logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
17m 23s

Why love is harder in a second language ...

TED
About this episode

Saying “I love you” often feels more meaningful in your first language than in any other language you learn later in life, explains linguist and polyglot Magdalena Hoeller. Unpacking the hidden challenges of intercultural relationships — from language barriers and humor gaps to subtle power dynamics — she shares how couples can turn these struggles into opportunities to grow closer.

Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Fight for justice — even if you don't live to see it | Golriz Lucina
Storyteller Golriz Lucina recounts how the historic sacrifice of Iranian 19th-century poet and mystic Táhirih planted the seeds for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests today, offering an inspiring lesson in the value of acting with conviction — even if we don't live to see the re ... Show More
11m 36s
Yesterday
4 relationship traps that lead to burnout | Eric Quintane
Are your workplace relationships quietly burning you out? Drawing on large-scale research across industries, organizational behavior researcher Eric Quintane reveals four hidden relational traps woven into the fabric of work — and explores how connection shapes resilience, vulner ... Show More
18m 26s
Mar 3
My year living with a robot | Emily Kate Genatowski
Imagine a robot moving into your home. How would it change your daily life? Historian Emily Kate Genatowski shares five eye-opening lessons from a year living with her AI-powered robot roommate, from the quirky and chaotic to the surprisingly mundane. Her experiences show that th ... Show More
15m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2025
Un Progenitor, Un Idioma - One Parent, One Language
<p>Have you ever wondered how to raise a child with two languages without causing confusion? In this episode, we dive into the OPOL method, where each parent consistently speaks one language with the child, and discuss how it can be combined with other strategies like “time and p ... Show More
22m 56s
Jul 2015
029: Learning your partner's language
tail spinning
13m 17s
May 2016
10 How to Cope in Another Language
<p>It's always a bit sad to hear someone say they didn&rsquo;t want to travel somewhere because they were worried about not being able to get by in a foreign language. Struggling to communicate can be half the fun of a trip (at least in retrospect!) and we can learn so much from ... Show More
22m 42s
Jan 2025
25. Love Languages Only Traumatized People Understand
10 Love Languages only people who experienced not feeling cared about will understand. Trauma warps what you think loving someone is. Extreme measures are taken to prove your love and loyalty. Understanding these love languages will protect you from completely destroying yourself ... Show More
40m 9s
May 2025
Sexualité : ce qu’on aurait aimé apprendre plus tôt avec la sexothérapeute Margot Fried-Filliozat
Pourquoi avons-nous autant de mal à parler de sexualité – même dans les relations les plus intimes ? et surtout a se connaître dans ce domaine ?Pourquoi tant de femmes et d’hommes finissent par se croire “bloqués”, “anormaux” ou “froids”, alors qu’ils n’ont souvent simplement jam ... Show More
1h 25m