# Those little lexical gaps **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473 "2014-03-11T21:13:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Batistuta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Batistuta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batistuta)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/61 "2014-03-21T22:17:40Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Swedish is good for that stuff. The best Swedish word ever, although it’s of fairy recent coinage, is “sambo”, which is an unmarried cohabiting partner (“sam”= together", “bo”= habitating). How nice is that? “He’s my sambo”. In English, you have to say “he’s my boyfriend, and we live together”, and you’ll only get around to expressing that if the subject of your habitation status is brought up in the first place. In Swedish, it’s just that little and very specific word. > > We have it in Norwegian as well, as “samboer”, but the shorter Swedish version is just more fun to say. It sounds like a piece of IKEA furniture. Absolutely correct (also on the ‘IKEA furniture’ comment). And as I was reading the other day, the whole ‘sambo’ concept is being taken even further. We now have _särbo_ (särkilda+bo), which is when a couple is going out but not living together. There’s also _delsbo_ (deltid+bo), when a couple shares a home at times, but not always. And the most embarassing of all: _mambo_ (mamma+bo), which is when a grown person lives with his/her parents. Seriously, when it comes to specific relationship terms, Swedish is just unbeatable. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > The W is more like the oo in book. It’s actually a [near-close near-back rounded vowel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-close_near-back_rounded_vowel). Hmm. Sounds like a challenge. According to wikipedia that ‘oo’ sound exists in Swedish **and** in Eastern Andalusian Spanish. So I should definitely be able to pull it off ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/62 "2014-03-21T22:29:05Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Swedish is good for that stuff. The best Swedish word ever, although it’s of fairy recent coinage, is “sambo”, which is an unmarried cohabiting partner (“sam”= together", “bo”= habitating). How nice is that? “He’s my sambo”. Is that a “sah” sound at the beginning? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/63 "2014-03-21T22:49:33Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Is that a “sah” sound at the beginning? It’s pronounced pretty much the way it looks. [Here’s](http://www.forvo.com/word/sambo/) some Swedes saying it. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/64 "2014-03-21T23:21:05Z")
Everyone always says that _saudade_ in Portuguese is one of these words (it’s even mentioned in post #2). I agree that it doesn’t map to an English word directly, but one uses it in the same way that we would say “I miss my youthful college days” or “I miss you” (_estou com saudades de você_). Brazilians allude to some deeper meaning in the word, but I just don’t get it. Now, tell me how to say “to take for granted” in Portuguese and I’ll be happy. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/65 "2014-03-22T02:35:25Z")
Indonesian has two words for “we”. One, “kita”, includes the listener, and “kami” excludes the listener. So, if a mother tells her child “Kami pergi …”, it means that the mother (and one or more other people) are going out, but that the child is staying home. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/66 "2014-03-22T12:22:10Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > English doesn’t make a distinction between we=“me and you” and we=“me and some other person or people” I believe that Mandarin Chinese does (zan men vs wo men). Though everything I know about Mandarin I get from my children, so don’t trust a word I say 😉 > [@BobArrgh](#): > > Indonesian has two words for “we”. One, “kita”, includes the listener, and “kami” excludes the listener. So, if a mother tells her child “Kami pergi …”, it means that the mother (and one or more other people) are going out, but that the child is staying home. Similarly with Pidgin English, used widely in Papua New Guinea and thereabouts. Pidgin has for the former, “yumi” [you/me, plus perhaps other people], and for the latter “mipela” [me and the other fellow{s}]. So in this respect, Pidgin is more precise than standard English. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/67 "2014-03-22T13:18:30Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Now, tell me how to say “to take for granted” in Portuguese and I’ll be happy. In Spanish, one way to convey this is _tomar por hecho_, lit. “take for done.” Perhaps there is a parallel phrase in Portuguese? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/68 "2014-03-22T14:25:30Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > English doesn’t make a distinction between we=“me and you” and we=“me and some other person or people” English has also lost the distinction between “yea” (agreeing with a positive question) and “yes” (disagreeing with a negative question), which exists in many other languages (French _oui_ and _si_, for example). And this one everyone knows, English has lost the distinction between “thou” (singular) and “you” (plural) that many other language have, as well as distinctions in levels of formality. Bengali (like other South Asian languages) has three levels of formality in the second person and also keeps the singular/plural distinction. _familiar: tui/tora informal: tumi/tomra formal: apni/apnara_ It also keeps two levels of this distinction in the _third_ person. It doesn’t distinguish by gender (he/she/it), but it does distinguish by proximity (here, there, yonder). _informal: e/era, o/ora, she/tara formal: ini/inira, uni/onara, tini/tara_ > [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Both Japanese and Mandarin don’t have words for “in-law.” You have to say “your (wife’s) parents”. > > Japanese also doesn’t have a word for step-father, although they do for step-mother. > [@suranyi](#): > > As another example, in Cantonese “aunt” and “uncle” are represented as different words depending on whether the relation is on the mother’s side or the father’s side. Bengali has a fantastic range of specific terms for relatives (in addition to these it has more formal and less formal terms too, and there is also some variation for Muslim families): Parents: Father: Baba Mother: Ma Siblings: Brother: Bhai Elder brother: Dada Sister: Bon Elder sister: Didi Grandparents: Father’s father: Thakurda Father’s mother: Thakurma Mother’s father: Dadamoshai Mother’s mother: Didima Uncles: Father’s elder brother: Jethamoshai Father’s younger brother: Kaka Father’s sister’s husband: Pishemoshai Mother’s brother: Mama Mother’s sister’s husband: Meshomoshai Aunts: Father’s sister: Pishima Father’s elder brother’s wife: Jethima Father’s younger brother’s wife: Kakima Mother’s sister: Mashima Mother’s brother’s wife: Mamima Spouse: Husband: Bor Wife: Bou Parents in law: Father-in-law: Shoshurmoshai Mother-in-law: Shashuri Brothers in law: Sister’s husband: Jamaibabu Husband’s elder brother: Bhashur Husband’s younger brother: Deyor Husband’s sister’s husband: Dadababu Wife’s brother: Shala (also used as a common term of abuse, equivalent to “bastard” or “asshole”) Wife’s sister’s husband: Bhairabhai Sisters in law Elder brother’s wife: Boudi Younger brother’s wife: Bhaj/bouma Husband’s sister: Thakhurjhi Husband’s elder brother’s wife: Bhashurja Husband’s younger brother’s wife: Ja Wife’s brother’s wife: Shalabou Wife’s sister: Shali Nephews: Brother’s son: Bhaipo A man’s sister’s son: Bhagne A woman’s sister’s son: Bonpo Nieces: Brother’s daughter: Bhaijhi A man’s sister’s daughter: Bhagni A woman’s sister’s daughter: Bonjhi Children: Son: Chele Son’s wife: Bouma Daughter: Meye Daughter’s husband: Jamaibabu Grandchildren: Grandson: Nati Grandson’s wife: Natbou Granddaughter: Natni Granddaughter’s husband: Natjamai Cousins: Father’s elder brother’s son who is your elder: Jethuto-dada Father’s elder brother’s son who is your junior: Jethuto-bhai Father’s elder brother’s daughter who is your elder: Jethuto-didi Father’s elder brother’s daughter who is your junior: Jethuto-bon Father’s younger brother’s son who is your elder: Khurtuto-dada Father’s younger brother’s son who is your junior: Khurtuto-bhai Father’s younger brother’s daughter who is your elder: Khurtuto-didi Father’s younger brother’s daughter who is your junior: Khurtuto-bon Father’s sister’s son who is your elder: Pistuto-dada Father’s sister’s son who is your junior: Pistuto-bhai Father’s sister’s daughter who is your elder: Pistuto-didi Father’s sister’s daughter who is your junior: Pistuto-bon Mother’s brother’s son who is your elder: Mamato-dada Mother’s brother’s son who is your junior: Mamato-bhai Mother’s brother’s daughter who is your elder: Mamato-didi Mother’s brother’s daughter who is your junior: Mamato-bon Mother’s sister’s son who is your elder: Mastuto-dada Mother’s sister’s son who is your junior: Mastuto-bhai Mother’s sister’s daughter who is your elder: Mastuto-didi Mother’s sister’s daughter who is your junior: Mastuto-bon ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/69 "2014-03-22T14:35:20Z")
There are a couple of small errors in that list ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/70 "2014-03-22T18:38:42Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > It’s pronounced pretty much the way it looks. [Here’s](http://www.forvo.com/word/sambo/) some Swedes saying it. It would be something of a minefield to use in front of Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/71 "2014-03-22T19:24:36Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > And this one everyone knows, English has lost the distinction between “thou” (singular) and “you” (plural) that many other language have […] I just want to mention that I always feel bad for _y’all_. That is, the non-standard plural second-person pronoun, not all you guys (well, sometimes 😛 … but anyway). Here the language is trying to bring back a useful distinction that should obviously be there, and the lack of which is just weird, and _make more sense_, and what does it get? “Non-standard! Vernacular! We can’t have _that_!” Seriously, _y’all_ needs a massive break. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473/72 "2014-03-22T19:39:34Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > In Spanish, one way to convey this is _tomar por hecho_, lit. “take for done.” Perhaps there is a parallel phrase in Portuguese? Also _dar (algo) por sentado_ (consider (something) settled without having spoken about it) and the very impolite situation of _tomar (a alguien) por el pito del sereno_ (to treat (someone) as if s/he was the night watchman’s whistle; to take (someone) for granted). And if you’re being treated like the night watchman’s whistle, you’re in a situation of _encima de puta, pagar la cama_: being treated as a whore and expected to pay for the bed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-little-lexical-gaps/683473.md?page=3)