It’s been awhile since I’ve shared any of the weird words from Adam Jacot de Boinod’s The Meaning of Tingo, so — for travelers looking to wow (or just confuse) their international hosts — here are a few choice global vocabularly nuggets:
- The Dutch word for skimming stones is plimpplamppletteren.
- Nakhur is Persian for a camel that won’t give milk until her nostrils are tickled.
- Cigerci is Turkish for a seller of liver and lungs.
- Madogiwazoku is Japanese for “window gazers” (i.e., office workers who sit at desks with little to do).
- Seigneur-terrasse is French for a person who spends much time but little money in a café.
- Tsuji-giri is Japanese for trying out a new sword on a passer-by (an example of the lack of respect for peasants by the Samurai).
- Torschlusspanik is German the fear of diminishing opportunities as one gets older.


October 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Hi Rolf!
I’m a huge fan of your writing & your experiences. I particularly like this category of your blog - we actually have a ‘Travel Term du Jour’ feature on our blog as well.. I hope you don’t mind, but I may borrow some of these terms, and will give credit where it’s due!
Best,
Suz (a.k.a. Lil’ Boozie)
“3 Troopin’ Travelers”