Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

hiraeth

Noun

hi-RAITH

Definition

A deep, longing feeling for something or someone that is gone or distant, often referring to a sense of homesickness.

Examples

After moving away from her hometown, she felt a constant hiraeth for the life she once knew.
The film captures the hiraeth of the characters as they reminisce about their childhood in a small village.
He often expressed his hiraeth through his poetry, yearning for the landscapes of his youth.

Meaning

Hiraeth is a Welsh word that encapsulates a complex longing for the past, a place, or a person that one cannot return to. It expresses a blend of nostalgia and melancholy, reflecting an emotional connection to one’s heritage or homeland.