Did you know that the Greeks had six different words to describe the various types of love? Sadly, there are a few terms for love that don’t exist in English. Send it to someone you’re struggling to express yourself to!
GREEK
Eros: Lust. sexual yearning. Everyone is familiar with this type of “love,” although the ancient Greeks weren’t always positive about it. They believed it to be an uncontrollable power that possessed individuals and caused them to behave irrationally. Which is roughly accurate.
Phillia: Deep affection shared by two close friends. Aww.
Pragma:Realistic, practical love, such as that experienced by a 20-year-married couple. It values traits like patience, compromise, shared values, and other characteristics that, in real life, help relationships endure over time.
The word “ludus” means “love of the game.” It’s what motivates individuals to engage in the more combative elements of relationships, such as wooing, pursuit, and viewing partners as “conquests,” among other behaviors. Even passionate flirting and dancing would come under this heading. (Helpful for triggering the kind of love that lasts just one night.)
gape:Concern for other people. This is “unconditional” love, which embraces the entire human race.
Philautia (1):This is “self-love,” and it has two distinct meanings. In its best manifestation, this is a vital form of self-appreciation that enables us to develop deep connections with others (as the saying goes, you can’t expect someone to love you until you love yourself).
In its worst manifestations, philautia manifests as narcissism, selfishness, egomania, and other harmful kinds of self-obsession. Obviously, this should be avoided.
HEBREW
Chesed: The universal human love that motivates people to show kindness to one another. It has a lot to do with the relationship between God and humanity; if God was kind enough to create you, you ought to be kind to other people. simply a type of love that pays it forward.
JAPANESE
A group of terms known as “ai” that includes non-romantic love. Boseiai (maternal affection), aikokushin (patriotism), aidokusho (love of books), and aikenka (the link between a dog and his or her owner) are all examples of this.
In its worst manifestations, philautia manifests as narcissism, selfishness, egomania, and other harmful kinds of self-obsession. Obviously, this should be avoided.
HEBREW
Chesed: The universal human love that motivates people to show kindness to one another. It has a lot to do with the relationship between God and humanity; if God was kind enough to create you, you ought to be kind to other people. simply a type of love that pays it forward.
JAPANESE
A group of terms known as “ai” that includes non-romantic love. Boseiai (maternal affection), aikokushin (patriotism), aidokusho (love of books), and aikenka (the link between a dog and his or her owner) are all examples of this.
Koi: Romantic love, though frequently not in the best way. It covers concepts like first love (hatsukoi), sad love (hiren), jealous love (koigataka), and disappointed love (shitsuren).
Renai: Renai is a combination of the characters “ai” and “koi,” and it refers to romantic love without a pejorative connotation. Finally!
Lastly, consider this
