Spanish word

nostálgico

Pronunciation

IPA/nosˈtalxiko/

Meaning

  • adjectivenostalgic

Example

Esa canción me hace sentir nostálgico.

That song makes me feel nostalgic.

Illustration for nostálgico (nostalgic)

More examples

Al encontrar el viejo álbum, me sentí nostálgico.

When I found the old album, I felt nostalgic.

Core concept

A bittersweet ache for remembered moments.

Common phrases

  • sentirse nostálgico

    feel nostalgic

  • estar nostálgico

    be nostalgic

  • ponerse nostálgico

    become nostalgic

Similar words

melancólico: Soft, contemplative melancholy that gently sinks into quiet memories.
añoroso: Longing that aches for faraway people or bygone times, focused and persistent.
sentimental: Easily moved by feelings or memories, showing delicate, expressive emotion.

Definition in Spanish

Que provoca o refleja una sensación de añoranza y melancolía por recuerdos.

Word origin

The adjective derives from the Spanish noun nostalgia, itself from Greek nostos 'return' and algos 'pain', with the suffix -ico forming an adjective that denotes that aching longing.

Usage tips

  • Used predicatively with ponerse, estar, sentirse to say someone becomes or is nostalgic, while the noun nostalgia pairs with dar to indicate the cause, as when a song gives nostalgia.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word