My word

Do you ever find yourself using the same words all the time and kicking yourself for lacking in imagination or eloquence?

When I’m chatting in person (or on a podcast), apparently I use the word ‘absolutely’ rather a lot!  And when I write a letter or post on social media I seem to write that everything is ‘lovely’ or ‘fantastic’. I don’t even know I’m doing it and it’s only when I am reminded, or I take a second look, that I realise.

I know that my vocabulary is far greater than the words I tend to use routinely and so one of my goals for 2023 is to demonstrate that I’m more erudite than my day to day vocab suggests!

But this dilemma (as well as some excessive scrolling on Pinterest, of which I’m pretty guilty!) got me thinking and I started to develop an interest in uncovering some interesting words that I’d never heard before. I thought I’d share some of them with you. Not only are they lovely (!) but many are also rather uplifting and heart-warming.

• Logophile – a lover of words
• Peiskos – the feeling you get when you sit in front of a fire and enjoy its warmth
• Novalunosis – the state of relaxation and wonderment experienced while gazing upon the stars
• Dendrophile – a person who loves forests and trees
• Thalassophile (I am definitely one of these!) – a lover of the sea, someone who loves the ocean
• Eunoia – beautiful thinking, a well mind
• Fika (Swedish) – a moment to slow down and appreciate the good things in life
• Lagom – not too little, not too much. Just right.
• Cwtch (Welsh – and I remember my Welsh grandmother using this word) – more than a cuddle or a hug. When you give someone a cwtch, you are figuratively giving them a safe space
• Meraki (Greek) – when you do something with soul, creativity or love; putting a piece of yourself into what you do

Have you got any good ones to add, or any that might make us appreciate language a little more?

Speaking of language and eloquence, don’t forget that from as little as £400 you can sponsor the OnFARM podcast and get your messages out across our airwaves to thousands of people across rural Scotland and beyond!  Just get in touch!

Meantime, I’m off outside to experience some ‘seatherny’ (the serenity one feels when listening to the chirping of birds!).

Take care,

Anna