17 Eye-Opening Travel Words From Foreign Languages (For the Journey)

1. Flânerie 

Definition: Aimless strolling or sauntering without a set plan or defined destination; walking at a leisurely pace, simply observing as you’re being taken along. 

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: French

2. Fernweh

Definition: A longing or craving for distant, far-off places; “homesick” for places you’ve never been to. Literally: farsickness. 

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: German

3. Alpas 

 Definition: To become free or untied; to break loose.

Part of Speech: Verb

Origin: Tagalog

4. Novaturient

Definition: Desiring to alter your life; a feeling that pushes you to want to travel. 

Part of Speech: Adjective

Origin: Latin

5. Metanoia

Definition: The journey of transforming your mind, heart, self, or way of life.

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: Greek

6. Yugen

Definition: A deep, profound awareness of the universe; an unfathomable realization that triggers an emotional response.

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: Japanese

7. Peripatetic

Definition: A person who spends his time walking or traveling from place to place.

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: Greek

8. Saudade 

Definition: A deep, nostalgic, melancholic yearning for something or someone absent; accompanied by the realization that what you’re longing for will never be experienced again.

Part of Speech: Noun 

Origin: Portuguese

9. Lebenskünstler 

Definition: A “life artist” who is able to deal with any arising problems in a very artful, almost magical manner. Literally: someone who has mastered Lebenskunst (the art of life).

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: German

10. Hygge 

Definition: A quality of coziness and comfort accompanied by feelings of well-being, relaxation, contentment and presence; often likened to the feeling of drinking a warm cup of cocoa on a snowy day.

Parts of Speech: Noun, adjective

Origin: Danish

11. Resfeber

Definition: The restless feeling before starting out on a journey; a mix of anxiety, excitement and anticipation.

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: Swedish

12. Shinrin-yoku 

Definition: The practice of going into the woods seeking out a mentally soothing experience; taking in the forest atmosphere with your senses. Literally: “forest bathing.” 

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: Japanese

13. Nefelibata

Definition: Someone who doesn’t conform to the conventions of society, literature, or art; an unconventional, unorthodox person who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams. Literally: “cloud walker.”

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: Portuguese

14. Toska

Definition: A vague sense of unease, sadness, melancholy, nostalgia or yearning; a type of spiritual anguish.

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: Russian

15. Dérive

Definition: Drifting; a spontaneous, unplanned journey in which the traveler relinquishes control and is guided solely by the landscape and architecture.

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: French

16. Rasāsvāda 

Definition: The sensation of bliss in the absence of all thought.

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: Sanskrit

17. Trouvaille

Definition: A chance encounter with something wonderful; a valuable discovery; a lucky find.

Part of Speech: Noun

Origin: French