Here are a few travel words from non-English, foreign languages that you need to add to your vocabulary
A renowned traveller, explorer and a scholar, Ibn Battuta, who left home at the age of 21 and ended up travelling for 24 years, said that “Travelling leaves you speechless and then turns you into a storyteller.” Many of us experience a myriad of emotions and feelings while we set out to explore places that are not home but fall short of words in the travel vocabulary to describe. However, the urge to tell our travel stories would be nearly satisfied only when we know as many words as possible from various language origins across the world.
Below are five beautiful non-English language words or words from non-English origins that perfectly describe what most of us might’ve felt at some point on our journeys.
- Fernweh [FEIRN-vay. German]
It’s a German-origin word which is a compound of two words - ‘Fern’ (meaning ‘Far’) and ‘Weh’ (meaning ‘Woe / Ache’). ‘Fernweh’ is often considered as an opposite to ‘homesickness’ and means an intense longing to travel to a far-off place. It’s used to describe a strong urge to get out into the world and travel to distant lands. Did you ever feel this kind of a travel ache?
- Resfeber [RAs-fA-ber. Swedish]
Every traveller would’ve definitely experienced this Swedish-origin word, but might not have known that such a word exists. ‘Resfeber’ describes the mixed feelings of fear and excitement in a traveller before they begin a journey. Now you have learnt a term for all the jitters and racy feelings you get in the stomach and heart before embarking on a journey!
- Dérive [deʀiv. French]
Did you ever go on a trip without deciding on a destination and was led by the surroundings or scenery you bumped into? Yes! That’s what this French-origin word describes. ‘Dérive’ means ‘to draw from’ the beauty of a place that a traveller stumbles upon when they set out on an unplanned journey.
- Sanchāri [Sun-chāri. Sanskrit]
It’s a simple-yet-sophisticated word of Sanskrit-origin which was derived from ‘Sanchāra’, meaning to traverse or to navigate. So, Sanchāri is a word used to describe a traveller / wanderer who is on the go. It is usually used to refer to a traveller who is always moving to seek something unknown.
- Smultronställe [Smool-tron-stall-uh. Swedish]
Literally translated as the ‘place of wild strawberries’, this Swedish-origin word is used to refer to a special place that you are fond of and love to return for solace or relaxation. It’s like your favourite little spot that you like to visit when you want to feel happy and alive again. What’s your Smultronställe?
