SAUDADE

Learn more about the Portuguese untranslatable word

MEANING

If you are a Portuguese language student or enthusiast, you have probably come across saudade at some point. Known as an untranslatable word, the term expresses a feeling that is much more than simply missing something or someone. Defined by the Portuguese Language Magazine as “the pain of the absence that we take pleasure in feeling”, saudade is a key word for all native speakers, although it represents multiple shades of emotion in different places or periods in history.

A combination of feelings such as nostalgia, pain, melancholy and solitude, the origin of saudade could trace back to some terms in other languages, like solitate in Latin and sawdā in Arabic. Its popular usage dates back to the 15th century, to express the distance and loss suffered by the families of the men who left the country during the era of Portuguese discoveries. Later, in the beginning of the 20th century, literary personalities coined the “Saudosismo” nationalist movement, which longed for the return of Portugal’s cultural splendor.

However, in Brazil, which was a Portuguese colony for over 200 years, saudade inherited the happy and optimistic trait of the local culture, being also used as a joyous sentiment in numerous literary and musical works. Even though the word expresses pain and longing for what is not there anymore, saudade is a reminder of the good that anticipated the nostalgia, bringing some kind of pleasure to the “dark” feeling. As a popular saying states, “it’s good to have saudades”.

chega de saudade by joao gilberto record

Popular phrases

How to use it?

saudade pronunciation

As a Brazilian and native Portuguese speaker myself, I can tell you that you’re allowed to feel saudades of anything, anyone or any place! The word can be used to express how you feel about a childhood memory, a partner who is out of town or a meal you had in a small village you visited on your last summer trip.

You can even feel saudades for something that never happened. Yes, that’s right! Neymar Jr., renowned Brazilian soccer player, once said “saudades do que a gente não viveu ainda”, which means “saudades of what we haven’t lived yet”.

What’s important to know when using saudades is that it’s an independent term that can be used alone in an interjection, like “Saudades!”, or a sigh, like “Saudades…”. It can also be paired with other terms to maximize the feeling, such as “morrendo de saudades”, which means “dying of saudades”.

Finally, imagine you are “dying of saudades” because you haven’t seen your long distance partner in a few months. What would you do to the feeling when you get to finally see them? Kill it! “Matar as saudades” or “kill the saudades” is also commonly used by native speakers to express that the longing is over at last.

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Saudade in music

Send a message

Now that you have learned more about one of the most meaningful words in the Portuguese language, generate your own "Saudades" message and send it to someone you miss!

Coded by Camila Iglesias Fontoura