Fernweh
Fernweh is a German word for an aching longing to be far away — a homesickness for places you've never been. Where homesickness pulls you toward home, fernweh pulls you toward the horizon.
Full definition of Fernweh →:: COMPARE ::
FernwehvsWanderlust
The short answer
Wanderlust is a pleasurable urge to roam — the excitement of going. Fernweh is the flip side of homesickness: a painful longing for the distant, an ache that where you are isn't where you're meant to be.
Side by side
| Aspect | Fernweh | Wanderlust |
|---|---|---|
| Feeling | An ache | A joy |
| Toward | The far-away | Roaming itself |
| Root | 'Far-pain' | 'Wander-desire' |
| Mood | Restless longing | Eager appetite |
What each one means
Wanderlust
A restless urge to travel — a German loanword that English repurposed, because in German it is mostly about hiking.
Full definition of Wanderlust →