Saudade is defined as a nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost. The love that remains.
Writing this on a quiet Sunday, happy in the knowledge that my three sons in Cayman are safe and well in a country that has done a spectacular job of leading through the pandemic. However, I also miss them greatly and, with Cayman “closed” (borders closed, no flights), I have no idea when I will see them again. I am very privileged to have my life relatively normal even in the pandemic, but sometimes I do feel strongly how much I miss my boys.
Regular readers know how much I love language, including words from different languages, particularly those that are untranslatable. Examples I’ve written about include Ikigai, Kintsukoroi and more.
So, I was recently reminded of a powerful word for this sense of longing, defined in the image above, but what really struck me around the feeling of missing my boys, and then of wanting to “matar saudade” or “kill the saudade” by finally seeing them in person again.
Saudade for a brother who lives far off.
Saudade for a childhood waterfall.
Saudade for the flavour of a fruit never to be found again.
Saudade for the father who died, for the imaginary friend who never existed.Saudade for a city.
~ Miguel Falabella
Saudade for ourselves, when we see that time doesn’t forgive us. All these saudades hurt.
But the saudade that hurts the most is the one for someone beloved
What do you have Saudade for?