Fernweh

de
en
Change language
Translating...
wanderlust, longing for faraway places, urge to travel
Find language
Čeština
Czech
Deutsch
German
Français
French
Italiano
Italian
Nederlands
Dutch
/ˈfɛʁnveː/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A longing to leave familiar surroundings and travel toward distant places, often understood as the outward-facing opposite of homesickness.
Practice using Fernweh in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Sie sparte jeden Monat Geld, weil das Fernweh sie nicht losließ.
    She saved money every month because her urge to travel far away would not let go.
  • Beim Anblick der Fotos bekam sie sofort Fernweh.
    Looking at the photos immediately gave her wanderlust.
  • Im Büro träumte er von Bergen und Wüsten und spürte Fernweh.
    At the office, he dreamed of mountains and deserts and felt faraway longing.
  • Nach einem langen Winter war sein Fernweh kaum zu ertragen.
    After a long winter, his longing for faraway places was almost unbearable.
  • Das Fernweh zog ihn immer wieder ans Meer.
    Fernweh kept drawing him back to the sea.

Similar words

Reiselust
Wanderlust
Fernsucht
Wandertrieb
Reisefieber
Sehnsucht

Meanings

Longing for faraway places

noun
travel
neutral
A strong desire to leave familiar surroundings and travel to distant places, often felt as the opposite of homesickness.

Examples

  • Beim Anblick der Fotos bekam sie sofort Fernweh.
    Looking at the photos immediately gave her wanderlust.
  • Nach einem langen Winter war sein Fernweh kaum zu ertragen.
    After a long winter, his longing for faraway places was almost unbearable.
  • Das Fernweh zog ihn immer wieder ans Meer.
    Fernweh kept drawing him back to the sea.
  • Reiseberichte wecken oft Fernweh.
    Travel writing often awakens wanderlust.
  • Sie sparte jeden Monat Geld, weil das Fernweh sie nicht losließ.
    She saved money every month because her urge to travel far away would not let go.
  • Im Büro träumte er von Bergen und Wüsten und spürte Fernweh.
    At the office, he dreamed of mountains and deserts and felt faraway longing.
  • Für viele beginnt das Fernweh schon beim Blättern im Atlas.
    For many people, Fernweh begins as soon as they leaf through an atlas.

Similar words

Reiselust
Wanderlust
Reisefieber
Sehnsucht
Wandertrieb
Fernsucht

Etymology

A compound of German fern, meaning far or distant, and Weh, meaning pain or ache, formed in contrast with Heimweh, homesickness.

FAQ

What does Fernweh mean?

Fernweh means a longing for faraway places or a strong urge to travel away from familiar surroundings.

Is Fernweh the same as wanderlust?

It is close to wanderlust, but it often carries a more emotional sense of aching for distant places.

Is Fernweh masculine, feminine, or neuter?

Fernweh is neuter, so German uses das Fernweh.

What is the opposite of Fernweh?

The usual opposite is Heimweh, which means homesickness or longing for home.

Where does Fernweh come from?

It combines fern, meaning far, with Weh, meaning ache or pain, by analogy with Heimweh.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...