The Happiness Dictionary

Discover a treasure trove of words from languages across the world, that will enrich not just your understanding of happiness, but also the way that you experience it.

Have you ever had a feeling that you couldn't quite describe, because no English word exists for it?

Indeed, without such a word, it's difficult to remember or understand the feeling, and to talk about it with other people. This applies to all aspects of life, but most of all to that most sought-after of feelings, happiness, where our ability to both experience and understand it is limited by the words at our disposal.

However, all is not lost. Even if English has not created a word for a specific feeling, another language probably has. These are known as 'untranslatable' words, because they lack an exact equivalent in another language. By discovering and learning these words, the boundaries of our world expand accordingly. These words allow us to give voice to feelings that we've probably experienced, but have lacked the ability to conceptualise. They may even allow us to encounter new feelings that we hadn't previously been aware of or enjoyed.

From tarab, the enchanting ecstasy produced by beautiful music, to selah, a quiet, reflective pause in the usual hustle and bustle of a working day, The Happiness Dictionary will introduce you to a wealth of new words that will enhance your emotional vocabulary and cultivate your understanding of happiness.