Nature has a way of leaving us in awe, yet sometimes words feel insufficient to capture its beauty. Around the world, languages have developed unique words for specific aspects of nature that have no direct translation in English. These untranslatable words offer us glimpses into how different cultures perceive the natural world. Here are 20 of these words—each one an invitation to see nature through a new lens.
Komorebi (Japanese)
The way sunlight filters through leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. It captures the gentle dance of light and shadow in forests.
Mångata (Swedish)
The road-like reflection of the moon on water, creating a shimmering path across the surface.
Petrichor (English, from Greek)
A distinctive, earthy, usually pleasant odor that is associated with rainfall especially when following a warm, dry period and that arises from a combination of volatile plant oils and geosmin released from the soil.
Gökotta (Swedish)
Waking up early to go outside and listen to birds sing, especially during springtime.
Hanami (Japanese)
The Japanese tradition of enjoying cherry blossoms in full bloom, often celebrated with picnics beneath the trees.
Tsundoku (Japanese)
Although it originally refers to the habit of collecting books, tsundoku is also a word used to describe the beauty of trees in bloom, especially cherry and plum blossoms.
Waldeinsamkeit (German)
The feeling of being alone in the woods, connected to the peaceful solitude of nature.
Hoh (Korean)
The mist that rises over the mountains after rain, a sign of nature’s beauty and impermanence.
Serein (French)
The fine, light rain that falls in the early evening or night, especially after a warm day.
Psithurism (English, from Greek)
The sound of wind through the trees, a soothing rustle of leaves that brings calm.
Boketto (Japanese)
The act of gazing at the landscape in quiet contemplation, often at a vast, open space.
Hiraeth (Welsh)
A homesickness for a place you’ve never been, often associated with the longing for nature and landscapes.
Kilig (Tagalog)
A feeling of excitement and joy when seeing something breathtaking in nature, like a beautiful sunset or mountain view. A feeling also most commonly used to refer to “butterflies in the stomach”
Uitwaaien (Dutch)
To go out in windy weather, particularly into nature or a park, as a means of refreshing oneself and clearing one’s mind
Meriggiare (Italian)
To escape from the sun by relaxing in the shade, especially on a hot day.
Hanyauku (Rukwangali, Namibia)
The act of walking on tiptoes across warm sand.
Kogarashi (Japanese)
The cold wind that signals the arrival of winter, often felt as a crisp, refreshing breeze.
Friluftsliv (Norwegian)
The practice of spending time outdoors to enjoy nature, translating loosely to “open-air living.”
Aubade (French)
The song of the dawn, often describing birds singing at first light.
Embracing the Magic of Nature with Untranslatable Words
These untranslatable words reveal just how deeply humans can be connected to the natural world. Each term gives us a new way to describe moments in nature that might otherwise pass by unnoticed. So next time you notice the komorebi filtering through leaves or hear the psithurism of wind through the trees, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of these experiences—knowing that somewhere in the world, there’s a perfect word to describe it.
Words like these remind us of the universal beauty of nature, encouraging us to pause, reflect, and connect with the world around us.