Languages and customsIceland
Icelandic surnames: why almost nobody has a family name
In Iceland a surname is a parent’s first name plus “son” or “dóttir”. How the system works, what the law requires, and why phone books sort by first name.
Languages and customs
Untranslatable words, gestures and rules of etiquette.
Articles on this topic
Hand gestures that mean something else in other countries
The OK sign, the V sign, the open palm and the thumbs up don’t mean the same everywhere. Where each one can offend, and what to do instead.
Languages and customsNetherlands
Holland or the Netherlands? Why tourism dropped Holland
Holland is only two of the 12 Dutch provinces. See where the mix-up began, why the government dropped the name in 2020 and which one to use.
Languages and customsSouth Korea
Korean age: why South Koreans suddenly got younger
Until 2023, a Korean baby was born aged 1 and gained a year every January 1. The law changed, but age still shapes how people speak to each other.
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 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.
