Uitwaaien is a Dutch word that has no English equivalent, which I think is a real pity, since it is such a lovely word in it’s meaning (though, in Dutch I think it’s a delight to say, not to mention spell!). I often long to take an uitwaaien when life gets hectic and my mind becomes a befuddled mess. To breath in cool, fresh air, absorb in nature’s smells and sounds, and to feel my mental well-being regain it’s center as the wind clears my mind and soul…ahhh. I could go for uitwaaien right now!
Of course, city-dwellers and folks who reside in more urban locals need not despair, for I’m sure that uitwaaien is every bit as wonderful in a park or even along the sidewalks in a metropolitan downtown, since you are still getting outside, away from being cooped-up and clearing your mind, all the while feeling the outside air upon your skin (and cities can be windy!). In an ideal life, I would take a long uitwaaien each breezy day, just to feel connected with my natural surroundings and to feel more in-tune with nature and it’s sweet, harmonic ways. With my pup, Nelly, I do get outside several times each day and I think I shall begin to use them as a bit of uitwaaien, a breather and a head-clearing moment to just be.
I hope everyone is able to take uitwaaien of their own this week (and stay warm as you do)!
Namaste ~ Ella
*Check out the Word Nerd Index for other superb words!
** If there’s a word you’d like to see added to the Word Nerd roster, please feel free to drop me a line or suggest it in the comments – I love feedback and recommendations!
Uitwaaien is actually a verb, not a noun 😉
You don’t say “an uitwaaien”, that doesn’t exist. It’s also a word that can’t be transformed into a noun, it’s only a verb.
When you conjugate the verb it is like this:
– ik waai uit (me)
– jij waait uit (you)
– hij/zij waait uit (he/she)
– wij waaien uit (we)
– jullie waaien uit (you – plural)
– zij waaien uit (they)
Hope to have learned you something new 🙂
Good day!
That was really interesting. Thank you for sharing!