nostalgia

Where does the word "nostalgia" come from? It comes from Greek nostos, passing through New Latin before entering English (1720s).

Nostalgia’s story begins in Greek: nostos meant “a homecoming.” A homecoming, combined with algos (pain) for the pain of homesickness. By 1688, the word had taken hold in New Latin as nostalgia. Coined by Swiss scholar Johannes Hofer at the University of Basel as a medical term for severe homesickness. It reached English by 1720s as nostalgia. Coined in 1688 by the Swiss medical student Johannes Hofer for homesickness among Swiss mercenaries. Today, nostalgia means a wistful longing for the past.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient nostos "a homecoming", a homecoming, combined with algos (pain) for the pain of homesickness.
2. Stage 2 · New Latin · 1688 nostalgia "severe homesickness", coined by Swiss scholar Johannes Hofer at the University of Basel as a medical term for severe homesickness.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1720s nostalgia "severe homesickness", coined in 1688 by the Swiss medical student Johannes Hofer for homesickness among Swiss mercenaries.