nostalgie
/nɔs.tal.ʒi/feminine
Nostalgia in French is nostalgie.
The word refers to a bittersweet yearning for things of the past. A common way to express this feeling is by using the phrase ressentir la nostalgie, which means to feel nostalgia.
Meaning: bittersweet yearning for the things of the past (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
nostalgie is a feminine noun, so it is used with the feminine article la, as in la nostalgie.
How do you pronounce it?
/nɔs.tal.ʒi/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly add an 'a' to the end of the word. Remember that the French word ends in ie.
When do people say it?
In French culture, the term La madeleine de Proust is used to refer to a specific smell, taste or object that triggers nostalgic memories.
Did you know?
- The word nostalgie was originally coined as a medical diagnosis for a physical illness, specifically a form of pathological homesickness suffered by Swiss mercenaries.
- The Greek component nóstos refers to a 'return home', most famously used in the story of Odysseus' long journey back to Ithaca.
- While nostalgie refers to the past, French speakers use the word mal du pays to describe the specific nostalgic pain of being away from one's home country.
Examples in context
- Écouter cette chanson remplit mon cœur de nostalgie.Listening to this song fills my heart with nostalgia.This sentence is useful for expressing how a song can evoke the feeling of nostalgie.Tatoeba #962778 by sysko, translation #3293702 by patgfisher
- La joie que nous avons partagée ensemble remplit encore mon cœur de chaleur et de nostalgie.The joy we shared together still fills my heart with warmth and nostalgia.This sentence shows how shared joy can lead to a feeling of nostalgie.Tatoeba #12119751 by Nuel, translation #12119743 by Nuel
- Elle ressent une certaine nostalgie en regardant ces photos.She feels a certain nostalgia while looking at these photos.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are looking at old childhood photographs.
- LéaRegarde ces photos, c'est plein de nostalgie.Look at these photos, it's full of nostalgia.
- LucasC'est vrai, on était tellement heureux.It's true, we were so happy.
- LéaLe temps passe vraiment trop vite.Time really passes too fast.
- LucasOui, mais on a de bons souvenirs.Yes, but we have great memories.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nostalgia” translations and entries nostalgie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nostalgie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
