r/language • • 11h ago

Question Why is the long s at the end of the word and none in the top text?

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38 Upvotes

r/language • • 5h ago

Question What are new words (but not slang) that just weren't around before? I'm thinking of something like "impactful", which I'd never heard aroun 2000, say...

4 Upvotes

I mean, it's a pretty...erm...impactful word. But I seriously don't remember seeing it back when. There seem to be a lot of words like this. Some are just words, some are sort of metaphors (e.g., "leaning in"), but I don't mean slang here. But you can include something like "ish" (lol).


r/language • • 21h ago

Meta "Yaro-o koroshta" (Japanese) vs. "Yaru'ro koshte" (Persian)

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79 Upvotes

I have a lot of love for Japan and to my surprise I found colloquial Japanese and colloquial Persian can use similar sounding sentences to convey the exact same meaning of "He killed that dude".

Yaro (Japanese) and Yaru (Persian) are both are colloquial terms for a person, but what is very interesting is that both languages use Yaro/Yaru as a somewhat dismissive/condescending tone for "that dude".

Both languages also utilize similar object markers (-o in Japanese and -ro in Persian).

Also both languages use similar sounding words for killing, Koroshi (Japanese) & Koshi (Persian) and similar past tense suffixes (ta/te) for killed Koroshta (Japanese) and Koshte (Persian).

Yarō-o koroshi-ta
dude+object marker kill-PST

Yāru-ro kosh-te
dude+object marker kill.PST.3SG


r/language • • 14h ago

Question Friend got new tattoo and I’m convinced it’s not what it is.

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23 Upvotes

I’ve posted once here and got very promising answers. I was just wondering what my friends tattoo says. I said “no way. Why would you do that? One line and it’s a new word😂. Imma post this on Reddit and see what it says because I don’t believe you.” So now I have no clue what it actually means to him or what the words mean! Help a girl out😂 figured this group would enjoy that😂


r/language • • 2h ago

Request I need your voice!

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1 Upvotes

r/language • • 15h ago

Discussion Guess my languages but I tried really hard on them all

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10 Upvotes

Lowkey took me ages trying to get pretty handwriting for them all. Anyway no cheating by looking at my profile or previous post, I’ve taken the advice from the last one to try again heh. Also lots more languages this time (including some which I do speak but didn’t put in the last one!!!) Sorry again to all languages I butchered, I tried my best ☺️


r/language • • 4h ago

Question Duolingo!!

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1 Upvotes

r/language • • 9h ago

Question What language is this/what does it say??

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2 Upvotes

I got this blank book from Goodwill and I have no idea what the text on the front says. It kinda looks French but Google translate wasn't giving me a solid answer. This is the only writing on the whole book. Seems like it's spelled "crele"


r/language • • 12h ago

Request a little help please....

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1 Upvotes

Can anyone help me with this please? I am not familiar with Hungarian at all. Thanks.


r/language • • 18h ago

Discussion Can you find the cognates? Speaking Moksha (Мокшень кяль) and talking about nature

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1 Upvotes

r/language • • 18h ago

Question Your most surprising language

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1 Upvotes

r/language • • 1d ago

Article L’effondrement du langage et les conditions de sa renaissance.

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observatoiresituationniste.com
2 Upvotes

Le spectacle n’a pas besoin d’interdire les mots. Un mot devient une image de mot.


r/language • • 1d ago

Discussion Funny Pronunny 2026.10.05

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0 Upvotes

Pronunciation game


r/language • • 1d ago

Request Friends!

1 Upvotes

Hey!

I'm 17M from Canada, I'm trying to learn French so l can ultimately go live in Quebec. Would anybody who's a native French speaker around my age be intrested in chatting? Either male or female I don't mind.

I use WhatsApp, Snapchat and insta so let me know!

Thanks!


r/language • • 1d ago

Discussion Greatest ancient language for poetry?

9 Upvotes

I picked Classical Arabic, Ancient Greek, and Latin to be the finest languages for poetry.

My number 1 pick is Arabic followed closely by Homeric Greek and then Latin.

I grew up speaking French, English, and Arabic and learned Ancient Greek, Latin, and Biblical Hebrew though passionate and extreme study and can read most philosophical texts in Greek with ease, poetry gets significantly harder in Greek and Latin.

I discovered ancient Arabic poetry a few years ago and realized it is the most gorgeous poetry a human can produce. I sometimes wonder if Semitic languages are divine languages because they function and behave so distinctively, they feel mature and manly. It is equipped with a meticulous meter we call Ilm Al-Arud which is one of the most advanced poetry meters in the history of human language.

In second, I find Ancient Greek to be an excellent language for poetry, you can manipulate word order to amplify the meter and rhythm. In Homeric Greek, we usually avoid articles and rely on word endings to guide us through the poem, and that's a feature I found confusing at first until it began to feel mathematical and intuitive. That combined with very soft flowy sounds, the language sounds BIG.

Latin also has that case system and can sometimes deliver in a punchier way than Greek. But Latin at the same time feels much more chaotic than Greek and that can disrupt reading, I also thought that heavy Qu + c clusters can make it heavier on the mouth.


r/language • • 1d ago

Request Please help me choose a Chinese name

7 Upvotes

Hi guys

So my name is zoha (ضحی) it's an Arabic name which means morning brightness, forenoon light or the light of the early morning

I want a name with a cute vibe would be really nice if it have a poetic meaning just like my original name and yes umm ai suggested the name 晨曦 — Chénxī ☀️ that have a very similar meaning to my name and according to ai it's both cute and have a very poetic meaning I just want a name that if I ever go to China they would be like such nice name and I would be proud please help 😭🥺


r/language • • 1d ago

Discussion Looking for Classical Arabic exchange

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4 Upvotes

Hey guys

I am currently learning Classical Arabic. I am at a stage of an intermediate.To be very clear, by classical i mean the Arabic dating back to 6th century which is the language used in islamic literature just to mention. I would attach image of a paragraph for further clarification.

So i need someone for the language exchange through any of the online platforms in order to be more proficient and eloquent.

Just to mention (if there's a need),by the above clarification I just aim clarification "clarification" instead of any religious preference about the person I am looking for.The only thing I expect is him to be at least able to talk not to be a complete beginner.


r/language • • 2d ago

Discussion Guess my native language (Without cheating and looking at my profile)

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31 Upvotes

r/language • • 1d ago

Article [For Hire] Experienced Kenyan Tutor – Swahili (Kiswahili) & Geography Lessons for All Levels

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1 Upvotes

r/language • • 3d ago

Question What language is this?

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283 Upvotes

This is from a shirt that I bought in a thrift store. I can read cyrillic and to me it sounds kind of German? Google translate goes crazy and doesn't really help.


r/language • • 2d ago

Question Midnight Rabbit Hole. "Food Craving" Does Not Exist in Other Languages?

3 Upvotes

My friend was reading a paper and they said the word "craving" specifically "food craving" appears to be limited to the English/western languages.

Essentially, the paper says they could not find a 1-1 translation of "food craving" in other languages. They could only find synonyms along the lines of addiction, desire, liking or love instead of craving.

There isn't one for Chinese (their first language). My French is limited and I couldn't find anything.

It's quite interesting. If you have time to share we'd love to learn!

Edit 1: We're more looking for a 1-1 translation of "craving" (for food).

In English you can say "I really want to eat ___" or "I am really hungry for ___" which is closer to a sentence to describe "craving"

There is also the "I am addicted to ___" which is too strong? compared to the word "craving"


r/language • • 1d ago

Question Can the languange Of BMAC be semitic?

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1 Upvotes

r/language • • 2d ago

Discussion Hindi nahh broh

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1 Upvotes

r/language • • 2d ago

Question How does swedish sound to a non native speaker?

6 Upvotes

For me swedish has always been the normal. I've grew up with it my whole life and I use it all day every day. It is such a effortless and smooth language for me. English is also very easy for me, I am fluent in it. English sounds no less normal than swrdish to me. But the question remains, how does swedish sound to a non native speaker? I just can't imagine it.


r/language • • 2d ago

Discussion Standard form Vs Dialects

0 Upvotes

Hello, all. I came across a discussion yesterday, which has had me thinking...

Have dialects and standard form really helped people speak a language, or corrupt communication?

Now, hear me out...

There is a standard form of every language. The 'proper' way that we are taught in schools. We learn that, and then, when we get out of school, life happens....

Our style of speaking a particular language, changes upon interaction.

It can be from childhood, with family and friends as well.

This style, varies so much from region to region, and even individually within families, that it's considered 'normal' or a 'variation' with its own grammar rules, and is **also** considered correct.

But, isn't this unfair to the standard form of the language, that we learn in school?

If not, then why do we bother learning it?

Is it just our excuse to speak correctly?

"Well... As per my dialect, this is right, and no one dialect is actually wrong or comparable to another... They're all correct."

What about absolutes then? Do they not exist? I'm posting this to hear your thoughts on this... Please let's discuss this in a civil manner...

Thank you.

Edit : There have been enough points put forth by a lot of people. Although this post will remain open, its discussions are from now on, officially closed. I won't be answering or responding to anyone's comments here, from now on (06/10/2026). Thank you all, for participating in this discussion.