saudade
a deep, wistful longing or nostalgia for someone or something absent
Definitions
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1
a bittersweet feeling of missing someone or something dear that is absent or lost
“Sinto muita saudade da minha família quando viajo longe.”
I miss my family a lot when I travel far away.
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2
nostalgic longing for a past time, place, or experience
“Ele sempre fala com saudade dos verões da infância.”
He always speaks with nostalgia about the summers of his childhood.
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3
used in set phrases to express that one misses someone
“Ela deixou um bilhete dizendo que estava com saudades.”
She left a note saying that she missed him.
Word forms
- Gender
- feminine
- Plural
- saudades
- Usage
- Often used in the plural form 'saudades' in everyday speech, especially in the phrase 'ter saudades de' (to miss someone/something). Considered a hallmark word of Portuguese culture with no exact one-word English equivalent.
This word is culturally significant in Portuguese-speaking countries and is often cited as untranslatable; it blends longing, love, and melancholy. Common phrases include 'tenho saudades tuas' (I miss you) in European Portuguese and 'sinto saudades de você' in Brazilian Portuguese.