For those who travel , wanderlust is a familiar feeling . It ’s that nagging voice in your head that says , “ Yes , you do need to book that flight , ” even if your bank bill says otherwise . Regardless of how many passport cover this intelligence may grace , it does n’t begin to cover the spectrum of emotions and experiences that can be revealed through the turn of locomotion . Here are 30 travelling words from around the world to keep in your back pocket as you ’re search this summertime .
1. Vagary
From the Latinvagari , meaning “ to wander , ” this sixteenth - century Son in the beginning have in mind awandering journeying . now , " vagary " refer to unpredictable or temperamental situation , but that does n’t have in mind the one-time sense of the word ca n’t be conjure up from sentence to time .
2. Selcouth
An Old English word that refers to something that ’s bothstrange and marvelous . It ’s a great way to sum up those seemingly indescribable moments pass in an unfamiliar nation .
3. Fernweh
Who has n’t felt a unattackable desire to be somewhere — anywhere — other than where you presently are ? That’sfernweh , or “ farsickness , " and this German word has been described as a first cousin of wanderlust , another German loanword word .
4. Dépaysement
Anyone who has travel overseas will recognize this feeling . The French word refers to thesense of disorientationthat often set in when you tread outside your comfort zona , such as when you leave your place country .
5. Dérive
Another gift from the French , this watchword literally translate to “ impulsion , ” but thanks to some mid-20th century Gallic philosophers , it can alsorefer to a spontaneous head trip , entirely gratuitous of plans , in which you lease your environment manoeuvre you .
6. Peregrinate
Toperegrinateis to move from berth to place , especially on fundament . Its Latin theme , peregrinus(meaning “ foreign ” ) , is also where the Falco peregrinus falcon ( literally “ pilgrim falcon ” ) get its name .
7. Perambulate
Similar to peregrinate , this word basically means to travel over or through an area by invertebrate foot . So instead of saying that you ’ll be walk around London , you could say you ’ll beperambulatingthe city ’s streets — much more sophisticated .
8. Numinous
This English word could befittingly be used to delineate the Grand Canyon or the Northern Lights . Somethingnuminousis awe - inspiring and mystifying . It ’s unmanageable to sympathize from a rational linear perspective , which gives it a spiritual or unearthly quality .
9. Peripatetic
The immature and the restless will require to incorporate this give-and-take into their lexicon . The adjective cite to those who are invariably move from place to space — in other words , a nomadic existence . It stems from the Greek wordperipatein(“to take the air up and down ” ) , which was originallyassociatedwith Aristotle and the shaded walkway near his school ( or , according to legend , his riding habit of pacing back and forth during lectures ) .
10. Waldeinsamkeit
You ’re alone in a forest . It ’s peaceable . The sun is filtering through the tree and there ’s a light breeze . That’swaldeinsamkeit . ( Literally " timberland purdah . " And yes , Germans have all the good travel words . )
11. Shinrin-Yoku
In a similar vein , this Japanese word intend “ timberland bathing , ” and it ’s look at a var. of natural practice of medicine and stress fill-in . There are now forest bathing golf-club around the earthly concern , but you could try it out for yourself on your next camping trip . Take rich breaths , fill up your eyes , and take in the smells and sounds of the forest . dewy-eyed .
12. Solivagant
In those mo when you just want to fly the coop away from your responsibilities , you may consider becoming asolivagant : asolo wanderer .
13. Yoko Meshi
This Japanese musical phrase literally understand to “ a meal eaten sidewise , ” which is an apt style to draw the awkwardness of speak in a extraneous language that you have n’t quite subdue , especially over dinner party .
14. Resfeber
You just reserve your flying . Your heart starts racing . You ’re a little aflutter about your journey , but mostly you just ca n’t wait to get going . The anticipation , anxiousness , and excitement you get before a big head trip is all rolled into one word — resfeber — and you may thank the Swedes for it .
15. Flâneur
take in from the Frenchflâner , meaningto stroll or saunter , this Word of God describe someone who has no exceptional plans or place they need to be . They merely saunter around the city at a leisurely pace , taking in the sight and relish the twenty-four hours as it unfolds .
16. Gadabout
This could be interpret as the traditional English equivalent offlâneur . Likely stemming from the Middle English verbgadden , meaning “ to wander without a specific intent or purpose , ” agadaboutis one who frequently travel from lieu to place for the sheer fun of it . In other words : a modern - day backpacker .
17. Hiraeth
Sometimes , no matter how awesome your vacation may be , you just want to come home to your bed and cats . This Welsh word sums up the inscrutable hungriness for home that can walk out without warning . As Gillian Thomas put it inan interview with the BBC , “ Home sickness is too rickety . You feelhiraeth , which is a longing of the soul to come home to be safe . ”
18. Yūgen
This Japanese watchword can be assume to have in mind “ graceful elegance ” or “ elusive enigma , ” but it ’s much more than that . It ’s when the beauty of the cosmos is feel most deeply , awakening an worked up reception that decease beyond words .
19. Schwellenangst
translate to “ brink anxiety , ” this German Son summarise up the fearfulness that are present before you get in somewhere new — like a theater or an restrain cafe — and by extension go anywhere unfamiliar . The fear of crossing a doorway is normal , even among the most adventuresome of travelers — but it often leads to the most unforgettable experiences .
20. Commuovere
Have you ever seen something so beautiful it made you cry ? That’scommuoverein action . The Italian word describes the feel of being move , touched , or stirred by something you witness or experience .
21. Hygge
This Danish Bible refers to a quick feeling of content and coziness , as well as the acknowledgement of that feeling . Although not explicitly related to this full term , source Kurt Vonnegut summed up the idea behind this concept quite nicely when he read , “ I inspire you to please notice when you are happy , and call out or murmur or think at some point , ' If this is n’t courteous , I do n’t know what is . ' "
22. Hanyauku
Here ’s one for those who have a beach trip coming up . Taken from Kwangali , a nomenclature spoken in Namibia , hanyaukuis the act of tippytoe across blistering sand .
23. Smultronställe
This Swedish word read to something along the lines of “ place of wild strawberry mark , ” but its metaphorical meaning is something along the lines of a " glad place . " Whether it ’s a obscure overlook of the city or your favourite vacation spot that has n’t been “ discovered ” yet , smultronställerefers to thosesemi - secret placesyou restitution to metre and meter again because they ’re especial and personal to you .
24. Dustsceawung
This Old English parole describes what might happen when you chitchat a place like Pompeii or a ghost town . While reflecting on retiring civilizations , you realize that everything will eventually call on to dust . A cheery thought .
25. Vacilando
In some Spanish idiom , the wordvacilandodescribes someone who travel with a vague address in mind but has no material bonus to get there . In other words , the journey is more significant than the destination . AsJohn Steinbeckdescribed it in his travelogueTravels With Charley : “ It does not mean vacillating at all . If one isvacilando , he is go somewhere , but does n’t greatly care whether or not he get there , although he has direction . My friend Jack Wagner has often , in Mexico , assumed this state of being . Let us say we desire to walk in the streets of Mexico city but not at random . We would choose some clause almost certain not to be there and then diligently examine to find it . ”
26. Lehitkalev
packer and budget travelers , this one is for you : The Hebrew wordlehitkalevtranslates to “ dog it ” and mean to deal with uncomfortable living or travel arrangements .
27. Komorebi
This beautiful Japanese Christian Bible is a practiced one to bring through for a sunny mean solar day pass in the woods . Komorebitranslates to “ sunshine filtering through the leave . ” Does it get any lovelier than that ?
28. Ramé
ThisBalinese wordrefers to something that is simultaneously disorderly and joyful . It is n’t specifically a travel intelligence , but it does seem to fit the feelings that are often awakened by travel .
29. Trouvaille
Translating to a “ golden uncovering , ” this French word can be applied to that cool cafe , flower - lined street , or way-out craft shop that you stumble upon by chance . Indeed , these are the moments that make travelling worthwhile .
30. Ullassa
Just in case you needed another reason to plan that trip to Yosemite , here ’s one last word for nature lovers . The Sanskrit wordullassarefers to the belief of pleasantness that get from observing natural beauty in all its glory .
A version of this tale ran in 2018 ; it has been updated for 2022 .
Related Tags
