The Hardest Word to Translate

Few words explain the Brazilian character as well as saudade. Deriving from the word solitate ("loneliness," in Latin), its meaning is close to nostalgia, and defines a feeling of loss of something very dear. When a Brazilian doesn't see a friend for a long time, for example, when they meet again one will say that she felt saudade—a mixture of sadness at not having seen the friend in a long time and a feeling of affection and nostalgia. Considered one of the most difficult words to translate, saudade received a definition from the famous linguist, A.F.G Bell, who wrote that "The famous word saudade is a vague and constant desire for something other than the present, a turning towards the past or the future, an indolent dreaming wistfulness." The word appears in the lyrics of famous Brazilian songs like "Chega de Saudade" (No More Saudade), the first bossa nova song and a milestone in Brazilian culture.