xian zhang de meimao, bi bu shanghou zhang de huzi (Chinese) (Chinese)the eyebrows that started growing first can'tcompare with the beard that started growinglater

In the family way Pregnancy can be something of a mixed blessing: mirkha (Quechuan, Peru) the freckles or spots on a woman's face during pregnancy (Quechuan, Peru) the freckles or spots on a woman's face during pregnancywaham (Arabic) the craving for certain foods during pregnancy (Arabic) the craving for certain foods during pregnancytafarrus (Persian) the fainting of a pregnant woman (Persian) the fainting of a pregnant woman

Birth pains When it comes to childbirth, English tends to be coy. There is no English equivalent for the Inuit word paggiq paggiq, which describes the flesh torn as a woman delivers a baby, nor for the j.a.panese chigobami chigobami bites inflicted on a mother's nipple by a suckling baby. As for the less painful aspects of giving birth, we lack the Indonesian word bites inflicted on a mother's nipple by a suckling baby. As for the less painful aspects of giving birth, we lack the Indonesian word uek uek, the sound of a baby crying when being born, the very precise Ulwa word from Nicaragua, asahnaka asahnaka, to hold a child on one's hip with its legs straddling the hipbone facing the mother's side, let alone the Persian term kundamoya kundamoya, which is the hair a child is born with.

Birthing partner The Inuit have a word tunumiaq tunumiaq which denotes the person who supports a pregnant woman's back during labour. which denotes the person who supports a pregnant woman's back during labour.

First steps in the deep Pacific In Rapa Nui (Easter Island) there are five detailed words to describe a baby's early progress: kaukau kaukau is a newborn baby first moving its hands and feet; is a newborn baby first moving its hands and feet; puepue puepue is when it begins to distinguish people and objects; is when it begins to distinguish people and objects; tahuri tahuri is when it starts to move from side to side; is when it starts to move from side to side; totoro totoro is when it's learned to crawl; is when it's learned to crawl; mahaga mahaga is when it is able to stand by itself. is when it is able to stand by itself.

Toddling English is strangely deficient when it comes to observing the many stages of development: teete (Zarma, Nigeria) to teach a toddler how to walk (Zarma, Nigeria) to teach a toddler how to walkmenetah (Indonesian) to help a little child walk by holding its hands to keep it in balance (Indonesian) to help a little child walk by holding its hands to keep it in balancepokankuni (Tulu, India) to learn by looking at others (Tulu, India) to learn by looking at otherskeke (Hawaiian) a word of caution to children to cover their nakedness (Hawaiian) a word of caution to children to cover their nakedness

Growing pains The next few years are crucial: polekayi (Tulu, India) writing in a large crooked hand as children tend to do (Tulu, India) writing in a large crooked hand as children tend to doqiangda (Chinese) a race to be the first to answer a question (Chinese) a race to be the first to answer a questionnylentik (Indonesian) to hit a child's ear with the index finger (Indonesian) to hit a child's ear with the index fingerpaski (Tulu, India) punishing a boy by making him alternate between standing and sitting with his arms crossed and both ears seized by his fingers (Tulu, India) punishing a boy by making him alternate between standing and sitting with his arms crossed and both ears seized by his fingerszhangjin (Chinese) the progress made in one's intellectual or moral education (Chinese) the progress made in one's intellectual or moral educationPolterabend (German) a stag party for both s.e.xes at which crockery is broken celebrating the end of their single lives (German) a stag party for both s.e.xes at which crockery is broken celebrating the end of their single livesronin (j.a.panese) a student who has failed a university entrance examination and is waiting to retake it (adapted from its original sense of a lordless wandering samurai warrior) (j.a.panese) a student who has failed a university entrance examination and is waiting to retake it (adapted from its original sense of a lordless wandering samurai warrior)

Boys and girls Some cultures go further than merely differentiating between children and adolescents. The Indonesian word balita balita refers to those under five years old; the Hindi term refers to those under five years old; the Hindi term k.u.mari k.u.mari means a girl between ten and twelve, while means a girl between ten and twelve, while bala bala is a young woman under the age of sixteen. The Cook Islands Maoris continue the sequence with is a young woman under the age of sixteen. The Cook Islands Maoris continue the sequence with mapu mapu, a youth from about sixteen to twenty-five.

False friends compromisso (Portuguese) engagement (Portuguese) engagementembarazada (Spanish) pregnant (Spanish) pregnanta.n.u.s (Latin) old woman (Latin) old womanchin (Persian) one who catches money thrown at weddings (Persian) one who catches money thrown at weddingsmoon (Khakas, Siberia) to hang oneself (Khakas, Siberia) to hang oneselfbath (Scottish Gaelic) to drown (Scottish Gaelic) to drownhoho (Hausa, Nigeria) condolences (Hausa, Nigeria) condolences

Mid-life crisis Before we know it, the carefree days of our youth are just fading memories: sanada arba' (Arabic) to be pushing fortyparebos (Ancient Greek) being past one's prime (Ancient Greek) being past one's primekahala (Arabic) to be an old fogey at the height of one's life (Arabic) to be an old fogey at the height of one's lifeTorschlusspanik (German) the fear of diminishing opportunities as one gets older (literally, gate-closing panic); this word is often applied to women worried about being too old to have children (German) the fear of diminishing opportunities as one gets older (literally, gate-closing panic); this word is often applied to women worried about being too old to have children

Getting older Hawaiian-style The Hawaiians have a highly specific vocabulary to describe the effects of what the Germans call Lebensabend Lebensabend, the twilight of life: 'aua a woman beginning to become wrinkled a woman beginning to become wrinkledku'olo an old man with sagging cheeks an old man with sagging cheekskani ko'o an aged man who needs to carry a cane an aged man who needs to carry a canekani mo'opuna the state of old age when one has many grandchildren the state of old age when one has many grandchildrenhakalunu extreme old age, as when one is no longer able to walk extreme old age, as when one is no longer able to walkka'i koko bedridden; so old one needs to be carried in a net bedridden; so old one needs to be carried in a netpala lau hala the advanced loss of hair; the last stage of life the advanced loss of hair; the last stage of life

Kicking the bucket Other languages have highly inventive euphemisms for the tricky subject of pa.s.sing on: nolikt karoti (Latvian) to put down the spoon (Latvian) to put down the spooncolgar los guantes (Spanish, Central America) to hang up the gloves (Spanish, Central America) to hang up the gloveshet hoek omgaan (Dutch) to go around the corner (Dutch) to go around the cornerbater a bota/esticar a perna (Portuguese) to hit the boot or to stretch the leg (Portuguese) to hit the boot or to stretch the legavaler son bulletin de naissance (French) to swallow one's birth certificate (French) to swallow one's birth certificate

The final reckoning adjal (Indonesian) the predestined hour of one's death (Indonesian) the predestined hour of one's deathLiebestod (German) dying for love or because of a romantic tragedy (German) dying for love or because of a romantic tragedypagezuar (Albanian) the state of dying before enjoying the happiness that comes with being married or seeing one's children married (Albanian) the state of dying before enjoying the happiness that comes with being married or seeing one's children married

Chinese whispers Chinese has a rich vocabulary when it comes to the last moments of life: huiguang fanzhao the momentary recovery of someone who is dying the momentary recovery of someone who is dyingyiyan a person's last words a person's last wordsyiyuan a person's last or unfulfilled wish a person's last or unfulfilled wishmingmu to die with one's eyes closed, to die without regret to die with one's eyes closed, to die without regrettxiv xaiv a funeral singer whose songs bring helpful, didactic messages from the dead person to the survivors a funeral singer whose songs bring helpful, didactic messages from the dead person to the survivors

Last rites In the end the inevitable takes its course: talkin (Indonesian) to whisper to the dying (i.e. words read at the end of a funeral to remind the dead person of what to say to the angels of death) (Indonesian) to whisper to the dying (i.e. words read at the end of a funeral to remind the dead person of what to say to the angels of death)farjam-gah (Persian) the final home (grave) (Persian) the final home (grave)tunillattukkuuq (Inuit) the act of eating at a cemetery (Inuit) the act of eating at a cemeteryakika (Swahili) a domestic feast held either for a child's first haircut or for its burial (Swahili) a domestic feast held either for a child's first haircut or for its burialOn reflection

The long of it Among languages that build up very long words for both simple and complex concepts are those defined as 'polysynthetic', and many of them are found in Australia or Papua New Guinea. The Aboriginal Mayali tongue of Western Arnhem Land is an example, forming highly complex verbs able to express a complete sentence, such as: ngabanmarneyawoyhwarrgahganjginjeng ngabanmarneyawoyhwarrgahganjginjeng, meaning 'I cooked the wrong meat for them again'. (This breaks down into nga nga: I, ban ban: them, marne marne: for, yawoyh yawoyh: again, warrgah warrgah: wrongly directed action, ganj ganj: meat, ginje ginje: cook, ng ng: past tense.) In the Australian language known as Western Desert, palyamunurringkutjamu-nurtu palyamunurringkutjamu-nurtu means 'he or she definitely did not become bad'. means 'he or she definitely did not become bad'.Germans are not the only ones who like to create complex compound words as nouns. Arbejdslsheds-understttelse Arbejdslsheds-understttelse is Danish for unemployment benefit, while is Danish for unemployment benefit, while tilpasningsvanskeligheder tilpasningsvanskeligheder means 'adjustment difficulties'. means 'adjustment difficulties'. Precipitevolissimevolmente Precipitevolissimevolmente is Italian for 'as fast as possible'. And in the Tupi-Guarani Apiaka language of Brazil, is Italian for 'as fast as possible'. And in the Tupi-Guarani Apiaka language of Brazil, tapa-ha-ho-huegeuva tapa-ha-ho-huegeuva means rubber. means rubber.But maybe the laurels should go to the Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes who devised the word lopado-temacho-selacho-galeo-kranio-leipsano-drim-hu-potrimmato-silphio-karabo-melito-katakechumeno-kichl-epikossuphophatto-perister-alektruon-opto-kephallio-kigklo-peleio-lagoio-siraio-baphe-tragano-pterugon lopado-temacho-selacho-galeo-kranio-leipsano-drim-hu-potrimmato-silphio-karabo-melito-katakechumeno-kichl-epikossuphophatto-perister-alektruon-opto-kephallio-kigklo-peleio-lagoio-siraio-baphe-tragano-pterugon, a dish compounded of all kinds of dainties, fish, fowl and sauces.

Otherworldly

zig then ma che; dam choe ma ha(Dzongkha, Bhutan)do not start your worldly life too late; do notstart your religious life too early

Beyond the veil So what lies beyond the beauties of life, in sight, sound and smell? Do we live for ever? And if so, can any of us ever return?

iw.a.n.g wayaka (Ulwa, Nicaragua) a spirit that comes out after a person dies, makes noises and yet is never seen (Ulwa, Nicaragua) a spirit that comes out after a person dies, makes noises and yet is never seentarniqsuqtuq (Inuit) a communication with a spirit that is unable to ascend (Inuit) a communication with a spirit that is unable to ascendraskh (Persian) the transmigration of the human soul into a plant or tree (Persian) the transmigration of the human soul into a plant or treehrendi thenok (Sherpa, Nepal) to get in touch with the soul of a dead person (Sherpa, Nepal) to get in touch with the soul of a dead personbodach (Scottish Gaelic) the ghost of an old man that comes down the chimney to terrorize children who have been naughty (Scottish Gaelic) the ghost of an old man that comes down the chimney to terrorize children who have been naughty

Spooked in Sumatra The Indonesians have a particularly varied vocabulary to describe the inhabitants of the spirit world and their attempts to menace the living: wewe an ugly female ghost with drooping b.r.e.a.s.t.s an ugly female ghost with drooping b.r.e.a.s.t.skeblak a ghost c.o.c.kerel which frightens people at night with the sound of its flapping wings a ghost c.o.c.kerel which frightens people at night with the sound of its flapping wingskuntilanak a ghost masquerading as a beautiful woman to seduce men who are then horrified to find that she actually has a large hole in her back a ghost masquerading as a beautiful woman to seduce men who are then horrified to find that she actually has a large hole in her back

Looking into the future A cynical old Chinese proverb offers the thought cynical old Chinese proverb offers the thought ruo xin bu, maile wu; mai gua kou, mei liang dou ruo xin bu, maile wu; mai gua kou, mei liang dou: 'if you believe in divination you will end up selling your house to pay the diviners'. But attempting to see into the future has been a constant in all societies for thousands of years: aayyaf (Arabic) predicting the future by observing the flight of birds (Arabic) predicting the future by observing the flight of birdsustukhwan-tarashi (Persian) divination using the shoulder-blade of a sheep (Persian) divination using the shoulder-blade of a sheepharuspex (Latin) a priest who practised divination by examining the entrails of animals (Latin) a priest who practised divination by examining the entrails of animalskilo lani (Hawaiian) an augury who can read the clouds (Hawaiian) an augury who can read the cloudssortes (Latin) the seeking of guidance by the chance selection of a pa.s.sage in a book (Latin) the seeking of guidance by the chance selection of a pa.s.sage in a bookmandal (Arabic) prophesying while staring into a mirror-like surface (Arabic) prophesying while staring into a mirror-like surface

Hide away Scottish Highlanders formerly had an unusual way of divining the future, known as taghairm taghairm. This involved wrapping a man in the hide of a freshly butchered bullock and leaving him alone by a waterfall, under a cliff-face, or in some other wild and deserted place. Here he would think about his problem; and whatever answer he came up with was supposed to have been given to him by the spirits who dwelt in such forbidding spots.

False friends monaco (Italian) monk (Italian) monkfish (Arabic) Easter, Pa.s.sover (Arabic) Easter, Pa.s.soveralone (Italian) halo (Italian) halofall (Breton) bad (Breton) badlav (Armenian) good (Armenian) goodbog (Russian) G.o.d (Russian) G.o.d

G.o.d willing The French have a term, bondieuserie bondieuserie, which means ostentatious piety. But for many the solace of prayer and faith is both necessary and private:

saruz-ram (Persian) the first light breaking upon one committed to a contemplative life (Persian) the first light breaking upon one committed to a contemplative liferasf (Persian) the joining together of the feet in prayer (also the joining of stones in pavements) (Persian) the joining together of the feet in prayer (also the joining of stones in pavements)thondrol (Dzongkha, Bhutan) the removal of sins through the contemplation of a large religious picture (Dzongkha, Bhutan) the removal of sins through the contemplation of a large religious picturekuoha (Hawaiian) a prayer used to bring a wife to love her husband and a husband to love his wife (Hawaiian) a prayer used to bring a wife to love her husband and a husband to love his wifetekbir (Arabic) to proclaim the greatness of G.o.d, by repeating (Arabic) to proclaim the greatness of G.o.d, by repeating allahu akkbar allahu akkbar, 'Allah is great'pasrah (Indonesian) to leave a problem to G.o.d (Indonesian) to leave a problem to G.o.dOn reflection

The short of it Among single letter words to be found among the world's languages are the following:u (Samoan) an enlarged land snail (Samoan) an enlarged land snailu (Xeta, Brazil) to eat animal meat (Xeta, Brazil) to eat animal meatu (Burmese) a male over forty-five (literally, uncle) (Burmese) a male over forty-five (literally, uncle)I (Korean) a tooth (Korean) a toothM (Yakut, Siberia) a bear; an ancestral spirit (Yakut, Siberia) a bear; an ancestral spirit

All Creatures Great and Small

meglio e esser capo di lucertolache coda di dragone (Italian) (Italian)better be the head of a lizard than the tailof a dragon

Animal crackers 'Every dog has his day'; 'you can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink'; 'a cat may look at a king'. Animals crop up left, right and centre in English sayings and phrases, and in those of other languages too: leben wie die Made im Speck (German) to live like a maggot in bacon (life of Riley) (German) to live like a maggot in bacon (life of Riley)van een kale kip kan je geen veren plukken (Dutch) you can't pluck feathers from a bald hen (get blood out of a stone) (Dutch) you can't pluck feathers from a bald hen (get blood out of a stone)olla ketunhanta kainalossa (Finnish) to have a foxtail under your armpits (ulterior motives) (Finnish) to have a foxtail under your armpits (ulterior motives)estar durmiendo con la mona (Spanish) to be sleeping with the monkey (be drunk) (Spanish) to be sleeping with the monkey (be drunk)eine Krote schlucken (German) to swallow a toad (make a concession grudgingly) (German) to swallow a toad (make a concession grudgingly)bhains ke age bansuri bajana (Hindi) to play a flute in front of a buffalo (cast pearls before swine) (Hindi) to play a flute in front of a buffalo (cast pearls before swine)vot gde sobaka zaryta (Russian) that's where the dog is buried (the crux of the matter) (Russian) that's where the dog is buried (the crux of the matter)avaler des couleuvres (French) to swallow gra.s.s snakes (endure humiliation) (French) to swallow gra.s.s snakes (endure humiliation)karincalanmak (Turkish) to be crawling with ants (have pins and needles) (Turkish) to be crawling with ants (have pins and needles)

Dragon's head The j.a.panese are particularly fond of animal metaphors: itachigokko weasels' play (a vicious circle) weasels' play (a vicious circle)gyuho an ox's walk (a snail's pace) an ox's walk (a snail's pace)neko no hitai a cat's forehead (a very small area) a cat's forehead (a very small area)yabuhebi ni naru to poke at a bush and get a snake (to backfire to poke at a bush and get a snake (to backfireryuto dabi ni owaru to start with a dragon's head and end with a snake's tail (to peter out) to start with a dragon's head and end with a snake's tail (to peter out)dasoku snake legs (excessive or superfluous) snake legs (excessive or superfluous)tora ni naru to become a tiger (to get roaring drunk) to become a tiger (to get roaring drunk)unagi no nedoko an eel's bed (a long narrow place) an eel's bed (a long narrow place)mushi no idokoro ga warui the location of the worm is bad (in a bad mood) the location of the worm is bad (in a bad mood)kirinji a giraffe child (prodigy) a giraffe child (prodigy)k.u.mo no ko o chirasu yo ni like scattering baby spiders (in all directions) like scattering baby spiders (in all directions)inu to saru a dog and a monkey (to be on bad terms) a dog and a monkey (to be on bad terms)

Ships of the desert As you might expect, the more important an animal is to a particular culture, the more words there are for it. The cattle-herding Masai of Kenya and Tanzania, for example, have seventeen distinct words for cattle; the jungle-based Baniwa tribe of Brazil has twenty-nine for ant (with a range that includes the edible); while in Somali there are no fewer than forty-three words relating to camels of every possible variety. Here are a few: qoorqab an uncastrated male camel an uncastrated male camelawradhale a stud camel that always breeds male camels a stud camel that always breeds male camelsgurgurshaa a docile pack-camel suitable for carrying delicate items a docile pack-camel suitable for carrying delicate itemssidig one of two female camels suckling the same baby camel one of two female camels suckling the same baby camelguran a herd of camels no longer producing milk that is kept away from dwelling areas a herd of camels no longer producing milk that is kept away from dwelling areasbaatir a mature female camel that has had no offspring a mature female camel that has had no offspringgulguuluc the low bellow of a camel when it is sick or thirsty the low bellow of a camel when it is sick or thirsty cayuun cayuun camel spit camel spitu maqaarsaar to put the skin of a dead baby camel on top of a living one in order to induce its mother to give milk to put the skin of a dead baby camel on top of a living one in order to induce its mother to give milkuusmiiro to extract drinking water from the stomach of a camel to drink during a period of drought to extract drinking water from the stomach of a camel to drink during a period of droughtguree to make room for a person to sit on a loaded camel to make room for a person to sit on a loaded cameltulud one's one and only camel one's one and only camel Persian also has its own detailed camel vocabulary that suggests an even more recalcitrant beast: nakhur a camel that will not give milk until her nostrils are tickled a camel that will not give milk until her nostrils are tickledwakhd a camel that throws out its feet in the manner of an ostrich a camel that throws out its feet in the manner of an ostrichmunqamih a camel that raises its head and refuses to drink any more a camel that raises its head and refuses to drink any morezirad a rope tied round a camel's neck to prevent it from vomiting on its rider a rope tied round a camel's neck to prevent it from vomiting on its rider

Horses for courses Many languages have very specific words to describe not only types of horse but also its activities and attributes. In the Quechuan language of Peru, tharmiy tharmiy is a horse that stands on its hind legs and kicks out with its forelegs. The Bulgar is a horse that stands on its hind legs and kicks out with its forelegs. The Bulgar lungur lungur is an unfit horse, while the Malay is an unfit horse, while the Malay kuda padi kuda padi is a short-legged horse for riding. is a short-legged horse for riding. Dasparan Dasparan, from the Khowan language of Pakistan, describes the mating of horses and the Russian nochoe nochoe means the pasturing of horses for the night. Persian has an extravagance of equine vocabulary: means the pasturing of horses for the night. Persian has an extravagance of equine vocabulary: zaru a horse that travels nimbly with long steps a horse that travels nimbly with long stepsmirjam a horse that makes the dirt fly when running a horse that makes the dirt fly when runningraji a horse returning tired from a journey only to be immediately dispatched upon another a horse returning tired from a journey only to be immediately dispatched upon anotherrakl to strike a horse with the heel to make it gallop to strike a horse with the heel to make it gallopzau' shaking the horse's rein to quicken the pace shaking the horse's rein to quicken the paceshiyar riding a horse backwards and forwards to show it off to a buyer riding a horse backwards and forwards to show it off to a buyersafin a horse standing on three legs and touching the ground with the tip of its fourth hoof a horse standing on three legs and touching the ground with the tip of its fourth hoof

Man's best friend The Indians of Guatemala have a word, nagual nagual, which describes an animal, chosen at birth, whose fate is believed to have a direct effect on the prosperity of its owner.

Hopping mad The Kunwinjku of Australia use a range of words to describe the way in which kangaroos hop; in part this is because, from a distance, the easiest way to identify a particular type of kangaroo is by the way it moves. Thus kanjedjme kanjedjme is the hopping of a wallaroo, is the hopping of a wallaroo, kamawudme kamawudme is the hopping of a male Antilopine wallaroo, and is the hopping of a male Antilopine wallaroo, and kadjalwahme kadjalwahme is the hopping of the female. is the hopping of the female. Kamurlbardme Kamurlbardme is the hopping of a black wallaroo and is the hopping of a black wallaroo and kalurlhlurlme kalurlhlurlme is the hopping of an agile wallaby. is the hopping of an agile wallaby.

False friends ape (Italian) bee (Italian) beeanz (Arabic) wasp (Arabic) waspb.u.m (Arabic) owl (Arabic) owlmedusa (Spanish) jellyfish (Spanish) jellyfishslurp (Afrikaans) elephant's trunk (Afrikaans) elephant's trunkukelele (Tongan) jumping flea (Tongan) jumping flea

Shoo!

The Latin American sape sape, the German husch husch and the Pashto (of Afghanistan and Pakistan) and the Pashto (of Afghanistan and Pakistan) tsheghe tsheghe tsheghe tsheghe are among the many similar-sounding words that mean 'shoo'. Other animal commands refer to particular creatures: Pashto are among the many similar-sounding words that mean 'shoo'. Other animal commands refer to particular creatures: Pashto pishte pishte pishte pishte is said when chasing cats away; is said when chasing cats away; gja gja gja gja is the Bulgar driving call to horses; is the Bulgar driving call to horses; kur kur is the Indonesian call to chickens to come to be fed; and is the Indonesian call to chickens to come to be fed; and belekisi ontu belekisi ontu (Aukan, Suriname) is an insult hurled at a dog. The Malays are even more specific, with (Aukan, Suriname) is an insult hurled at a dog. The Malays are even more specific, with song song, the command to an elephant to lift one leg, and soh soh, the cry to a buffalo to turn left.

Peac.o.c.ks' tails Many languages identify specific parts or attributes of animals for which there is no direct English equivalent. Kauhaga moa Kauhaga moa is the word used by Easter Islanders to designate the first and shortest claw of a chicken, while is the word used by Easter Islanders to designate the first and shortest claw of a chicken, while candraka candraka in Tulu (India) is the eye pattern that appears on the feathers of a peac.o.c.k's tail and in Tulu (India) is the eye pattern that appears on the feathers of a peac.o.c.k's tail and kannu kannu is the star in the feather. In several languages there are particular words for different types of animal excrement: monkey urine in the Guaja language (Brazil) is is the star in the feather. In several languages there are particular words for different types of animal excrement: monkey urine in the Guaja language (Brazil) is kalukaluk-kai kalukaluk-kai; the liquid part of chicken excrement in Ulwa (Nicaragua) is daraba daraba; while in Persian the little bit of sweat and dung attached to a sheep's groin and tail is called wazahat wazahat.

Kissing and hissing Other words describe the closely observed actions of animals, many of which we can instantly recognize: mengais (Indonesian) to scratch on the ground with claws in search of food (generally used of a chicken) (Indonesian) to scratch on the ground with claws in search of food (generally used of a chicken)apisik (Turkish) any animal holding its tail between its legs (Turkish) any animal holding its tail between its legsmaj u maj (Persian) kissing and licking (as a cat does to her kittens) (Persian) kissing and licking (as a cat does to her kittens)greann (Scottish Gaelic) the hair bristling as on an enraged dog (Scottish Gaelic) the hair bristling as on an enraged dogfahha (Arabic) the hissing of a snake (Arabic) the hissing of a snaketau'ani (Cook Islands Maori) to squeal at one another while fighting (used of cats) (Cook Islands Maori) to squeal at one another while fighting (used of cats)kikamu (Hawaiian) the gathering of fish about a hook that they hesitate to bite (Hawaiian) the gathering of fish about a hook that they hesitate to bitealevandring (Danish) the migration of the eel (Danish) the migration of the eelpaarnguliaq (Inuit) a seal that has strayed and now can't find its breathing hole (Inuit) a seal that has strayed and now can't find its breathing hole

Two Persian tricks Tuti'i pas ayina is a person sitting behind a mirror who teaches a parrot to talk by making it believe that it is its own likeness seen in the mirror which is p.r.o.nouncing the words. While is a person sitting behind a mirror who teaches a parrot to talk by making it believe that it is its own likeness seen in the mirror which is p.r.o.nouncing the words. While kalb kalb is the practice of imitating barking to induce dogs to respond and thus show whether a particular dwelling is inhabited or not. is the practice of imitating barking to induce dogs to respond and thus show whether a particular dwelling is inhabited or not.

Animal magnetism Some animal words attract other meanings as well. Hausa of Nigeria uses mesa mesa to mean both python and water hose, and to mean both python and water hose, and jak jak both don-key and wheelbarrow. both don-key and wheelbarrow. Wukur Wukur in Arabic signifies a bird of prey's nest in Arabic signifies a bird of prey's nest

and an aircraft hangar and, intriguingly, zamma zamma means both to put a bridle on a camel and to be supercilious. For the Wagiman of Australia means both to put a bridle on a camel and to be supercilious. For the Wagiman of Australia w.a.n.ganyjarri w.a.n.ganyjarri describes a green ants' nest and an armpit, while for the French describes a green ants' nest and an armpit, while for the French papillon papillon is both a b.u.t.terfly and a parking ticket. is both a b.u.t.terfly and a parking ticket.

The flying squad In Hopi, an Amerindian language, masa'ytaka masa'ytaka is used to denote insects, aeroplanes, pilots; in fact, everything that flies except birds. is used to denote insects, aeroplanes, pilots; in fact, everything that flies except birds.

Tamed Humans have rarely been content to let animals run wild and free; using them in one way or another has defined the relationship between two and four legs: ch'illpiy (Quechuan, Peru) to mark livestock by cutting their ears (Quechuan, Peru) to mark livestock by cutting their earsbolas (Spanish) two or three heavy b.a.l.l.s joined by a cord used to entangle the legs of animals (Spanish) two or three heavy b.a.l.l.s joined by a cord used to entangle the legs of animalsoorxax (Khakas, Siberia) a wooden ring in the nose of a calf (to prevent it from suckling from its mother) (Khakas, Siberia) a wooden ring in the nose of a calf (to prevent it from suckling from its mother)hundeskole (Danish) a dog-training school (Danish) a dog-training school

Animal sounds In Albanian, Danish, English, Hebrew and Polish, to name just a few languages, bees make a buzzing sound, and cats miaow. However, no language but English seems to think that owls go 'tu-whit, tu-woo' or a c.o.c.kerel goes 'c.o.c.k-a-doodle-doo'. And not everyone agrees about the birds and the bees either: BirdsArabic (Algeria): twit twit twit twitBengali: cooho'koohoo cooho'koohooFinnish: tsirp tsirp tsirp tsirpHungarian: csipcsirip csipcsiripKorean: ji-ji-bae-bae ji-ji-bae-baeNorwegian: kvirrevitt kvirrevitt or or pip-pip pip-pipBeesAfrikaans: zoem-zoem zoem-zoemBengali: bhonbhon bhonbhonEstonian: summ-summ summ-summj.a.panese: bunbun bunbunKorean: boong-boong boong-boong or or wing-wing wing-wingCatsIndonesian: ngeong ngeongMalay: ngiau ngiauNahuatl (Mexico): tlatzomia tlatzomiaChicksAlbanian: ciu ciu ciu ciuGreek: ko-ko-ko ko-ko-koHungarian: csip-csip csip-csipIndonesian: cip cip cip cipQuechuan (Peru): tojtoqeyay tojtoqeyaySlovene: iv-iv iv-ivThai: jiap jiap jiap jiapTurkish: cik cik cik cikc.o.c.kerelsChinese: gou gou gou gouFrench: cocorico cocoricoItalian: chicchirichi chicchirichiPortuguese: cocorococo cocorococoThai: ake-e-ake-ake ake-e-ake-akeCowsBengali: hamba hambaDutch: boeh boehHungarian: bu buKorean: um-muuuu um-muuuuNahuatl (Mexico): choka chokaCrowsFrench: croa-croa croa-croaIndonesian: gagak gagakKorean: kka-ak-kka-ak kka-ak-kka-akSpanish: cruaaac, cruaaac cruaaac, cruaaacSwedish: krax kraxThai: gaa gaa gaa gaaTurkish: gaaak, gaak gaaak, gaakCuckoosj.a.panese: kakkou kakkou kakkou kakkouKorean: ppu-kkook-ppu-kkook ppu-kkook-ppu-kkookTurkish: guguk, guguk guguk, gugukElephantsFinnish: troot troot or or proot prootSpanish (Chile): prraaahhh, prrraaaahhh prraaahhh, prrraaaahhhThai: pran pran pran pranFrogsAfrikaans: kwaak-kwaak kwaak-kwaakEstonian: krooks-krooks krooks-krooksMunduruku (Brazil): korekorekore korekorekoreSpanish (Argentina): berp berpGoatsNahuatl (Mexico): choka chokaNorwegian: mae maeQuechuan (Peru): j.a.p'apeyay j.a.p'apeyayRussian: mee meeUkrainian: me-me me-meHensTurkish: gut-gut-gudak gut-gut-gudakArabic (Algeria): cout cout cout cout cout coutRapa Nui (Easter Island): kokokoko kokokokoOwlsKorean: buung-buung buung-buungNorwegian: uhu uhuRussian: ukh ukhSwedish: hoho hohoThai: hook hook hook hookPigsAlbanian: hunk hunk hunk hunkHungarian: rof-rof-rof rof-rof-rofj.a.panese: buubuu, boo boo boo buubuu, boo boo booDutch: knor-knor knor-knorSheepMandarin Chinese: mieh mieh mieh miehPortuguese: meee meee meee meeeSlovene: bee-bee bee-beeVietnamese: be-hehehe be-heheheFrench: bee (h) bee (h)On reflection

Spellcheck nightmare If only Scrabble allowed foreign words how much greater our wordscores could be: 1. 3 consecutive vowels: aaa aaa (Hawaiian) a lava tube (Hawaiian) a lava tube 2. 4 consecutive vowels: jaaaarne jaaaarne (Estonian) the edge of the ice; (Estonian) the edge of the ice; kuuuurija kuuuurija (Estonian) a moon explorer (Estonian) a moon explorer 3. 6 consecutive vowels: zaaiuien zaaiuien (Dutch) onions for seeding; (Dutch) onions for seeding; ouaouaron ouaouaron (Quebecois French) a bullfrog (Quebecois French) a bullfrog 4. 7 consecutive vowels: haayoaie haayoaie (Finnish) counting 'y' as a vowel a plan for the wedding night (Finnish) counting 'y' as a vowel a plan for the wedding night 5. 8 consecutive vowels: hooiaioia hooiaioia (Hawaiian) certified; (Hawaiian) certified; oueaiaaare oueaiaaare (Estonian) the edge of a fence surrounding a yard (Estonian) the edge of a fence surrounding a yard 6. 5 consecutive consonants (and no vowels): cmrlj cmrlj (Slovenian) a b.u.mblebee (Slovenian) a b.u.mblebee 7. 7 consecutive consonants: razzvrkljati razzvrkljati (Slovenian) preparing the egg for baking, or making omelettes; (Slovenian) preparing the egg for baking, or making omelettes; opskrbljiva opskrbljiva(Croatian) a supplier; ctvrtkruh ctvrtkruh (Czech) a quadrant (Czech) a quadrant 8. 8 consecutive consonants: angstschreeuw angstschreeuw (Dutch) a cry of fear; (Dutch) a cry of fear; varldsschlager varldsschlager (Swedish) a worldwide music hit; (Swedish) a worldwide music hit; gvbrdgvnit gvbrdgvnit (Georgian) you tear us into pieces (Georgian) you tear us into pieces 9. 11 consecutive consonants: odctvrtvrstvit odctvrtvrstvit (Czech) to remove a quarter of a layer (Czech) to remove a quarter of a layer