Glossary

The glossary entries follow this pattern:

Language(s): original orthography | Am. English transliteration | [pro-nun-see-EY-shun] | gloss (Notes)

This information will only help just so much with tone languages and so on, but it is a start. I am still working on getting IPA representations for each entry.

The Notes are written apologetically with a bias, in the sense that, for example, a speaker of Inuktitut doesn’t need to be told who speaks it, or where in the world that language is found, but I know that there are a lot of folks who aren’t equally well informed as that individual. Please understand that if you already know any of this (in most cases better than I do), then I am not intending to explain that bit to you in specific.

I’m sure that there are errors (and the translations are necessarily approximations), especially considering the speed with which I had to get this done in order to write the song while the mood was still with me; however, I am entirely (and gratefully) open to correction, and I plan to keep working on this document.

Chorus Words: all mean “Compassion”

Tamil: தயை | dayai | [/d̪ajai/; da-YAI] | compassion (Cultural note: From the Dravidian language family of South India, representing the deep Tamil understanding of empathy and care for all beings)

Hebrew: רַחֲמִים | rachamim | [rah-khah-MEEM] | compassion (Cultural note: Always used in its plural form, from the same root as "rechem" (womb), connecting compassion to the protective, nurturing love of a mother. Other Semitic languages rely on the same triliteral root, such as the Arabic رحمة or “rahma” for a type of compassion, kindness, and mercy.)

Sanskrit/Hindi/Bengali: करुणा | karuna | [kah-roo-NAH] | compassion (Multilingual note: This Sanskrit word has been adopted into many South Asian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Nepali, and others. Pronunciation varies slightly: Sanskrit [kah-roo-NAH], Hindi [kah-ru-NAA], Bengali [kaw-ru-NAA])

Mandarin: 慈悲 | cibei | [/t͡sʰɹ̩˧˥ pɛɪ˧˥/; tsuh-BAY] | compassion [Cultural note: Buddhist concept combining loving-kindness (慈) with compassion (悲) - mercy that seeks to alleviate suffering]

Spanish: compasión | compasión | [kom-pah-see-OHN] | compassion (Multilingual note: Forms of this word are widely shared across Romance languages.)

Swahili: huruma | huruma | [hoo-ROO-mah] | compassion (Cultural note: East African concept emphasizing the feeling that motivates one to help those who are suffering. There is a good chance that Swahili got this from Arabic, as related to the Note above.)

Verse Words

Epiphany

French: épiphanie | épiphanie | [eh-pee-fah-NEE] | epiphany (Multilingual note: Related forms are found across Romance languages: Italian "epifania," Spanish "epifanía," Portuguese "epifania”)

German: Erleuchtung | Erleuchtung | [er-LOYSH-toong] | enlightenment

Russian: прозрение | prozrenie | [proh-ZREH-nee-yeh] | insight/revelation

Equity

Swahili: uwazi | uwazi | [oo-WAH-zee] | equity/openness

Faith

Bengali: ইমান | iman | [ee-MAHN] | faith (Multilingual note: This Arabic-derived word appears across many Islamic cultures: Arabic "iman," Persian "iman," Turkish "iman," Malay "iman”)

Yoruba: ìgbàgbọ́ | igbagbo | [eeg-BAHG-boh] | faith/belief (Cultural note: Yoruba uses Latin script with tone marks (ì, ọ́) to indicate the tonal nature of the language where pitch changes meaning)

Forgiveness

Norwegian: tilgivelse | tilgivelse | [TILL-ghee-vel-seh] | forgiveness (Multilingual note: Related to other Scandinavian forms: Swedish "förlåtelse," Danish "tilgivelse”)

Grace

Italian: grazia | grazia | [GRAH-tsee-ah] | grace (Multilingual note: Related to other Romance forms: Spanish "gracia," French "grâce," Portuguese "graça," Romanian "grație”)

Filipino: biyaya | biyaya | [bee-YAH-yah] | blessing/grace

Gaelic: grásta | grásta | [GRAHS-tah] | grace (Multilingual note: Used in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic)

Harmony

Cherokee: eloheh | eloheh | [ay-luh-HAY] | harmony/wholeness/abundance/peace (Cultural note: Cherokee concept representing the state when all is as it should be - people at peace, earth cared for, abundance shared)

Chinese: 和谐 | hexie | [heh-SHYEH] | harmony

Sanskrit: सामंजस्य | samanjasya | [sah-man-JAS-ya] | harmony

Icelandic: samhljómur | samhljómur | [SAHM-lyoh-moor] | harmony

Hawaiian: lokahi | lokahi | [loh-KAH-hee] | unity/harmony (Cultural note: Hawaiian concept of unity and working together in harmony)

Healing

Lakota: wohpe | wohpe | [WOH-pay] | peace/harmony (Cultural note: Wohpe represents the Lakota concept of harmony and peace that brings healing to communities)

Romanian: vindecare | vindecare | [veen-deh-CAH-reh] | healing

Inuktitut: aanniarniq | aanniarniq | [AH-nee-ar-neek] | healing (Cultural note: Inuktitut is the language of the Inuit people)

Hope

Greek: ελπίδα | elpida | [el-PEE-thah] | hope

Turkish: umut | umut | [oo-MOOT] | hope

Quechua: suyay | suyay | [soo-YAH-ee] | hope (Cultural note: Quechua is the indigenous language of the Andes, spoken by millions across South America)

Joy

Maori: koa | koa | [KOH-ah] | joy

Spanish/Galician: alegría | alegría | [ah-leh-GREE-ah (ES) / ah-leh-GREE-ah (GL)] | joy (Multilingual note: This word is shared between Spanish and Galician with nearly identical pronunciation)

Danish: glæde | glæde | [GLEH-theh] | joy (Multilingual note: Related to other Scandinavian forms: Norwegian "glede," Swedish "glädje”)

Kindness

Korean: 친절 | chinjeol | [CHIN-jul] | kindness

Portuguese/Galician: bondade | bondade | [bon-DAH-jee (PT) / bon-DAH-dhe (GL)] | kindness (Multilingual note: This word is shared between Portuguese and Galician, reflecting their common linguistic heritage. Portuguese pronunciation is [bon-DAH-jee] while Galician is [bon-DAH-dhe])

Love

Arabic: حب | hubb | [HUHB] | love

Swahili: upendo | upendo | [oo-PEN-doh] | love

Russian: любовь | lyubov | [LYOO-bof] | love

Hawaiian: aloha | aloha | [ah-LOH-hah] | love/breath of life/presence (Cultural note: In Hawaiian culture, aloha encompasses much more than love - it represents the breath of life, living presence, and the spirit of divine connection between people)

Mercy

Japanese: 慈悲 | jihi | [JEE-hee] | mercy/compassion Multilingual note: This Buddhist concept appears across East Asian languages: Chinese "cibei" (慈悲), Korean "jabi" (자비)

Portuguese: misericordia | misericordia | [mee-seh-ree-COR-dee-ah] | mercy (Multilingual note: Related to Spanish "misericordia," Italian "misericordia," French "miséricorde”)

Irish: trócaire | trócaire | [TROH-car-eh] | mercy

Neighbor

Spanish: vecino | vecino | [beh-SEE-noh] | neighbor (Multilingual note: Related forms in Romance languages: Portuguese "vizinho," Italian "vicino," French "voisin”)

German: Nachbar | Nachbar | [NAHKH-bar] | neighbor (Multilingual note: Related to other Germanic forms: Dutch "nabuur," Scandinavian "nabo”)

Swahili: jirani | jirani | [jee-RAH-nee] | neighbor

Peace

Cherokee: ᏙᎯᏱ | dohiyi | [doh-HEE-yee] | peace

Hebrew: שלום | shalom | [shah-LOHM] | peace (Multilingual note: Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony)

Arabic: سلام | salaam | [sah-LAHM] | peace (Multilingual note: Both Hebrew "shalom" and Arabic "salaam" share the same Semitic root (š-l-m), emphasizing the common yearning for peace across cultures. Related forms appear in Aramaic, Maltese, and other Semitic languages)

Respect

Polish: szacunek | szacunek | [shah-TSOO-nek] | respect

Japanese: 尊敬 | sonkei | [SON-kay] | respect

Persian: احترام | ehteraam | [eh-teh-RAHM] | respect/honor (Multilingual note: This Persian word has been borrowed into many languages including Urdu, Turkish (ihtiram), and Arabic)

Trust

Hindi: भरोसा | bharosa | [bah-ROH-sah] | trust/faith

French: confiance | confiance | [con-fee-AHNSS] | confidence/trust (Multilingual note: Related forms exist in other Romance languages: Italian "confidenza," Spanish "confianza," Portuguese "confiança”)

Understanding (Empathy, Forgiveness)

Dutch: begrip | begrip | [beh-KHRIP] | understanding (Multilingual note: Related to German "Begriff" and other Germanic languages)

Vietnamese: hiểu biết | hiểu biết | [hee-AY-oo bee-AYT] | understanding

Amharic: ይቅርታ | yikerta | [yee-KER-tah] | understanding/forgiveness

Zulu: ukuqonda | ukuqonda | [oo-koo-KHON-dah] | understanding/empathy

Cultural-Specific Concepts

Metta (Buddhist)

Pali: मेत्ता | metta | [MET-tah] | loving-kindness (Cultural note: One of the four Buddhist "divine abodes" - actively wishing well-being for all beings)

Mudita (Buddhist)

Sanskrit: मुदिता | mudita | [moo-dee-TAH] | empathtic joy (Cultural note: The Buddhist practice of rejoicing in others' happiness without jealousy)

Namaste (Sanskrit Greeting)

Sanskrit: नमस्ते | namaste | [nah-mas-TAY] | "the divine in me honors the divine in you" (Multilingual note: Used across South Asian languages: Hindi, Nepali, and others, with slight pronunciation variations)

Ubuntu (African Philosophy)

Zulu: ubuntu | ubuntu | [oo-BOON-too] | interconnectedness/"I am because we are" (Multilingual note: This concept exists across Bantu languages: Xhosa "ubuntu," Shona "hunhu," each with slightly different pronunciations but shared meaning)