EUNICE European University recently turned Language Day into an online celebration, stretching across an entire week packed with interactive activities, crash courses, and linguistic surprises. The event brought together students, staff, and language lovers from across our 10 partner universities.
One of the highlights? A collaborative word cloud built from participants’ favourite words in their native or learned languages. The result was a colourful mosaic of expressions, emotions, and cultural gems — and a reminder of how language connects us across borders. We can’t list all the concepts, but we’ve picked some of the most delightful ones to share with you with a pinch of humour.
• Francesinha (Portuguese) – A traditional Portuguese sandwich with meat, cheese, and sauce. It went to culinary school and got fancy.
• Flâner (French) – To stroll without a specific purpose, pretending you’re in a perfume ad.
• Piwo (Polish) – Beer, the Polish way of saying “cheers to the weekend!”
• Fika (Swedish) – Coffee break with pastries and gossip – a national sport in Sweden.
• Meriggiare (Italian) – To chill in the shade during a hot afternoon like a lazy cat.
• Saudade (Portuguese) – A nostalgic longing for something… maybe summer?
• Familia (Spanish) – The people who love you even when you steal their fries.
• Tendresse (French) – Tenderness, like hugging a puppy made of marshmallows.
• Zusammenarbeit (German) – Collaboration, or the art of surviving group projects.
• Lagom (Swedish) – Just the right amount – not too much, not too little, just Swedish enough.
• Φιλοτιμι (Greek) – A mix of pride, honor, and doing good just because.
• Peace (English) – A state of calm and absence of conflict or that magical moment when your phone is on silent and nobody needs you.
• Soleil (French) – Sun, the original influencer of good moods.
All we need is love
In my opinion, is also heart-warming that love had a special room in the participants minds:
• Kullanmuru (Finnish) – Sweetheart, literally “gold crumb” – adorable and edible-sounding.
• Cariño (Spanish) – Sweetheart, or the person who always brings you a coffee in the morning.
• Αγαπη (Greek) – Love, the kind that comes with olives and feta.
• Cuore (Italian) – Heart, especially when it beats for pizza.
• Leannan (Scottish Gaelic) – Lover, especially one who brings snacks.
• Coeur (French) – The heart, especially when it’s full of cheese and drama.
Want to learn some of these languages yourself?
Good news! The application period for EUNICE’s online language courses is still open. Whether you want to master French flair, dive into Polish pronunciation, or simply enjoy the rhythm of Italian, there’s a course for you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lydia A. Ceballos Boyden is the coordinator of the EUNICE Communication Board, which brings together communication officers from each partner university of the Alliance. A seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in corporate communications and higher education, she specializes in fostering international collaborations and digital marketing.
