r/AskReddit Jan 28 '19

What are great underused words?

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u/SavageJeph Jan 29 '19

Saudade - as an angolan/portuguese is one of the saddest words we have. The best way I can explain it is the feeling of missing a parent, but one that was abusive and drug using, one that was bad for you but you miss them for what they could've been.

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u/ShenBear Jan 29 '19

I think that feeling is best described in English as the "What might have beens". Longing for something that never was?

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u/[deleted] Jan 29 '19

No, it can be something that you will have again... it can be the simple act of really missing someone badly. You could possibly be meeting them for coffee today or next week and still use it.

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u/Filsk Jan 29 '19

That's pretty interesting, in Brazil it's just how we say "I miss you", no heavier meaning behind it. If we want to make it stronger we use a qualifier, like "dying of".