Heimweh oder Fernweh?

Whilst it’s easy to translate Heimweh (homesickness) into English, I am really struggling to find an English word to describe Fernweh. Perhaps you can help.

Homesickness: “a feeling of longing for your home during a period of absence from it.

Example: ” I have lived in Germany for 22 years and have never felt homesick”

Fernweh? 

Maybe we can use these words but I am not convinced.

Wanderlust: “a strong desire to travel.”

Itchy feet: “a sense of boredom or restlessness causing a desire to travel or move on.”

When compared with homesickness these definitions do not seem strong enough. There is no suggestion of pain or heartache.

What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *