Hiraeth
- “longing for a home I can't return to, or that never was”
- “homesickness for a place that no longer exists”
- “the welsh word for a deep bittersweet longing”
- “missing a home and a time that may be idealised”
:: 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 |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Hiraeth rather than Saudade are usually searching for phrases like “longing for a home I can't return to, or that never was”, “homesickness for a place that no longer exists”, “the welsh word for a deep bittersweet longing”.
Saudade
- “a sweet sadness, missing someone or something deeply”
- “longing for something and being grateful it existed at the same time”
- “homesick for a person, a place, or a time I can't get back”
- “the ache of an absence I don't fully want to let go of”
Read either one in full
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