Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and it is the perfect opportunity to spend time with those near and dear, whether a romantic partner, your family, close friends or even a beloved furry pal. To celebrate, we have compiled some terms and phrases related to love. These words come from different languages and regions, some conveying hope and positivity while others serve as a warning about love.
8 idioms about family, relationships and loved ones
1. kara sevda
This Turkish phrase – directly translating to “dark love” – means a desire and love that is all-consuming but uncontrollable and sometimes unrequited, leaving you longing and hopeless.
2. koi no yokan (恋の予感)
Different from love at first sight, this Japanese phrase is about the premonition – the anticipation – of love, the feeling that you will inevitably fall for someone you have just met. Even if love has not sparked yet, it is on the horizon, about to happen.
3. jaan-e-man (جان من)
Those who speak Urdu will be familiar with this term, used for your sweetheart or beloved. It borrows from Farsi, loosely translating to “my life”, and means my soul or very being.
4. ya’aburnee (يقبرني)
This expression in Arabic literally means “you bury me”. It is a little twisted: the speaker wants to die before their lover does, so they do not have to live without them because it is too difficult to bear.
5. coup de foudre
This French idiom translates into English as “a bolt of lightning”, but it means an astonishing occurrence, especially love at first sight. It refers to being struck by someone and being instantly attracted.
6. cavoli riscaldati
This Italian term literally translates as “reheated cabbage” but describes attempts to rekindle love that has been lost. It traces back to the proverb: “Neither reheated cabbage nor a revived love is ever good.” It is a warning against restarting a failed relationship or trying to make a doomed relationship work.
7. kilig
This Tagalog word is commonly used across the Philippines, describing the romantic excitement that comes with love. It can mean feeling anything from giddy to flushed, thrilled or exhilarated.
7 romantic idioms to express your love
8. viraha (विरह)
This Sanskrit word means separation and is often used to describe the anguish of leaving a lover and the yearning and sorrow that follows. You will come across it in various Indian regional languages and literature, especially music and poetry.
9. mamihlapinatapai
This word comes from the Yaghan people of Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago (island group) split between Argentina and Chile. It describes a moment when two people share a look, each hoping the other will initiate something romantic but both unwilling to make the first move themselves. It is considered one of the most difficult words to translate!
