Post by @ShaulaEvans@zirk.us

2026-09-26 01:54 UTC

RE: https://infosec.exchange/@david_chisnall/117325070805383038 Inspired by David, I'd like to know about a word you'd like to upgrade with a better loanword from another language because you like it better. I vote for Japanese "gomi" to replace English "garbage", because gomi is such a bouncy, joyful word. #Language #Loanwords What about you?

Replies (7)

@oheso@ieji.de 2026-09-26 05:46

@ShaulaEvans@zirk.us Japanese keitai, because I can’t say “cellular”.

Open ##4853373
@ShaulaEvans@zirk.us 2026-09-26 02:03

One of the (many) things I love about living in multilingual environments is the code switching, as everyone chooses the words they like best out of the available options. For example, anglos in Montreal pick up "dep" super quickly. It's short for dépanneur, which in France French means a repairman. By extension, in Canadian French (and franglais), it means a convenience store -- that solves a problem when you can't get to a big grocery store. #codeswitching #languages #Canada

Open ##5052759
@davidtheeviloverlord@mastodon.social 2026-09-26 02:07

@ShaulaEvans@zirk.us I'm going to get to the derriere of this.

Open ##5052768
@cassana@the-crossroads-inn.com 2026-09-26 09:27

@ShaulaEvans@zirk.us I posted this a little bit ago, and occasionally have used these as substitutes. Mànàmanakan (first two syllables are low tone, the rest high) is particularly fun to say, and sneakily and amusingly grumpy muppet by association. https://the-crossroads-inn.com/@cassana/117301924860454479

Open ##5094108
@kmck@mas.to 2026-09-26 12:31

@ShaulaEvans@zirk.us Japanese “shoyu” for “soy sauce,” because it’s not really a sauce imo, and “shoyu” is more compact. More compact than the Chinese “jiangyou” which I would otherwise use.

Open ##5094110
@rhelune@todon.eu 2026-09-27 07:13

@ShaulaEvans@zirk.us I've used "rucola" instead of "rocket" after a snarky reply that Rewe does not sell heavy artillery.

Open ##5094114
@ApostateEnglishman@mastodon.world 2026-09-27 07:24

@ShaulaEvans@zirk.us English should follow German and incorporate compound words such as my favourite, torschlusspanik ("door-shut panic"), describing the sudden anxiety in older people that time or opportunities are running out. Meanwhile, I approve of the current move towards it being acceptable to verb any noun, e.g. when you're too tired to adult. Or consider our feline, who doesn't seem to know how to cat (she's remarkably clumsy). But I shall always oppose "literally"'replacing "figuratively"! 🤬

Open ##5094116