French word

nostalgie

Pronunciation

IPA/nɔstalʒi/

Meaning

  • feminine nounnostalgia

Example

La nostalgie m'envahit quand j'écoute cette chanson.

Nostalgia overwhelms me when I listen to this song.

Illustration for nostalgie (nostalgia)

More examples

Je regarde mes anciens cahiers avec nostalgie.

I look at my old notebooks with nostalgia.

Core concept

A tender pull toward a happy time that is gone but still feels vivid.

Common phrases

  • ressentir de la nostalgie

    feel nostalgic

  • regarder avec nostalgie

    look at ___ with nostalgia

Similar words

mélancolie: A quiet, lingering feeling of sadness and wistfulness.
regret: A feeling of sorrow about a past action or choice.
chagrin: Deep emotional pain caused by failure or separation.
mal du pays: A strong longing for home or a familiar place.

Definition in French

Impression de chaleur mêlée de tristesse quand on pense à un passé agréable.

Word origin

The word was coined from the Greek elements nostos, return, and algos, pain, then developed from a medical term into a broader word for longing for the past.

Usage tips

  • French commonly uses être pris de nostalgie or la nostalgie me gagne for nostalgia that suddenly takes hold.

Related words

Word lists with this word