english word · 2026-08-31
Hiraeth
noun
Meaning
A deep feeling of nostalgic longing for a home that is no longer accessible or perhaps never existed. It blends elements of homesickness, grief, and a yearning for the past.
Etymology
Derived from the Welsh 'hiraeth', stemming from the Old Welsh 'hiraethawg', meaning 'longing'.
Examples
"As she listened to the old folk songs, a sense of hiraeth washed over her, recalling a childhood village she had not seen in decades."
"The poet's work was deeply rooted in hiraeth, capturing the bittersweet ache of a landscape altered by time."
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