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From: Maggie Rowe 
Date: Sat, Jan 10, 2026

Hello friends of 50 Words For Snow

Emily and I continue on our expedition into brave new wuuuuurdds (as Emily says), and we’d like to share a few of our favorites from 2025 in the hopes they’ll make good companions for 2026.

Umwelt (German)
The world as an organism can perceive it, shaped entirely by its sensory equipment. A reminder that everyone inhabits a complete reality, but not a complete world. A very grounding idea for a new year. Umwelt episode. Umvelt article

Uitwaaien (Dutch)
Literally, “to let yourself be blown out.” Walking in the wind to clear your head. A permission slip to stop narrating everything and let the weather reset you. Uitwaaien episode Uitwaaien article

L’esprit de l’escalier (French)
The perfect thing you think of too late. A word that releases us from the fantasy of constant cleverness and lets timing be human. L’esprit de l’escalier episode  L’esprit de l’escalier article.

Листопад / Listopad (Russian)
“Falling leaves.” A word that treats letting go as a natural season, not a personal shortcoming. Especially helpful in January. Listopad episode

Vemod (Swedish)
A soft, aching melancholy. The feeling that something is ending and that this is both sad and quietly beautiful. An antidote to forced cheer. Vemod episode

Petrichor
The smell after rain. Proof that renewal doesn’t need a big announcement. Sometimes it just arrives, and you notice you can breathe again. Petrichor episode

We’d love to have you join us on the podcast if you have…

·     a non-English word without an English equivalent

·     a word you’ve made up 

·     a concept you think there should be a word for

·     a word you think should be put on trial 

Just email me back at this address: magsalot@mac.com

Here’s to better words, softer expectations, and a little wind at our backs.

Maggie and Emily

(Contributed by Sara Walker, H.W.)