There is no better feeling than that of unwinding or relaxing after a long weary day. Every one of us does something we enjoy as an act of unwinding. For some, it may be something as simple as a refreshing bath, for others some wine & cheese and for some, it might be Netflix’ing in bed. There is always something we look forward to doing at the end of the day, some prefer ‘me’ time while others prefer ‘we’ time. Listed below are some beautiful words that describe ‘unwinding’ in different languages as well as cultures.

    1. Danish word ‘Fika’

‘To Fika’ is a good old Swedish word that basically means to ‘meet up, have a coffee and a chit-chat’. Good coffee, some bagels, and good company is all you require to ‘fika’. It’s a great way of unwinding over some good ol’ coffee & sharing the events of the day with your friends/family. It could be at a nearby café or at home.  Fika can take anything from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on how good you are at Fika-ing.

     2. Italian word ‘Dolce far niente’

The word ‘dolce far niente’ translates to ‘pleasant idleness’. It is the feeling of doing absolutely nothing & enjoying it! More often than not we’re exhausted by the end of the day so much so that the act of doing nothing at all is what we enjoy the most.

     3. Japanese word ‘Sado’

The Way of Tea - this is what sado literally means. Also often referred to as cha no yu, the tea ceremony is a crucial and famous part of Japanese traditions. Every move is coordinated, every move has a meaning.

     4. Hindi word ‘Chai pe charcha’

Chai pe charcha means –a conversation over some tea. It could be as simple as some catching up with old friends over stories & tales or it could be a slightly deep conversation about currents affairs, views & opinions, sharing of knowledge and moreover a nice hot cup of tea.

     5. Norwegian word ‘Fredagskos’

Fredagskos or Fredagsmys is a Norwegian word that means ‘Friday coziness’. It is an event or an action taking place on a Friday that involves settling down on the couch with friends or family for some good old telly-watching as they say, with lots and lots of snacks. It is a lovely way of spending your Friday evening as the weekend approaches & being indoors with your loved ones. As they rightly say - Partying is for Saturdays – on Fridays we stay in.

     6. Danish word 'Hygge"

Danish word Hygge meaning 'cozy' in simple terms refers to the feeling of togetherness and comfort. It could be with a loved one, a group of friends, or simply with one's self. Pronounced “hoo-guh", it also describes the ritual of enjoying life's simple pleasures and not worrying too much of them could be's and 'ifs'. It shares a close resemblance to the Norwegian term 'hugga' that means to 'comfort' or 'console'. 

     7. Russian word ‘Dacha'

A ‘Dacha’ is the summer house also known as second house. Usually, Russians go to their dachas with families and friends to make BBQ, walk in the surrounding forests, swim, and fish, go fruit hunting & more. It is a way to unwind & relax over long holidays or even a vacation. Friends & family gather around the fireplace and philosophical & heart-to-heart conversations follow. It’s a lovely way to spend quality time with your loved ones.

These are some of the many beautiful words and phrases in different languages that describe the leisure/unwinding time that people spend in different cultures. We’d love to learn more about any such words or phrases that you can know of. Do let us know in the comments section below!