Words from Other Languages We Need in English: Mencolek!

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam Posted by Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, Managing Director, Editorial, Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.



Mencolek: This term comes from the Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia) and it's easier to describe than define:

You know that trick where you stand behind someone and tap him or her lightly on the opposite shoulder from the one you are standing behind? And that prompts the individual to immediately turn and look to see who is there on that shoulder and feel a momentary shock when they see no one, only to then turn the other direction and see you and realize the trick? That trick is called mencolek.