Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nostalgia | /nos.talˈd͡ʒi.a/ | feminine |
| brama | /ˈbra.ma/ | feminine |
| desiderio | /de.ziˈdɛ.rjo/ /de.siˈdɛ.rjo/ |
masculine |
| voglia | /ˈvɔʎ.ʎa/ | feminine |
| anelito | /aˈnɛ.li.to/ | masculine |
| bramosia | /bramoˈzia/ | feminine |
The term for longing changes based on whether you are feeling a melancholic pull toward the past, a neutral desire or an intense craving.
Which one should you use?
nostalgia is used specifically for a longing for the past or a place one has left. In contrast, brama implies a much more intense, almost physical or urgent craving. desiderio is a more neutral term for desire or longing and lacks the specific melancholic weight of nostalgia. Finally, anelito is a poetic term used for spiritual or lofty longings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Naples, the term malincunia is used to describe a deep sense of longing or nostalgia.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using nostalgia to mean longing for something, it is typically followed by the preposition di.
How do you pronounce it?
/nos.talˈdʒi.a/
Did you know?
- The Italian word desiderio is a descendant of the Latin 'de sidere', which relates to the stars, implying that desire is something 'awaited from the stars'.
- Using brama to describe longing can sometimes imply a greed or an obsession that borders on the sinister, moving beyond a simple wish.
- In poetic Italian, the 'longing' expressed by anelito is linked to the act of breathing or panting, suggesting a physical struggle to reach a goal.
Examples in context
- Ha nostalgia della vita di città.He is longing for city life.This sentence shows how to express longing for city life using nostalgia.Tatoeba #3103224 by Guybrush88, translation #301836 by CS
- Hanno nostalgia della vita di città.They are longing for city life.Tatoeba #3103132 by Guybrush88, translation #237562 by CM
- Ogni sogno di fare l'amore con te mi lascia pieno di desiderio per il giorno in cui diventerà realtà.Each dream of making love to you leaves me longing for the day it becomes reality.This sentence shows how to use desiderio to describe a longing for a future event.Tatoeba #12121636 by Nuel, translation #12121635 by Nuel
- Sento una forte brama di vedertiI feel a strong longing to see you
- Non riesco a togliermi dalla testa il tuo sorriso, mi sento a pezziI can't get your smile out of my head, I feel broken
- Ho una gran voglia di abbracciartiI have a great desire to hug you
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are talking about their childhood hometown.
- SofiaSento molta nostalgia per il mio vecchio paese.I feel a lot of longing for my old village.
- AlessandroTi capisco, Sofia. Era un posto bellissimo.I understand, Sofia. It was a beautiful place.
- SofiaSì, mi manca l'atmosfera di quei pomeriggi.Yes, I miss the atmosphere of those afternoons.
- AlessandroQuesta nostalgia ci accompagnerà sempre.This longing will always stay with us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “longing” translations and entries nostalgia, brama, desiderio, voglia, anelito, bramosia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brama, desiderio, nostalgia, voglia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
