Merak
/ˈmɛr.æk/noun
A feeling of joyful connection and contentment found in simple pleasures, especially in Serbian cultural usage.
Did you know?The modern English use of merak comes chiefly from Serbian, where it describes savoring ordinary pleasures—coffee, conversation, music, or sunlight—as profound experiences of togetherness.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
marāq
“Desire, interest, or inclination; the distant source of the later Ottoman-Turkish term.”
Ottoman Turkish
Turkish
merak
“Curiosity, concern, interest, or a strong desire to know or experience something.”
18th–19th Century
Serbian
merak
“Pleasure, enjoyment, and a deeply satisfying inclination toward life’s simple experiences.”
20th Century
Serbian
merak
“A culturally valued state of contentment and communal joy, often associated with food, drink, music, and conversation.”
Modern English
English
merak
“A borrowed cultural term for bliss or oneness with the universe through simple pleasures.”