Him b'long Missy Kween An urgent need to communicate can create a language without native speakers. Pidgin, for example, has developed from English among people with their own native tongues. Fine examples of pidgin expressions in the Tok Pisin language of Papua New Guinea are: liklik box you pull him he cry you push him he cry liklik box you pull him he cry you push him he cry (an accordion) and (an accordion) and bigfella iron walking stick him go bang along topside bigfella iron walking stick him go bang along topside (a rifle). When the Duke of Edinburgh visits Vanuatu, in the Pacific, he is addressed as (a rifle). When the Duke of Edinburgh visits Vanuatu, in the Pacific, he is addressed as oldfella Pili-Pili him b'long Missy Kween oldfella Pili-Pili him b'long Missy Kween, while Prince Charles is Pikinini b'long Kween Pikinini b'long Kween.

Clocking On

l'argent ne se trouve pas sous lesabot d'un cheval (French)money isn't found under a horse's hoof

Tinker, tailor...

The j.a.panese phrase for 'making a living' is yo o wataru yo o wataru, which literally means 'to walk across the world', and it's certainly true that when the chips are down there are some intriguing ways of earning a crust: folapostes (Spanish) a worker who climbs telephone or electrical poles (Spanish) a worker who climbs telephone or electrical polesgeshtenj.a.pjeks (Albanian) a street vendor of roast chestnuts (Albanian) a street vendor of roast chestnutskoshatnik (Russian) a dealer in stolen cats (Russian) a dealer in stolen catsdame-pipi (French) a female toilet a.s.sistant (French) a female toilet a.s.sistanttarriqu-zan (Persian) an officer who clears the road for a prince (Persian) an officer who clears the road for a princekualanapuhi (Hawaiian) an officer who keeps the flies away from the sleeping king by waving a brush made of feathers (Hawaiian) an officer who keeps the flies away from the sleeping king by waving a brush made of feathersbuz-baz (old Persian) a showman who made a goat and a monkey dance together (old Persian) a showman who made a goat and a monkey dance togethercapoclaque (Italian) someone who coordinates a group of clappers (Italian) someone who coordinates a group of clappersfyra.s.sistent (Danish) an a.s.sistant lighthouse keeper (Danish) an a.s.sistant lighthouse keepercigerci (Turkish) a seller of liver and lungs (Turkish) a seller of liver and lungslomilomi (Hawaiian) the ma.s.seur of the chief, whose duty it was to take care of his spittle and excrement (Hawaiian) the ma.s.seur of the chief, whose duty it was to take care of his spittle and excrement

The daily grind Att.i.tudes to work vary not just from workplace to workplace, but from one side of the office to the other: fucha (Polish) to use company time and resources for one's own purposes (Polish) to use company time and resources for one's own purposeshaochi-lanzuo (Chinese) to be fond of food and averse to work (Chinese) to be fond of food and averse to workaviador (Spanish, Central America) a government employee who shows up only on payday (Spanish, Central America) a government employee who shows up only on paydaychupotero (Spanish) a person who works little but has several salaries (Spanish) a person who works little but has several salariesmadogiwazoku (j.a.panese) those who have little to do (literally, window gazers) (j.a.panese) those who have little to do (literally, window gazers)jeito (Brazilian Portuguese) to find a way to get something done, no matter what the obstacles (Brazilian Portuguese) to find a way to get something done, no matter what the obstacles

Metro-boulot-dodo This cheery French expression describes life in a none-too-optimistic way. Literally translated as 'tube-work-sleep' it summarizes the daily grind, hinting strongly that it's pointless.

Carrot...

Motivation is a key factor, and employers who want maximum productivity find different ways of achieving this: Mitbestimmung (German) the policy in industry of involving both workers and management in decision-making (German) the policy in industry of involving both workers and management in decision-makingvydvizhenchestvo (Russian) the system of promotion of workers to positions of responsibility and authority (Russian) the system of promotion of workers to positions of responsibility and authoritykaizen (j.a.panese) the continuous improvement of working practices and personal efficiency as a business philosophy (j.a.panese) the continuous improvement of working practices and personal efficiency as a business philosophy

... and stick paukikape (Ancient Greek) the projecting collar worn by slaves while grinding corn in order to prevent them from eating it. (Ancient Greek) the projecting collar worn by slaves while grinding corn in order to prevent them from eating it.

German work ethic The Germans have long had a reputation for working hard. Inevitably, though, alongside the Urlaubsm.u.f.fel Urlaubsm.u.f.fel, or person who is against taking vacations, there is also the Trittbrettfahrer Trittbrettfahrer (literally, running-board rider), the person who profits from another's work. And along with the studious (literally, running-board rider), the person who profits from another's work. And along with the studious Technonomade Technonomade (someone who conducts most of their business on the road, using laptops and mobiles), you will find the less scrupulous (someone who conducts most of their business on the road, using laptops and mobiles), you will find the less scrupulous schwarzarbeiten schwarzarbeiten (preferring to do work not reported for taxes). (preferring to do work not reported for taxes).

False friends biro (Arabic) office (Arabic) officeadman (Arabic) offering better guaranty (Arabic) offering better guarantyganga (Spanish) bargain (Spanish) bargainmixer (Hungarian) barman (Hungarian) barmanslug (Gaulish) servant (Gaulish) servantfat (Cantonese) prosperity (Cantonese) prosperityhot (Romanian) thief (Romanian) thiefbaker (Dutch) nurse (Dutch) nurse

The deal Others have less n.o.ble ways of getting ahead: zhengquan-duoli (Chinese) to jockey for power and scramble for profit (Chinese) to jockey for power and scramble for profitjinetear el dinero (Spanish, Central America) to profit by delaying payment (Spanish, Central America) to profit by delaying paymenttadlis (Persian) concealing the faults of goods on sale (Persian) concealing the faults of goods on saleqiang jingtou (Chinese) a fight by a cameraman for a vantage point (literally, stealing the show) (Chinese) a fight by a cameraman for a vantage point (literally, stealing the show)grilagem (Brazilian Portuguese) the old practice of putting a cricket in a box of newly faked doc.u.ments, until the moving insect's excrement makes the papers look plausibly old and genuine (literally, cricketing) (Brazilian Portuguese) the old practice of putting a cricket in a box of newly faked doc.u.ments, until the moving insect's excrement makes the papers look plausibly old and genuine (literally, cricketing)

On the take If sharp practice doesn't work, then the best thing to do is cast all scruples aside: bustarella (Italian) a cash bribe (literally, a little envelope) (Italian) a cash bribe (literally, a little envelope)dhurna (Anglo-Indian) extorting payment by sitting at the debtor's door and staying there without food, threatening violence until your demands are met (Anglo-Indian) extorting payment by sitting at the debtor's door and staying there without food, threatening violence until your demands are metsola (Italian) a swindle in which you don't share the loot with your accomplice (Italian) a swindle in which you don't share the loot with your accomplicesokaiya (j.a.panese) a blackmailer who has a few shares in a large number of companies and tries to extort money by threatening to cause trouble at the shareholders' annual general meetings (j.a.panese) a blackmailer who has a few shares in a large number of companies and tries to extort money by threatening to cause trouble at the shareholders' annual general meetingsTST (Tahu Sama Tahu) (Indonesian) 'you know it, I know it': a verbal agreement between two people, one usually a government official, to cheat the state (Indonesian) 'you know it, I know it': a verbal agreement between two people, one usually a government official, to cheat the state

Hard cash In the end, it all comes down to one thing: lechuga (Caribbean Spanish) a dollar bill (literally, lettuce) (Caribbean Spanish) a dollar bill (literally, lettuce)kapusta (Russian) money (literally, cabbage) (Russian) money (literally, cabbage)mahiyana (Persian) monthly wages or fish jelly (Persian) monthly wages or fish jellywampum (Algonquian, Canada) strings of beads and polished sh.e.l.ls, used as money by native Americans (Algonquian, Canada) strings of beads and polished sh.e.l.ls, used as money by native Americans

Spongers If you don't have much money yourself, there are always ways around the problem: gorrero (Spanish, Central America) a person who always allows others to pay (Spanish, Central America) a person who always allows others to paypiottaro (Italian) one who carries very little cash (Italian) one who carries very little cashZechpreller (German) someone who leaves without paying the bill (German) someone who leaves without paying the billdar mico (Caribbean Spanish) to consume without paying (Caribbean Spanish) to consume without payingseigneur-terra.s.se (French) one who spends much time but little money in a cafe (literally, a terrace lord) (French) one who spends much time but little money in a cafe (literally, a terrace lord)

Neither a borrower nor a lender be Indonesian has the word pembonceng pembonceng to describe someone who likes to use other people's facilities, but the Pascuense language of Easter Island has gone one step further in showing how the truly unscrupulous exploit friends and family. to describe someone who likes to use other people's facilities, but the Pascuense language of Easter Island has gone one step further in showing how the truly unscrupulous exploit friends and family. Tingo Tingo is to borrow things from a friend's house, one by one, until there's nothing left; while is to borrow things from a friend's house, one by one, until there's nothing left; while hakamaroo hakamaroo is to keep borrowed objects until the owner has to ask for them back. is to keep borrowed objects until the owner has to ask for them back.

What is yours is mine It's a short step to outright crime: mencomot (Indonesian) stealing things of small value such as food or drinks, partly for fun (Indonesian) stealing things of small value such as food or drinks, partly for funbaderotte (Danish) a beach thief (Danish) a beach thief.a.gobilles (German) burglar's tools (German) burglar's toolsajane (Tulu, India) the noise of a thief (Tulu, India) the noise of a thiefpukau (Malay) a charm used by burglars to make people fall asleep (Malay) a charm used by burglars to make people fall asleepazote de barrio (Spanish, Central America) a criminal who concentrates on a particular neighbourhood (Spanish, Central America) a criminal who concentrates on a particular neighbourhoodaccordeon (French) an extensive criminal record (French) an extensive criminal record

A life of crime Italian offers a rich vocabulary for different types of crime and criminal. Smonta Smonta, for example, is a theft carried out on a bus or train from which the perpetrator gets off as soon as possible, while scavalco scavalco (literally, climbing over) is a robbery carried out via a window or balcony. A night-time burglary is a (literally, climbing over) is a robbery carried out via a window or balcony. A night-time burglary is a serenata serenata (literally, a serenade) which may well involve an (literally, a serenade) which may well involve an orchestra orchestra, or gang of thieves, possibly accompanied by a palo palo, an accomplice who acts as lookout.

Extreme measures If all else fails one of the following may be necessary: nakkeskud (Danish) a shot in the back of the head (Danish) a shot in the back of the headgusa (j.a.panese) to decapitate with a sword (j.a.panese) to decapitate with a swordrejam (Malay) to execute by pressing into mud (Malay) to execute by pressing into mud

Hiding the evidence Persian offers a refinement to the crude concept of 'murder'. The expression war nam nihadan war nam nihadan means to kill and then bury someone, growing flowers over the grave in order to conceal it. means to kill and then bury someone, growing flowers over the grave in order to conceal it.

Chokey As most career criminals would agree, the worst downside to a life of crime is getting caught: kaush (Albanian) a prison cell or paper bag (Albanian) a prison cell or paper bagsquadretta (Italian) a group of prison guards who specialize in beating up inmates (literally, small squad) (Italian) a group of prison guards who specialize in beating up inmates (literally, small squad)fangfeng (Chinese) to let prisoners out for exercise or to relieve themselves (Chinese) to let prisoners out for exercise or to relieve themselvesKa.s.siber (German) a letter smuggled out of jail; a secret coded message (German) a letter smuggled out of jail; a secret coded messagejieyu (Chinese) to break into jail to rescue a prisoner (Chinese) to break into jail to rescue a prisoneralba (Italian) the day one leaves prison after serving time (Italian) the day one leaves prison after serving timeOn reflection

Executive essentials Conclusions cannot always be drawn about historical connections. Some words are similar in numerous languages. Much linguistic research has led to the theory of an Ur-language (Indo-European) spoken some fifty thousand years ago, from which most other languages have descended. Papa Papa, for example, is used for 'father' in seventy per cent of languages across the world.Meanwhile, essential latterday vocabulary has crossed languages as easily as the jet-setting executive who uses it:taxi is recognized in French, German, Swedish, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Czech, Slovak, Portuguese, Hungarian and Romanian is recognized in French, German, Swedish, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Czech, Slovak, Portuguese, Hungarian and Romaniansauna is recognized in Finnish, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Dutch, Danish, Lithuanian, Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian, Romanian and Norwegian is recognized in Finnish, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Dutch, Danish, Lithuanian, Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian, Romanian and Norwegianbank is recognized in Afrikaans, Amharic (Ethiopia), Bengali, Creole, Danish, Dutch, Frisian (Germany and Holland), German, Gujarati (India), Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Sinhala (Sri Lanka), Swedish and Wolof (Senegal and Gambia) is recognized in Afrikaans, Amharic (Ethiopia), Bengali, Creole, Danish, Dutch, Frisian (Germany and Holland), German, Gujarati (India), Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Sinhala (Sri Lanka), Swedish and Wolof (Senegal and Gambia)hotel is recognized in Afrikaans, Amharic, Asturian (Spain), Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Frisian (Germany and Holland), Galician (Spain), German, Icelandic, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Tswana (Botswana), Ukrainian and Yiddish is recognized in Afrikaans, Amharic, Asturian (Spain), Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Frisian (Germany and Holland), Galician (Spain), German, Icelandic, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Tswana (Botswana), Ukrainian and Yiddish

Time Off

il giocare non e male, ma e maleil perdere (Italian)there is no harm in playing but great harm in losing

Fun and games Since the start of time the desire to fill it has resulted in a wide range of recreations. Simplest are the games played by children the world over: toto (Cook Islands Maori) a shout given in a game of hide-and-seek to show readiness for the search to begin (Cook Islands Maori) a shout given in a game of hide-and-seek to show readiness for the search to beginpokku (Tulu, India) the throwing of pebbles up in the air and catching them as they fall (Tulu, India) the throwing of pebbles up in the air and catching them as they fallkabaddi (Pakistan) a game where players take it in turn to hold their breath (Pakistan) a game where players take it in turn to hold their breathbakpi (Ulwa, Nicaragua) a game in which one is swung round in circles until dizzy (Ulwa, Nicaragua) a game in which one is swung round in circles until dizzycnapan (Welsh) a game where each side tries to drive a wooden ball as far as possible in one direction (Welsh) a game where each side tries to drive a wooden ball as far as possible in one directionkula'i wawae (Hawaiian) the pushing of one's feet against others while seated (Hawaiian) the pushing of one's feet against others while seatedkaengurustylte (Danish) a pogo stick (literally, kangaroo stilt) (Danish) a pogo stick (literally, kangaroo stilt)

Frozen walrus carca.s.s There are games that are highly specific to their culture and environment, such as the Inuit igunaujannguaq igunaujannguaq, which literally means frozen walrus carca.s.s. This is a game where the person in the centre tries to remain stiff and is held in place by the feet of the people who are sitting in a circle. He is pa.s.sed around the ring, hand over hand. Whoever drops him is the next 'frozen walrus carca.s.s'.

Honing your skills As we grow up, what we look for in a game becomes increasingly challenging: shash-andaz (Persian) someone who tries to juggle with six b.a.l.l.s so that four are always in the air (Persian) someone who tries to juggle with six b.a.l.l.s so that four are always in the airantyaksari (Hindi) a pastime in which partic.i.p.ants recite verses in turn, the first word of each new verse being the same as the last of the preceding one (Hindi) a pastime in which partic.i.p.ants recite verses in turn, the first word of each new verse being the same as the last of the preceding onekipapa (Hawaiian) to balance on top of a surfboard (Hawaiian) to balance on top of a surfboardwaterponie (Afrikaans) a jet ski (Afrikaans) a jet skielastikspring (Danish) bungee jumping (Danish) bungee jumping

The beautiful game One game in particular has achieved international pre-eminence, and a range of closely observed terms to describe it: armario (Spanish) an awkward or unskilled player (literally, a wardrobe) (Spanish) an awkward or unskilled player (literally, a wardrobe)wayra jayt'a (Quechuan, Peru) a poor player (literally, an air kicker) (Quechuan, Peru) a poor player (literally, an air kicker)cazar (Spanish) to kick one's opponent and not the ball (Spanish) to kick one's opponent and not the ballariete (Spanish) a battering ram (centre forward) (Spanish) a battering ram (centre forward)verkac (Turkish) pa.s.sing and running (Turkish) pa.s.sing and runningbaile, danze (Spanish) and (Spanish) and melina melina (Italian) two players on the same team kicking the ball back and forth to kill time (Italian) two players on the same team kicking the ball back and forth to kill timeroligan (Danish) a non-violent supporter (Danish) a non-violent supporter

Taking a punt Sometimes, fun is not enough; chance or expertise has to be made more exciting by speculation: yetu (Tulu, India) gambling in which a coin is tossed and a bet laid as to which side it will fall on (Tulu, India) gambling in which a coin is tossed and a bet laid as to which side it will fall onquiniela (Spanish, USA) a form of betting in which the punter must choose the first and second-place winners in a race, though not necessarily in the correct order (Spanish, USA) a form of betting in which the punter must choose the first and second-place winners in a race, though not necessarily in the correct orderparani (Cook Islands Maori) to put up a stake at poker without examining one's cards (Cook Islands Maori) to put up a stake at poker without examining one's cards The moral perhaps being that it's better to be the Persian kuz-baz kuz-baz, one who lends money to gamblers, than a mukhtir mukhtir, one who risks his property in gambling.

Fingers crossed Some people are born lechero lechero, a Latin American Spanish word for lucky, literally meaning a milkman. Others may be less fortunate: smola (Czech) a person dogged by bad luck (Czech) a person dogged by bad luckapes (Indonesian) to have double bad luck (Indonesian) to have double bad luckkualat (Indonesian) to be bound to have bad luck as a result of behaving badly (Indonesian) to be bound to have bad luck as a result of behaving badly

Break a leg It's intriguing that wishing people good luck often takes the form of willing ill fortune on them. The German Hals und Beinbruch Hals und Beinbruch, for example, takes the spirit of the English expression 'break a leg' and goes one step further it translates as 'break your neck and a leg'. The Italians offer an even more gruesome prospect: the cheery wish in bocca al lupo in bocca al lupo means 'into the mouth of the wolf'. means 'into the mouth of the wolf'.

The compet.i.tive streak Everyone likes to win, but the methods employed to get ahead range from the inventive to the underhand: chupar rueda (Spanish) running or cycling behind another to benefit from reduced wind resistance (literally, to suck wheel) (Spanish) running or cycling behind another to benefit from reduced wind resistance (literally, to suck wheel)kunodesme (Ancient Greek) tying a string round the foreskin to stop the p.e.n.i.s getting in the way during athletics (literally, putting the dog on a lead) (Ancient Greek) tying a string round the foreskin to stop the p.e.n.i.s getting in the way during athletics (literally, putting the dog on a lead)sirind (Persian) entangling legs in wrestling to trip your opponent (also a noose for catching prey by the foot) (Persian) entangling legs in wrestling to trip your opponent (also a noose for catching prey by the foot)poki (Cook Islands Maori) to deal cards from the bottom of the pack (i.e. unfairly) (Cook Islands Maori) to deal cards from the bottom of the pack (i.e. unfairly)

False friends boghandel (Danish) bookshop (Danish) bookshoprain (Arabic) viewer, spectator (Arabic) viewer, spectatora.r.s.e (Turkish) violin bow (Turkish) violin bowjerk (French) praise for an accomplished dancer (French) praise for an accomplished dancerpensel (Swedish) paintbrush (Swedish) paintbrushcatch (French) all-in wrestling (French) all-in wrestling

Crooning For those without sporting interest or prowess, entertainment can be found in the realms of music...

iorram (Scottish Gaelic) a rowing song (Scottish Gaelic) a rowing songdizlanmak (Turkish) to keep humming to yourself (Turkish) to keep humming to yourselfOhrwurm (German) a catchy tune that gets stuck in the brain or rapidly obsesses an entire population (literally, an ear worm) (German) a catchy tune that gets stuck in the brain or rapidly obsesses an entire population (literally, an ear worm)ngak-ngik-ngok (Indonesian) a derogatory reference to the popularity of rock music in the 1960s (which was much despised by the late President Sukarno) (Indonesian) a derogatory reference to the popularity of rock music in the 1960s (which was much despised by the late President Sukarno)

Twirling ... or of dancing raspar canillas (Spanish, Central America) to dance (literally, to sc.r.a.pe shins) (Spanish, Central America) to dance (literally, to sc.r.a.pe shins)zapateado (Spanish) the fast footwork and stamping feet used in dancing (Spanish) the fast footwork and stamping feet used in dancingmbuki-mvuki (Bantu, Zaire) to take off one's clothes in order to dance (Bantu, Zaire) to take off one's clothes in order to danceBall paradox (German) a ball at which women ask men to dance (German) a ball at which women ask men to danceverbunkos (Hungarian) a dance performed to persuade people to enlist in the army (Hungarian) a dance performed to persuade people to enlist in the army

Clubbing The Italians helpfully differentiate between the staff outside and inside a night club: the b.u.t.tadentro b.u.t.tadentro, the one who throws you in, is the person in charge of choosing who gets through the door; while the b.u.t.tafuori b.u.t.tafuori, the one who throws you out, is the bouncer.

Channel surfing For those who prefer to stay at home, there's always the television, or Pantoffelkino Pantoffelkino (slippers cinema), as it's described in German. The Romani language of the Gypsies takes a rather sterner view, regarding it as a (slippers cinema), as it's described in German. The Romani language of the Gypsies takes a rather sterner view, regarding it as a dinnilos-d.i.c.king-muktar dinnilos-d.i.c.king-muktar, or fool's looking-box. Those with extra channels seem to be viewed as a cut-above in France, where cable cable has now acquired the secondary sense of 'hip and trendy'. has now acquired the secondary sense of 'hip and trendy'.

Hi-tech Having invented numerous machines to give us free time, we now struggle to come up with others to help fill it: tamagotchi (j.a.panese) a lovable egg (an electronic device which copies the demands for food or attention of a pet) (j.a.panese) a lovable egg (an electronic device which copies the demands for food or attention of a pet)khali khukweni (Zulu) a mobile phone (literally, to make a noise in the pocket) (Zulu) a mobile phone (literally, to make a noise in the pocket)dingdong (Indonesian) computer games in an arcade (Indonesian) computer games in an arcadetoelva (Icelandic) a computer (formed from the words for digit and prophetess) (Icelandic) a computer (formed from the words for digit and prophetess)xiaoxia (Chinese) small lobsters (new internet users) (Chinese) small lobsters (new internet users)

The arts There are some pastimes that are elevated, by their pract.i.tioners and admirers, onto an altogether higher plane: sprezzatura (Italian) the effortless technique of a great artist (Italian) the effortless technique of a great artist wabi wabi (j.a.panese) a flawed detail that enhances the elegance of the whole work of art (j.a.panese) a flawed detail that enhances the elegance of the whole work of artostranenie (Russian) the process by which art makes familiar perceptions seem strange (Russian) the process by which art makes familiar perceptions seem strangeVerfremdungseffekt (German) a dramatic technique that encourages the audience to preserve a sense of critical detachment from a play (literally, an alienating effect) (German) a dramatic technique that encourages the audience to preserve a sense of critical detachment from a play (literally, an alienating effect)

Philistines Those who aren't impressed by artistic claims have coined a different vocabulary: megillah (Yiddish) an unnecessarily long and tiresome story or letter (Yiddish) an unnecessarily long and tiresome story or letterde pacotilla (Spanish) a third-rate writer or actor (Spanish) a third-rate writer or actor

Rolling up In our health-conscious world, can smoking still be regarded as recreation?

segatura (Italian) a cigarette made by mixing cigarette b.u.t.ts (literally, sawdust) (Italian) a cigarette made by mixing cigarette b.u.t.ts (literally, sawdust)bakwe (Kapampangan, Philippines) to smoke a cigarette with the lit end in the mouth (Kapampangan, Philippines) to smoke a cigarette with the lit end in the mouthnakurit'sya (Russian) to smoke to one's heart's content (Russian) to smoke to one's heart's contentzakurit'sya (Russian) to make oneself ill by excessive smoking (Russian) to make oneself ill by excessive smokingOn reflection

Married in a brothel Some words must remain a mystery to all except native speakers. You would have had to have lived in these places for quite a while to understand how to use correctly some of the following, which in their simply translated definitions contain what seem to us contradictory meanings:hay kulu (Zarma, Nigeria) anything, nothing and also everything (Zarma, Nigeria) anything, nothing and also everythingirpadake (Tulu, India) ripe and unripe (Tulu, India) ripe and unripesitoshna (Tulu, India) cold and hot (Tulu, India) cold and hotmerripen (Romani, Gypsy) life and death (Romani, Gypsy) life and deathgift (Norwegian) poison and married (Norwegian) poison and marriedmagazinshchik (Russian) a shopkeeper and a shoplifter (Russian) a shopkeeper and a shoplifterdanh t (Vietnamese) a church and a brothel (Vietnamese) a church and a brothelaloha (Hawaiian) h.e.l.lo and goodbye (the word has many other meanings including love, compa.s.sion, welcome and good wishes) (Hawaiian) h.e.l.lo and goodbye (the word has many other meanings including love, compa.s.sion, welcome and good wishes)

Eating and Drinking