nostalgia
/nosˈtalxja/feminine
The English phrase 'nostalgia' is translated into Spanish as nostalgia. Wiktionary also lists añoranza.
Meaning: bittersweet yearning for the things of the past (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nostalgia | /nosˈtalxja/ | feminine |
| añoranza | /aɲoˈɾanθa/ /aɲoˈɾansa/ |
feminine |
Both nostalgia and añoranza are feminine nouns used to express a bittersweet yearning for things from the past. When expressing the experience of this emotion, it is common to use the verbs sentir (to feel) or tener (to have) with nostalgia, such as in the phrase sentir nostalgia.
Which one should you use?
While nostalgia is used for the feeling of nostalgia, añoranza is a more formal or literary term often used to describe a deep, painful yearning for something lost.
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe someone or something as being nostalgic, you can use the adjective nostálgico for masculine nouns and nostálgica for feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/nosˈtalxja/
Did you know?
- The word nostalgia was originally coined as a medical term to describe the physical and mental suffering of soldiers longing for their homes.
- In Spanish culture, nostalgia is often linked to the concept of saudade in neighboring Portuguese, describing a longing for something that may never have existed.
Examples in context
- No te dejes vencer por la nostalgia.Don't let nostalgia get the best of you.This sentence is useful for advising someone not to be overcome by nostalgia using nostalgia.Tatoeba #11903016 by Seael, translation #11903479 by DJ_Saidez
- No te dejes arrastrar por la nostalgia.Don't let yourself get carried away by nostalgia.This sentence is useful for advising someone not to be carried away by nostalgia using nostalgia.Tatoeba #10351356 by Seael, translation #13746886 by rul
- Durante la cena de Navidad, nos entró una nostalgia inmensa al recordar cuando Juvenal estaba vivo.During Christmas dinner, an immense nostalgia came over us as we remembered when Juvenal was alive.This sentence shows how a feeling of nostalgia can occur when remembering the past using nostalgia.Tatoeba #1459526 by wallebot, translation #9373524 by DJ_Saidez
Example conversation
María and Javier are looking at old photographs in an album.
- MaríaSiento mucha nostalgia al ver estas fotos.I feel a lot of nostalgia seeing these photos.
- JavierA mí también me da nostalgia este lugar.This place gives me nostalgia too.
- MaríaEran tiempos muy felices, ¿verdad?Those were very happy times, right?
- JavierSí, la nostalgia es inevitable con estos recuerdos.Yes, nostalgia is inevitable with these memories.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nostalgia” translations and entries nostalgia, añoranza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries añoranza, nostalgia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
