Parlumi blog

Culture

False friends, everyday phrases, painless grammar and habits that actually work, written for English speakers.

Culture
15 Spanish expressions you won't get by translating word for word

Why would a Spaniard pull your hair or call you a goat? 15 everyday Spanish idioms, what they really mean and their closest equivalents in English.
6 min readOctober 16, 2026
Culture
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 9 European languages

How to say Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays in Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish and more, with the customs behind each greeting.
7 min readOctober 16, 2026
Culture
Untranslatable European words and what they say about each culture

Fika, gezellig, sobremesa, Feierabend and saudade are untranslatable words from across Europe, what they mean and what they reveal about each culture.
7 min readOctober 16, 2026

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