saudade

Where does the word "saudade" come from? It comes from Latin sōlitās, passing through Galician-Portuguese and Portuguese before entering English (1800s).

Saudade’s story begins in Latin: sōlitās meant “solitude.” Solitude, loneliness, from 'sōlus', alone. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Galician-Portuguese as soidade. The old form, still used in Galicia. From there it passed into Portuguese as saudade by 1500s. Its spelling changed, perhaps through 'saúde', health, and it became the national emotion of Portuguese fado songs. It reached English by 1800s as saudade. Borrowed untranslated, as Portuguese speakers insist it cannot be translated. Today, saudade means a deep longing for something or someone loved and absent.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sōlitās "solitude", solitude, loneliness, from 'sōlus', alone.
2. Stage 2 · Galician-Portuguese · medieval soidade "solitude", the old form, still used in Galicia.
3. Stage 3 · Portuguese · 1500s saudade "longing", its spelling changed, perhaps through 'saúde', health, and it became the national emotion of Portuguese fado songs.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1800s saudade "longing", borrowed untranslated, as Portuguese speakers insist it cannot be translated.