10 Genius Slangs Used To Describe Food From Around The World
The English language has adopted many non-English terms when it comes to food. There are, however, many terms that remain unknown or less used outside of their origins. Below, we outline ten (10) of such slangs, as well as their meanings and country of origin. These are sure to make for the perfect conversation starter on your next night out!
Food slangs are common in every language but only a unique few make it on this list because well, they are nothing short of genius because they describe some of the most common food situations. Here are 10 food slangs we think should be in common use right now:
1. Shemomedjamo (Georgian)
If you love food or particularly have a favorite then you are most likely guilty of Shemomedjamo. The Georgian term simply translates to continuing to eat food even when you know there is no room left in your stomach.
2. Lalew (Filipino)
Lalew is a term for when someone suffers heartbreak — of romantic origins — and is so devastated that he or she totally shuns eating.
3. Kummerspeck (German)
Kummerspeck is a term much like the Filipino's "Lalew." However, this term, which literally translates to “grief bacon,” describes the sudden weight gained by somebody who emotionally overeats after a romantic failure.
4. Drachenfutter (German)
Drachenfutter literally translates to dragon fodder, and deservedly so too as it is commonly used to describe the meal a man uses to appease his wife or girlfriend after he has annoyed her.
5. Pisan zapra (Malay)
This term humorously translates to that long stretch of time it takes to eat a banana. Yeah, you now have a term for that annoying stretch of wet chewing noise people make when they eat the succulent fruit.
6. Suilk (Scots)
Suilk is an old term for the act of swallowing food very, very audibly. Surely you think this term should be in wide usage too!
7. Empacho (Spanish)
Empacho is the Spanish equivalent of the English term, "food coma." It describes the abdominal pain that hits you after you have eaten a very big meal. For the Mexicans, however, this term is only used when the pain is severe enough that it causes vomiting.
8. Engili (Telegu)
Telegu, a language spoken in South India, has a word for a piece of food that has already been bitten into. It’s not innocuous, though; engili also translates to “defiled food.”
9. Pesamenteiro (Portuguese)
Pesamenteiro is when someone goes to a funeral on the pretext of offering condolences, but is actually only there for the free food.
10. Madárlátta (Hungarian)
Madárlátta literally translates to "bird seen,” and refers to food taken along on a picnic or hike, but not eaten. In literal terms, it signifies that a bird has seen the food being carried.
Which of these terms will you be using often?
