Fjaka: the sublime state of aspiring to do absolutely nothing. Warmduscher: a `warm showerer’, meaning a bit of a wimp. Tener mano izquierda: literally `to have a left hand’; to be skilfully persuasive.

For all the richness of the English language there are some nuances that other languages capture much better, whether it’s a phrase that beautifully articulates a feeling, a wonderfully understated insult that just hits the spot, or a curious idiom. From the melancholic to the funny to the downright peculiar, From Amourette to Zal takes us on a fascinating journey around Europe in twelve languages, celebrating our cultural similarities and differences along the way.