Sehnsucht

Etymology

Borrowed from German Sehnsucht, from sehnen (“to long”) + Sucht (“anxiety; sickness; addiction”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈzeɪnˌzuːxt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈzeɪnˌzʊxt/

Noun

Sehnsucht (uncountable)

1. (literary) Tender, wistful, and/or melancholic desire; yearning, longing.

Etymology

From sehnen (“to long”) +‎ Sucht (“anxiety; sickness; addiction”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzeːnˌzʊxt/, [ˈzeːnˌzʊχt]
• Rhymes: -ʊχt

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Sehnsucht f (genitive Sehnsucht, plural Sehnsüchte)

1. yearning, longing; pining
   • 2000, Bible, Schlachter, published 2003, Psalm 119:20:

     Meine Seele verzehrt sich vor Sehnsucht nach deinen Bestimmungen allezeit.

     My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.

   Synonyms: Nostalgie, Sehnen, Verlangen

Further reading

• Sehnsucht in Duden online