Spanish Conversation · Level 3
87 words
Spanish word
nostalgia
Pronunciation
IPA/nosˈtalxja/
Meaning
- feminine nounnostalgia
Example
La nostalgia me invadió al ver esas fotos.
I was overcome by nostalgia when I saw those photos.
More examples
Siento nostalgia por la infancia cuando escucho esa canción.
I feel nostalgia for childhood when I hear that song.
Core concept
Bitter-sweet ache for past times, places, or people.
Common phrases
sentir nostalgia
feel nostalgia
tener nostalgia de casa
be homesick
nostalgia por la infancia
nostalgia for childhood
Similar words
añoranza: Fond longing for past scenes or moments.
recuerdo: Recollection of past events or moments.
melancolía: Soft, pensive sadness often felt without a specific cause.
Definition in Spanish
Estado emocional agridulce que provoca añoranza por tiempos, lugares o personas del pasado.
Word origin
From Greek nostos 'return' + algos 'pain', the term enters European languages after its use in late 17th-century medical writing by Johannes Hofer.
Usage tips
- To express immediate missing, Spanish commonly uses echar de menos or extrañar, while nostalgia denotes a more reflective, bittersweet longing.
Other meanings
- homesicknessnoun
Opposites
- desapegodetachmentnoun
Related words
- nostálgiconostalgicadjective
- nostálgicamentenostalgicallyadverb