English–German

“long for” in German

German

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈzeːnən/

Example

Ich sehne mich nach meiner Heimat.

I long for my homeland.

Illustration for sehnen (long for)

How to say “long for” in German

“Long for” in German is sehnen.

An inner pull stretches toward someone, somewhere, or a time that feels far away.

Full entry for sehnen: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with sehnen

Nach dem Umzug sehnten sich viele nach Geborgenheit.

After the move, many people longed for a sense of security.

Tips for using sehnen

  • The usual pattern is sich nach + dative sehnen, as in sich nach meiner Heimat sehnen; the reflexive pronoun changes with the subject.

“long for” in other languages