Just like ‘hygge’, ‘pyt’ does not have a direct English translation.
Some interpretations include ‘never mind’, ‘don’t worry’ or ‘forget
about it’ – but these expressions don’t convey the positive aspect of
the word. ‘Pyt’ is used to express that you accept a situation is out of
your control, and even though you might be annoyed or frustrated, you
decide not to waste unnecessary energy on thinking more about it. You
accept it and move on. ‘Pyt’ is also used to comfort other people and
diffuse unfortunate situations.
‘Pyt’ is so beloved by Danes that in September 2018 it was chosen as the nation’s favourite word in a competition held by the Danish Library Association during the country’s annual ‘Library Week’...
“Pyt is one of my favourite words; it’s the most positive sound I have
ever heard. And it has an enormous power when it comes to letting go of
things we can’t change. There is so much relief in that word.”
The power of the word has been harnessed in other ways, too. It’s
passed down to children at kindergarten and primary school through the
introduction of a ‘pyt’ button. This is usually just a plastic lid with
‘PYT’ written on it, glued to a piece of cardboard and placed somewhere
centrally in the classroom, to be used in situations where children feel
upset about not coming first in a race or winning a game. Essentially,
they learn from an early age that losing is OK, as this is also part of
real life.
Charlotte Sørensen, a head teacher at Søndervangskolen
in the town of Hammel, Jutland, told me: “The ‘pyt’ button is genius. It
doesn’t work for all children, but for some of them, it’s great. The
action of pressing a physical button seems to help them clear their
minds and move on.”
I needed a new word to help cope with arguably the most unpleasant winter I've ever experienced. Had to rake my roof for a record 4th time, repeatedly salt the driveway and chop ice from the walkways and deck. Yesterday we had freezing rain followed by rain followed by freezing rain followed by snow, and now that all that is frozen up, temps are forecast to remain below freezing for the next week even in midday. Winds 40-50 mph today, so I'm not eager to go out to the mailbox, where when I shovel the packed snow the road plows leave in the driveway, I have to lift it to shoulder-height. PYT!!!
What a great word! How is it pronounced?
ReplyDeleteThe closest-sounding English word is probably 'pit'.
Delete"Oh well."
ReplyDeletePYT We in New England greatly appreciate you taking the brunt of the bad weather this year but it's the least you can do since we did win the Super Bowl!
ReplyDeleteDoes "pyt" apply to how we should think about global warming?
ReplyDeleteMy father decided in his mid forties that the United Kingdom offered too bleak a climate so he arranged employment and transport for all of us to Australia.
ReplyDeleteI now sit here in New Zealand in my early sixties, imagining how brave he was to voluntarily undergo such an upheaval (my mother was set against the idea but they were different times)
Then I see pictures the like of above and wonder why other people do not just up sticks and move to warmer climes ?
Here on the North Island of New Zealand the summers can get to 34 degrees Celsius and the winter temperatures sometimes plunge to a freezing -1 degree, but, at least where I am, it never snows and even where it does, it is a light smattering such as you would do with icing sugar over some fresh strawberries, so overall the situation is temperate and, most often, pleasing.
Also we don't have Trump.
I imagine 'pyt' is pronounced 'pete'.
I intend to adopt it as my goto emotion where and when needed.
Recent thoughts of mine are parallel to your musings on why you are in New Zealand. There's an image ground round of a free library in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and it intrigued me so much I'm thinking of moving myself and any family that'll come there from NY. Have to check out the winters though. I suspect I will reluctantly change my mind. Pyt.
DeleteThose thinking of relocating to NZ would best do so before the billionaire preppers buy all the land -
Deletehttps://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/15/why-silicon-valley-billionaires-are-prepping-for-the-apocalypse-in-new-zealand
other versions of 'pyt': it is what it is - fugedaboutit - oh, well... - aw, the h@11 with it - whattaya gonna do - etc.
ReplyDeleteI-)
came to say "fuggedaboutit". You beat me to it. :)
DeleteI'm in Milwaukee, and tonight it's like reified despair. Can't wait until I can move out of this state.
ReplyDelete"Essentially, they learn from an early age that losing is OK, as this is also part of real life."
ReplyDeleteThis is something I am trying very hard to teach my two sons. It's not something they see much in movies or video games.
It occurred to me that this word might be similar to "pfft," which you would say with a shrug of your shoulders. Sort of by way of indicating "I don't care," or -- as someone else suggested -- "fugetaboudit."
ReplyDeleteQuite probably, given the pronunciation.
DeleteHow is it pronounced?
ReplyDeleteI pronounce it "pyt"
DeleteThe y in Danish is pronounced the same as the u in French. So, you'd pronounce it like French pute. Which you may want to avoid in the presence of actual French speakers. ;)
Deletegive a listen hear: pyt pronunciation in Danish
ReplyDeleteI-)
My 1st guess was it's meaning is something like "Preserve Your Time" er something similar (protect..).
ReplyDelete2nd best was also "Pfffft"
From my german POV.