Imagine. You are walking with your friends around town about to visit a new restaurant. Suddenly someone walking by catches your eye. Your heart stops. You hold your breath. You get butterflies in your stomach. The other person smiles at you without breaking eye contact. You pass each other, smiling at each other–it’s like you both share a secret no one else knows. Once gone, you can breathe again, but what can we call this feeling in English. There is no exact equivalent.
Kilig
Kilig is a Filipino word that describes the exact feeling you get when you watch a romantic comedy. It’s not only a feeling you get when you see, but also when you experience it yourself. I added some gifs to get into the feeling.
An expected back hug…
A piggy back ride…
Being so worried that you don’t think, just do…
A kiss to calm those worries…
Loving someone so much that you would die for them…
All that leaves you feeling…
And that is what Kilig is in a nutshell.