle" – Zahra
Pleuvoir, from French. Meaning to rain. Clouds are raining.
Favorite Word: Pleuvoir
Thursday, October 12, 2023
It's fun to say because you can pronounce the first few syllables hard or soft. – Tondum
Mahal Kita, from Tagalog. Meaning I love you. Hearts are floating, two people are making a heart shape with their arms.
Favorite Word: Mahal kita
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Nothing makes my romantic heart swoon more than saying I love you- and this is how we say it in my culture. – Jericho
Schmetterling, from German. Meaning butterfly. Butterflies are flying over the text.
Favorite Word: Schmetterling
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
I like this word because I think it's funny and because I like the pronunciation. The pronunciation is what makes the word funny because when saying Schmetterling, it sounds very angry when you're really only talking about a butterfly. – Kai
Hrepenenje, from Slovenian. Meaning nostalgia for something that has not happened, an intense yearning. Below the text there is a woman daydreaming about relaxing on a beach at sunset.
Favorite Word: Hrepenenje
Friday, October 6, 2023
Nostalgia for something that has not happened, an intense yearning. I think it's beautiful in both structure and meaning. As a speaker of Serbian, it both sounds familiar as a word and very different. –Strahinja