Today Bierma highlighted Erin McKean's book, "That's Amore! The Language of Love for Lovers of Language." It sounds like a great book, and here are some examples. As usual, I love the nuances of other languages.

1) What is love at first sight? In French it's un coup de foudre or "lightning bolt." In Swedish it's blixtforalaskelse or "struck by lightning."

2) What about being "crazy" about someone? In Serbo-Croat you "step on a crazy stone," while the Welsh say, "I'm stupid on you."

3) You might "grin from ear to ear" when you see your sweetheart. In Bulgarian you would be "in love up to your ears" or vliuben do ushi.

4) Love can be "intoxicating" or you might experience "punch-drunk love." In Indonesian you'd say mabuk cinta, or "drunk on love." McKean says that English once used the word lovedrunke.

5) There are metaphors for love that we lack. Serbo-Croat has the phrase smrkati se, meaning "to sniff each other." This is a great concept, as it refers to catching someone's eye from the other side of the room. I wish we had a word for that! Spanish has a word that, while we have a similar one, theirs goes way beyond it. We refer to a "third wheel," while they say "to play the violin." Their concept is much more enjoyable, isn't it?

6) the Nicaraguan language of Ulwa has a wonderful word, alamnaka, which roughly translates as "niche" and means something like "soul mate."

7) In Persian they have hamnafasam baash, which means "be my fellow-breather." McKean says this is when lovers want to share everything, including the air you breathe.

8) Russian also has a lot of interesting love phrases, such as ty menya prigubil, meaning "You have taken a sip of me."

9) In English we "dump" someone, but in Italian they "throw the drum can at someone." Similarly the French say se prendre une veste, meaning "get a jacket."

10) In Romanian they say ma sting fara iubirea ei, meaning "I extinguish without her love." Awwww!

11) The Chinese have the last word, though, for lovers. They say, "Take no notice of what you hear said on the pillow." Isn't that the truth?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,

quote:

The Chinese have the last word, though, for lovers. They say, "Take no notice of what you hear said on the pillow." Isn't that the truth?

But once you get to that stage it doesn't matter, surely;-)

quote:

But once you get to that stage it doesn't matter, surely;-)

And your mind is presumably on other things!

不要采取什么的通知您听见前述在枕头。

Isn't that the truth !!

All days can be "day of love" for lovers

Before the advent of Islam, we Persians had a day for love. It was called "Sepandarmaz Day". Its history is far older than the Roman's "Valentine" and has an interesting philosophy based on Zoroastrian theology.

Those Persians who managed to remain Zoroastrian still celebrate it. In recent years, it's also celebrated by most of non-Zoroastrians who have learned about having had such a tradition in our culture.

It's just three days after Valentine!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Alijsh,

Its history is far older than the Roman's "Valentine" and has an interesting philosophy based on Zoroastrian theology.

Thanks for that information, Alijsh. The current holiday of St Valentine's day is based on a Roman Catholic holiday (of the middle ages). (There are two martyrs named St Valentine, and, if they existed, they are tracked back to the third century CE.) The ancient Romans had a festival in the middle of February called Lupercalia.

zmj, your link indicates that Lupercalia may be older than the founding of Rome. Can we take it back? And if so, can we establish any cognate relationship with Alijsh's Sepandarmaz Day?

Can we take it back?

I'll take a look-see in my reference library. Get back to you later?

Alijsh, I was hoping you'd see that #7 word! Can you tell us other love words in Persian? I am especially interested in those that translate a little differently, such as the Russian phrase, "You have taken a sip of me."

quote:

Originally posted by wordnerd:
... can we establish any cognate relationship with Alijsh's Sepandarmaz Day?

No, I don't think so. Wikipedia says,

The Lupercalia was observed on February 15 to avert evil spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility

whereas Sepandarmaz is for something else. Lupercalia is quite similar to our "Sizdah-be-dar" (thirteen out) that we observe on the 13th day of the New Year.

Our New Year which is called Noruz (No: new; ruz: day) begins at vernal equinox (the first day of spring). Nowruz is very very ancient. "After a severe winter, the beginning of spring was a great occasion with Mother Nature rising up in a green robe of colorful flowers and the cattle delivering their young. It was the dawn of abundance."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noruz

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Alijsh,

I think Sepandarmaz is also similar to "Women' day": http://www.cais-soas.com/News/2006/February2006/18-02.htm

quote:

Before the advent of Islam, we Persians had a day for love. It was called "Sepandarmaz Day". Its history is far older than the Roman's "Valentine" and has an interesting philosophy based on Zoroastrian theology.

I haven't met you before but I am delighted to get the perspective of a Persian. Keep writing.

Yes, I agree. Missann, Alijsh is new to us; I hope he stays!