I learned a new word today: Sehnsucht

[WindowOpener]

Sehnsucht is a German word that apparently doesn't translate easily into other languages. It certainly doesn't translate into English. I've only just managed to grasp its meaning, I think.

It is essentially a deep, profound sense of longing. But there is not a clear understanding of what you are longing for. It might seem to lie in the past, as in childhood or growing up, but it isn't distinct and it's irretrievably enmeshed in hazy memory.

This point might seem obvious, but it is different for every person. It's our search for a part of our identity, and when an experience stirs this "sehnsucht" in us, there seems no way to communicate the depth of the feeling to anyone.

Does anyone think they kind of get this? I found it interesting. Maybe you can post about what this means for you, or you can post instead about any cool words you've learned recently. whee  

[MemoryDragon]

It is an interesting concept. Personally, I just put that feeling down to those times when the angsting artist in me is just longing to come out, but a quest for self identity works too. 3nodding

I didn't learn this word recently... But it's gotta be one of my favourite words of all time, so I'll post it here. Defenestration. It means "The act of throwing someone or something out the window." Awesome word, right there. xd  

[Mader Hatter]

It does mean longing. I looked it up on the offical translator from German to English and it came up as, "Longing".  

[Leila Amra Drake]

You really got the meaning. I am German so I know. wink
It is a melancholic kind of longing.
If you want to know more words, you can join the German Help Thread.  

[shall she sail seas]

Window, I wonder if you learnt of this word from a webcomic....  

[ieatyourtclol]

My first exposure to this word was with a Rammstein album entitled Sehnsucht. I've also spent several years learning German. I'm not confident in what I think it means for me. Not enough to give it voice.