Languages and customsEurope
Untranslatable words and the customs behind them
Fika, hygge, sobremesa, gezellig and Feierabend have no one-word English equivalent. What each one means and the everyday habit it names.
Languages and customs
Untranslatable words, gestures and rules of etiquette.
Articles on this topic
Languages and customsBulgaria
In Bulgaria, shaking your head means yes
In Bulgaria, the head gestures for yes and no are the opposite of what most visitors expect. Where that comes from, and how to avoid getting it wrong.
Languages and customsSwitzerland
Is it illegal to flush the toilet at night in Switzerland?
Legend says flushing after 10 p.m. is banned in Switzerland. It isn’t, but the myth has a real root. Here’s what the rules actually say.
