Fernweh

Meaning: An aching longing for far-off places you've never been — the opposite of homesickness.

Literally: Far-sickness

Origin: German Fern ('far') + Weh ('ache').

More German untranslatable words

Weltschmerz The weariness and sadness you feel when the world as it is falls painfully short of the w…
Torschlusspanik The anxious fear that time is running out — that the gates of opportunity, youth, or life…
Kummerspeck The weight you gain from emotional eating — the extra pounds that accumulate during heart…
Fremdschämen The vicarious embarrassment you feel for someone who is doing something cringeworthy — ev…
Drachenfutter A peace-offering gift brought home to a partner after staying out too late or doing somet…
Verschlimmbessern To make something worse in a well-intentioned attempt to improve it.

Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.

Du bist klasse You're brilliant — excellent, impressive, top-notch.
Faulpelz A lazybones — someone who lounges around and avoids any effort, as warm and inert as a fu…
Griesgram A perpetual grump who radiates dissatisfaction and sucks the joy out of every room.

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