Sometimes a word gives a familiar feeling a new shape. It might describe the pull of distant places, the nervous excitement before departure or the small spot you are always happy to return to.

These seven words make enjoyable companions for a travel journal. They are not secret passwords for “real travellers”, and their meanings deserve a little more care than a caption on a quote card.

Longing, nerves and daydreams

  1. Fernweh. This German word expresses a longing for distant places. Duden’s entry is a useful starting point for the meaning. In your journal, describe what you are longing for specifically: a landscape, a different routine or the feeling of being somewhere unfamiliar.
  2. Resfeber. In Swedish, this is the nervous anticipation associated with an approaching journey. It is an everyday word, not a medical diagnosis or a reason to celebrate severe anxiety. Try writing down one thing you are excited about and one practical detail you can settle before leaving.
  3. Nefelibata. The Portuguese word can describe a dreamy person detached from ordinary reality. Priberam gives the dictionary context. It is not a specialist term for a gifted traveller. Use it playfully when recording an imagined journey, then distinguish the daydream from the arrangements needed to make it happen.

Woods, wonder and a remarkable year

  1. Nemophilist. This rare English noun refers to someone fond of woods or forest scenery. You do not need to become solitary or mystical to appreciate that idea. Write about one woodland detail you noticed: the light, a texture or the sound of leaves moving.
  2. Numinous. This English adjective concerns a sense of the divine or a mysterious, spiritual presence. It is not simply a fancier synonym for an excellent holiday. Merriam-Webster’s definition helps preserve the distinction. If you use the word, explain what gave a moment that quality for you.
  3. Annus mirabilis. The Latin expression means a remarkable or wonderful year. The spelling is annus, not “annu”, and a year can be remarkable for reasons unrelated to the distance travelled. Choose three moments that made a year meaningful, including one that happened close to home.

A place you want to keep returning to

  1. Smultronställe. Literally connected with a place where wild strawberries grow, this Swedish word also has a figurative sense of a cherished, special spot. The correct spelling includes the second r in smultron. The Swedish Academy’s dictionaries provide context for this and resfeber.

Your own place might be a bench, a beach or a café table. Describe what you do there and why returning feels good. It does not need to be remote, secret or impressive to anybody else.

Let the words make you more specific

A borrowed word is most useful when it encourages a clearer description of your experience. Our guide to enjoying trip preparation offers another way to put anticipation to good use. Collect the words you like, then give them your own honest examples.