Hiraeth
Hiraeth is a Welsh word for a deep, grief-tinged longing for a home, a time, or Wales itself — a home that may be lost, idealised, or that never quite existed.
Full definition of Hiraeth →:: COMPARE ::
HiraethvsSaudade
The short answer
Close cousins — both are bittersweet longing. Saudade tends to centre on absent loved ones or places. Hiraeth carries a stronger national and collective charge: a grief for a homeland, a language, a Wales that was lost or idealised.
Side by side
| Aspect | Hiraeth | Saudade |
|---|---|---|
| Longs for | Home / homeland | A person or place |
| Charge | National, collective | Personal, intimate |
| Colour | Grief-tinged | Sweet-sad |
| Home | Portugal's? No — Wales' | Portugal's |
What each one means
Saudade
Saudade is a Portuguese word for the bittersweet ache of missing someone or something absent — a longing so warm it is almost a form of love. It is the everyday way to say you miss a person, even one who will be back next week, and at its deepest it is held for a place or a version of life that may never return.
Full definition of Saudade →