difficult travel words

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42 inspiring travel words (besides wanderlust).

We’ve all tried to find words to describe a travel experience, and sometimes nothing seems to quite explain it right.

I love discovering new ways to express myself, and over the years I’ve slowly collected the below list of creative travel words that are either not commonly used in English or are from another language or are words that describe travel emotions we go through much better.

If you’re a bit of a Pinterest addict like me you might have heard some of these alternative words for travel before, but hopefully, some are new.

After all, we could all use some other words for wanderlust!

These are just a few of my favourite words associated with travel.

As someone who writes about travel all the time, I love finding new words for travel and to describe travel experiences.

Everyone knows wanderlust, but are there words for wanderlust in other languages, or even just another word for travel too? 

I first wrote this post back in 2015 with just 24 new travel words that I had found over the course of the year while I was living abroad in Spain .

Since then I’ve come across many more so I’ve updated it to include the new ones!

Each travel word definition has been written in my own words, with a photo of my own, and examples from my own experiences. 

I hope that you’re able to learn some new words for travel (that aren’t wanderlust but are other words for wanderlust!) and be a bit inspired by them like I have been!

The unusual travel words you need to know:

Resfeber  (n), origin – swedish.

The tangled feelings of fear and excitement before a journey begins.

This is one of the most popular words associated with travel and all over Pinterest!

We’ve all felt this. That jolt in your heart when you book your flights, or when you tell your family and friends what you’re about to do.

Now that feeling has a word you can use!

This feeling is for new travellers and old alike. I still feel it when I embark on new journeys, especially before I moved to Spain to teach English .

Fernweh (n)

Origin: german.

Farsickness. An urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust.

That feeling you get when you’ve been home too long and you ache to be out into the world again.

Sometimes you don’t know where you want to be, but you know that it’s away. Sometimes you know where, and you want to get there as quickly as possible. This is that feeling.

I’ve had a serious case of the post travel blues , and felt this to the extreme!

It’s one of my favourite words related to travel, since it really does describe how I’ve felt on so many different occasions.

Origin: French

To drift unplanned, led only by the landscape and architecture around you.

The idea that even if you drift you will end up falling into a path that is lined out for you by your surroundings. This could describe life overall, but it also describes small journeys.

When you’re wandering through a new city and you just happen to wander on a path that takes you to great discoveries.

This happened to me in Stockholm, when I went to the archipelago and saw absolutely nothing of the city, and again in Lisbon where we made no plans and just let the city show us where to go.

This is a travel word I’ve seen less often, probably because many of us love to plan our trips, tick things off a bucket list and not miss out, but sometimes if you just allow yourself to wander you’ll find the most unexpected and best things of your trip.

Numinous (adj)

Origin: latin.

Feeling both fearful and awed by what is before you.

I don’t know why but there’s something intriguing about finding Latin words for travel. Maybe it’s because it’s not a language we really use anymore, but it forms the basis for so much of ours now.

There are quite a lot of words for travelling that are Latin based, or that we can turn into a word associated with travel.

Firstly referring to divinity, but I think it is a wonderful way to describe how you feel when you see things that are so amazing you’re not sure whether to be amazed or realise your own insignificance in the world. It’s the magical feeling when you see something truly awe-inspiring, be it the scenery before you, or just something amazing falls into place when you’re travelling.

Visiting the rice terraces of China was that moment for me.

Schwellenangst (n)

Fear of crossing a threshold to embark on something new.

Ok so this German word isn’t traditionally a word related to travel but it could be used as one of those words to describe a travel experience now.

Maybe referring literally to a door, but a great way to explain that feeling you might have before deciding to set out on a new journey.

Did you make the right decision? Those questioning feelings now have a name. I thought I might have made a mistake in moving to Spain but really, it was just this feeling of fearing something new.

Strikhedonia (n)

Origin: greek.

The joy of being able to say “to hell with it”.

A popular Greek word associated with travel!

This is what you can do when you decide to quit everything, stop making excuses , and explore the world.

Something you say when you book your flights or you decide to do something on your journey that you wouldn’t normally do. You’re travelling, who cares right?!

Now you have a word related to travel for that awesome feeling.

A wandering or roaming journey.

An unpredictable idea, desire or action.

Travelling without knowing the destination, and it doesn’t matter.

I got completely lost with friends in the Alpujarras in southern Spain , and it didn’t matter one bit. This is another Latin word for travel that we should definitely bring back into our vocabulary!

Sehnsucht (n)

A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

When you’re not travelling this can be an overwhelming feeling, or when you think about the travel you’ve done and you wish you could relive it all over again.

This feeling is why you need to make the most of every moment! It’s why the more you travel, the harder it gets .

This is one of those other words for wanderlust that we could use instead, although not as easy to say I admit!

Eleutheromania (n)

The intense desire for freedom.

This is probably one of the closest words to explaining wanderlust in different languages. People often say that travelling makes them feel free, and eleutheromania is the desire for this feeling.

We seem to find freedom in other cultures, or just in being outside the norm, and when you stop travelling, you crave it again.

I think this is what led me to make the crazy decision to move abroad for the first time at 16 !

Definitely one of my favourite other words for wanderlust and a firm favourite on Pinterest when you look for travel words.

Livsnjutare (n)

Origin: swedish.

Someone who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

Someone I try to be. One that takes chances, takes risks, and always chooses the adventure .

This other word for travel could be used in place for wanderluster, nomad or traveller.  We could all stand to appreciate what we have and make the most of life, and so this is an inspirational travel word! 

Sturmfrei (adj)

The freedom of being alone and having the ability to do what you want.

Travelling solo can be especially rewarding because it’s all up to you. You can make your travel journey exactly how you want it to be. No compromises, no one else to please. Just you and the road.

You might meet amazing people when you travel , but being on your own is real freedom.

This isn’t traditionally a word associated with travel either, but instead with being in a place alone or without supervision from your parents, so like when they leave you at home for the weekend as a teenager.

But isn’t that slightly giddy feeling of being able to do whatever we want similar to how we feel when we travel? No one’s watching, so you can be who you want and let go!

Solivagant (adj)

Wandering alone.

The kind of traveller many of us are. Solo travel has exploded so much that it is no longer out of the ordinary.

As most solo travellers know, you’re not alone for long as you make your friends on the road . But sometimes, it’s the wandering journey you take alone that is the most rewarding.

This is a word for someone that travels a lot or someone on a solo journey.

It’s definitely a popular description amongst travel bloggers too!

Saudade (n)

Origin: portuguese.

Nostalgia and the love that remains. A desire to be near to something or someone distant.

This is a travel word for after your journey ends and you just want to be back where you were, or with the people you met on the way. It’s the feeling that’s left after it all ends.

It’s what makes you want to return to your favourite place , even if you know it might not be the same. Part of the definition of this travel word is also about looking forward positively to the future!

Origin: Japanese

An awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words.

That feeling when it’s dark and you look at the stars and your wonder for all the things in the world wells up inside of you.

I felt like this when I saw the northern lights in Iceland during the wintertime . It was the most amazing experience and if I had any word to describe it then this would be it!

Acatalepsy (n)

The idea that it is impossible to truly comprehend anything.

Acatalepsy is a word that we can associate with travel. 

Can you truly understand your travels, the things you see, and how they affect you?

Sometimes it takes time to process how travel might have changed your life, and sometimes we never truly know why we take the journeys we do and what they’ll mean for us until afterward.

We can reflect on amazing travel moments , but never fully know their impact until much later! 

Origin: In doubt

The realisation every person is living their own vivid life.

I stumbled across this word and fell in love with the meaning, as it’s something I sometimes think about. How each person’s life is as full of different connections, memories, and possibilities as my own.

Although research tells me Sonder may not be a real word, the concept is beautiful and I think it can be a word closely associated with travel.

When we’re travelling we realise how everyone is living their own different and vivid life, sometimes close to our own and sometimes on a completely other level!

Trouvaille (n)

Something lovely found by chance.

A street, cafe, an experience stumbled upon by luck.

I love when this happens in my travels. A moment drinking coffee under a lemon tree in the south of Spain , a garden or a lake or a swimming hole discovered with no one else around.

I love finding alternative words to describe a travel experience, and this is a great one! It’s so important to appreciate the little things, especially when we come across them in an unexpected way. 

Origin: Danish

The cosy feeling you get while you’re enjoying the good things in life with friends.

When you’re out for a meal with people you met during your travels , and you feel content and right.

That feeling that you’re right where you’re meant to be.

This isn’t traditionally associated with travel and has become much more popular in recent years as a word describing a Danish way of living.

This word is now much more popular and well known than when I first wrote this post when I was an expat ! When I first came across it in 2015 I’d never heard of it before at all!

And I love that.

To me, it sounded like a word to describe the experiences I’d had while travelling, when I’d met an amazing group of people and we were enjoying a shared meal together at the end of an awesome day of exploring.

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows – John Koenig

Awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience.

When you’re staring at the departures board and wishing you could go to all of those places at once.

It’s possible that the more you travel the harder it gets , and this is one of the reasons why. You can live abroad to try and travel more, but there’s still only so much to be seen.

This travel word is a little different in that it isn’t from another language but instead from a book.

However, it is another word that describes travel in that you’ll never reach the end of your exploration.

Travelling just makes you realise how much of the world there is still to see, and fuels your wanderlust even more!

Novaturient (adj)

A desire to change and alter your life.

This word for travel lovers describes the feeling that pushes you to travel.

When you know you’re not living the life you could be and there must be more out there for you.

It’s time to go and find it . I’ve never regretted travelling or moving abroad , even alone . It’s this knowledge and this feeling that makes me keep doing it!

Yoko meshi (n)

The stress of speaking a foreign language.

Literally translates to, “a meal eaten sideways”, and how I felt about speaking Spanish when I moved to Spain!

When people would tell me to “just start speaking” and it’s really not that easy.

Can you really learn a language just by moving abroad ? Maybe not, but you can try. Just be prepared for this feeling that you now have a travel word to describe!

Selcouth (adj)

Origin: old english.

Strange and uncommon, the way you see things when you travel.

Everything seems different and foreign, and it’s a good thing. We travel to seek out the things we don’t have at home .

This is another word that we can make into a word for travel, even though it doesn’t traditionally mean that.

It is one I could kind of see myself using to describe the odd things I’ve come across while travelling!

Eudaimonia (n)

The contented happy state.

That bursting feeling in your chest when you travel when it all feels right. The constant change in travel often puts our senses in overdrive and the highs are higher than ever. 

Learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef was one of the best experiences of my life, and I won’t soon forget this feeling.

This Greek word is actually related to a philosophy that has been translated as meaning happiness or well-being, but I think that it’s the way we often feel when we travel, so it’s a word for travel lovers too!

Coddiwomple (v)

Origin: english slang.

To travel purposefully towards a vague destination.

When you have an idea of where you’re going, but it doesn’t matter how long it takes to get there.

The road doesn’t have to be a straight one. In fact, sometimes it’s better when it’s not .

I love this travel word because I can imagine an old English gentleman discussing his latest “coddiwomple”!

Flâneur (n)

Someone who strolls aimlessly but enjoyably, observing life and the surroundings.

This is what I love to do when I get to a new city, or through the countryside .

When we travel we seem to have fewer worries in general, allowing us to place ourselves more IN the moment.

Plus walking a city and people watching is a great way to learn about a new culture! It’s also a lovely way to spend a romantic date !

Nefelibata (n)

“Cloud-Walker”. One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination, or who does not obey the conventions of society, literature or art. An unconventional person.

Probably the way people have described me on occasion!

For those who don’t travel, or don’t know how to begin, the idea can seem fantastical and unconventional.

But these days there are so many people breaking free of “cubicle” life and working as digital nomads with the world as their office, working different travel jobs ,  saving to move abroad , or taking a year off to travel. Phil and I now work for ourselves and travel as we like (with kids!).

It may be unconventional to some, but for the rest of us, it’s life.

Brumous (adj.)

Origin: english.

Of gray skies and winter days, filled with heavy clouds or fog.

This may be a travel word you only use if you travel to the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland (it’s not the weather though, you just need the right clothes !)

It’s well known as the land of rainy days and fog, and I’ve experienced first hand.

However, I visited the Isle of Skye , one of the beautiful places in the UK, in the wind and rain and it was no less amazing. So really, I don’t mind if I have to describe some of my travels this way.

Vorfreude (n)

The joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures.

When we book a new trip and in the time before we go, this is the way we often feel.

We can think about the people we’ll meet , and all the exciting things we’re going to experience.

I love watching movies about places I want to go and then imagining myself there too, which is basically this feeling!

Commuovere (v)

Origin: italian.

Heartwarming, something that stirs and moves you.

I love finding new words that don’t translate into English. This one is a prime example of a word that is difficult to explain, but the best I can do is heartwarming, something that moves you to tears in a good way.

Maybe you’re wondering how this relates to travel… crying?!

Well, I’ve definitely shed a few tears over travel, from the good to the bad, and I’ve definitely been moved and awed by the things that I’ve seen.

Peregrinate (v)

Travel or wander around from place to place.

A pretty simple word that we could use to describe our travels and yet it seems to have fallen out of favour. “We peregrinated around the Scottish Highlands .” It works right?!

Nemophilist (n)

Origin: english.

A haunter of woods, one who loves the forest and it’s beauty and solitude.

There’s something magical about walking through the woods, and even more so in a foreign country.

When I lived in Canada on a study abroad one of my favourite things to do was wander through the huge forests there. So much so my new friends and I once got lost for 8 hours…

Querencia (n)

Origin: spanish.

The place where you are your most authentic self, from where strength is drawn, where you feel at home.

I’m so excited to have a Spanish word, after learning Spanish while giving in Spain.

This word comes is related to the verb querer , which is to want or desire.

It can be associated with bullfighting, as it is also the name for the area of the bullring where the bull takes its stand, but I like to think of it more as a travel word, of course.

Komorebi (n)

The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees.

If you’re on those forest walks when you’re travelling like above, then this is hopefully what you’ll see!

Another unusual word that doesn’t translate directly into an English word, but one that describes a beautiful sight.

Hireath (n)

Origin: welsh.

A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was. The nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.

Homesickness isn’t quite the right translation for this beautiful Welsh word, it’s more than that. It’s one of my favourites though as I often reminisce about my previous travels and times in my life.

It’s strange to think back to times like our babymoon in France , and how we had no idea what was ahead of us. As much as I love our life now I sometimes wish to live those times again!

Smultronställe (n)

Literally “place of wild strawberries” a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness.

When I went to Luleå in the north of Sweden in summer we discovered wild strawberries growing on an island in the middle of the archipelago.

That’s what I think of when I see this word because what better place to be? These are often the kind of places we discover when we travel.

Mångata (n)

The reflection of the moon on the water.

Something I only seem to see or see the most when I’m travelling.

It reminds me of being by the sea, of the Full Moon Party in Thailand and of the early darkness when I lived in the Gold Coast, Australia, where this photo was taken!

Photophile (n)

Origin: possibly english or greek.

A person who loves photography and light.

This one is a little in dispute. It could originate from the word for organisms that love light, “photophilic”, but have been adjusted to fit with photographers too.

Or, it could come from the same origins as “hodophile” in that “phos” means light and “philos” means friends. I can’t find concrete evidence either way, but that’s the beauty of finding new words!

Photophiles carry their camera wherever they go, and many travellers now do the same.

I used to have an old point and shoot camera, and then I stuck to mostly iPhone before finally getting a “proper” camera. I’ve been testing it out in Spain at places like the Alhambra , and in Portugal around the streets of Lisbon .

But there was nothing quite like the midnight sun in Luleå last summer.

Dépaysement (adj.)

Feeling that comes from not being in one’s own country. Being out of your element, a fish out of water.

Living abroad has often made me feel like this , especially in the early days.

Sometimes we can idealise moving abroad and not realise how it will affect us , but eventually, a place will feel like home, even if it’s a different concept of home than before.

Hodophile (adj.)

“Lover of roads”. One who loves to travel.

Does this travel word really need an explanation?

There’s something magical about setting out on a trip with the open road before you. My absolute favourite was driving across the Nullabor in Australia! It’s one of the longest straight roads in the world.

Cockaigne (n)

Origin: an english word with french origin.

Imaginary land of luxury and idleness; the land of plenty.

This word originates from a medieval myth, a land of plenty where society’s restrictions are defined and the harshness of life in medieval times does not exist.

Although we’re not in this time anymore, we could use this word to describe our ideal land of plenty now. One where people are not persecuted for their religion or race, one where equality reigns supreme, maybe one we will all be able to travel to one day?

Wayfarer (n)

Someone who travels, especially on foot.

Maybe not as unusual a word as some on this list, and one that you may already know. I considered making this my blog name when I started blogging !

It’s a word that makes me think of older times when people travelled in a more whimsical way that had nothing to do with social media. You went wherever the wind took you!

Absquatulate (v)

Origin: north american english.

To leave without saying goodbye.

Invented in the US in the 1830s as a word that sounded vaguely Latin, to make it seem older.

It means to make off with someone or something without announcing you’re going! The way many of us might feel we want to leave for our travels. No fuss, please!

Have you heard of these travel words and would you use them? Do you think they explain things better than we usually can?

If you liked them, pin them!

Sonja - Migrating Miss

Sonja is from New Zealand but now lives in Scotland with her husband and two little boys, after having lived in 5 other countries along the way including the USA, Australia, Canada, and Spain. Travelling has always been her passion and she has now made it her full-time job and worked in the industry for the last 8 years. She shares her living abroad experiences and best tips to make your travel experiences the best they can be!

55 thoughts on “ 42 Inspiring Travel Words (Besides Wanderlust) ”

Amazing list! Looking to impress a number of my fellow travelers with this list now!

I swear some of them can be worked in to normal conversation! Others may be a little different but it’s so nice to have words that describe those travel feelings.

Sonja, that’s a great one!! Sharing it all over now:) love all the words and the idea of such a post:)

Thanks so much Monika! I have been sitting on all of these for a long time. They are saved all over my phone and written in personal journals, so I thought it was time to share!

I’d add: ecdemomania <3

That’s a good one I didn’t have! I’ll have to add it to the next list 🙂

I absolutely love these! I so often find myself having a hard time describing my deep seeded need to get away, always be moving, or travel solo. The long pause and struggle I have to express the answer to “why” when asked about my journeys can feel very awkwardly isolating, and not in the good way of standing alone on a mountain top or wandering an empty desert. I like to feel all alone in the world sometimes but other times, I want to be a part of something, a community, and understood. Seeing words like you have dug up to share in this post do just that. The fact that there are words in so many languages to describe exactly how I feel, means that I am not really alone, even when I have been on a road with no signs of humans for days!

Thanks Bethany! You are definitely not alone! I too loved discovering that there are words that actually describe how I feel when I can’t even really describe it myself. It means that there are other’s that have felt like this, and so much so that whole words have been created for it. I hope you find a way to explain how you feel and why you want travel and movement in your life. All the best x

Wow, I love these, thank-you!

Thanks! I’ve been collecting them for awhile, I love finding out about different words that we can use to explain our feelings, not that I would end up actually saying most of these!

Your list of words is awesome! But Germans actually don’t use “sturmfrei” in the context of traveling. It’s being said when your parents have left home for one or more nights so you can invite friends and party. 😉 it’s not a description about how we feel, it’s more a description of the situation itself. I definitely like your interpretation – hopefully it’ll become a part of travelers diaries.

Thanks Josi! It’s good to know the real meaning behind the word. I like the idea of trying to adapt it as a travel word too, so fingers crossed others see it like you too! 🙂

Thank you Sonja, This was a fun list. I doubt I will be able to work them into my vocabulary. I don’t think I can even pronounce most of them. Perhaps it would be fun to have a follow up post that included the pronunciation of each. You clearly have comfort with many languages. I envy that. Happy Trails to You, Michelle

Haha no they are not exactly everyday words! I think a few may be easier than others, but anyone actually understanding them is the problem! I love the idea that sometimes other languages can explain things better than English though, and I do find it fascinating in learning Spanish that things are not always a direct translation. The use of words can be so different! Happy travels to you too!

I loved reading these words! Thanks for finding them and creating the pin for them! What an excellent way to express our traveling emotions!

Thanks so much! You’re most welcome :). I have to admit I don’t use them a whole lot in my blog writing, but I just love them!

I love your words. Thank you.

Thanks for your comment!

This is a great list, I enjoyed it! Thanks. However, I just want to correct a minor detail. While I was reading along, I got surprised by the word “onism” as I am Danish and has never in my life heard of this word before, whereas “hygge”, the other Danish word on your list, is very commonly used. I looked up “onism” on the internet and found that it comes from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows which is a compendium of invented words written by John Koenig. I suppose it is made as a combination between the words “monism” (Greek?) and “onanism” (English?), so there is nothing Danish about its origin (at least not that I could find) x

Thanks Ida! I tried to research everything as much as I could (hours in fact haha) and I’m not sure how I ended up with that one! I’ll take another look but I suspect I’ll find the same as you and change it! Thanks again 🙂 x

I loved reading this post and found myself relating to almost every one! ? Thought the accompanying photos were perfect too. It’s given me inspiration for a new travel/art journal …

Thanks so much! It makes me really happy to hear I’ve given someone else inspiration 🙂 🙂

Wow !! Love them.. I was actually looking for a new word which would describe my travel agency. I think I should be able to come up with something using the list of words, u’ve mentioned in this post.

That’s great I’m glad they’re able to help you! Best of luck.

Thnx a lot for giving this sort of knowledge about the words who r completely new to me. Keep posting these words along with their meaning it helps a lot.

Thanks dea… It perfectely helped me to explain my inner feelings , but some words have difficulty in pronouncing . I wrote down every word in ma notebook for future description pf my Travel Thanks alot yaar <3

Hi, I would like to know if there is a word for this feeling describes below,

‘I feel at home when I’m travelling, but when I’m actually at home, I feel weird.

I don’t think wanderlust is the word, can you please help me?

I’m sorry I’m not sure! I only know these words and the other post I did about unusual travel words. It’s possible something exists though and I’ll keep an eye out since I love finding unusual words 🙂

Was looking for travel words from Greek origin, and have found it, thanks so much. Love your page as well, maybe we see each other on the road sometime 🙂

Thanks so much! I’m glad they’re useful 🙂

So who copied who? 🙂 https://www.theintrepidguide.com/travel-words-that-describe-wanderlust-perfectly/#.WjWJFCPMwmo

Great list!

OMG!!!! Thanks for bringing this to my attention!!! I can’t believe how similar some of the wording of this is!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁 I first published this in early 2016.

Thank you for compiling such a great list! I may be incorrect, but shouldn’t ‘Vagary’ be listed as a noun rather than a verb?

It appears it’s listed as a noun now to mean something unpredictable but it came from the verb to wander!

So great to see Eleutheromania included in the list, passionate about freedom!

One of my favourites!

This is a very impressive, creative and original list. Will revisit many times. Thanks for sharing 🙂

42? How did anyone even get to this comment section? I had to scroll for 2 days just to get to leave this comment. This is really outrageous. 7 would have been plenty. We are internet users here, not book readers.

Two days well spent I’m sure 😉

When one is confined within the four corners of the home, because of the pandemic, this list is very encouraging! Thank you Sonja, many of the words here describes various emotions I have already experienced. Two more weeks of lockdown, I have time to do a project, finding my travel photos that match the words :).

Love this post! I’m feeling so much fernweh at the moment <3

Same here!!

Thank you so much for these! At this time of great challenges in the world, it is comforting to know that I can read the wonderful words you have compiled to capture all the positive feelings travel evokes. Slainte!

I couldn’t find all of these travel words anywhere else. You know, I am gonna bookmark it right away. Thanks for sharing these travel phrases. I love it. Looking forward to reading more of these informative articles 🙂

Amazing read. Needed these for getting a travel domain name. Bookmarked this post already. It’s very useful. Looking forward to reading more of these awesome travel blogs.

Ha ha what a random post! Learned so many new words from this, excited to casually *drop* them into my conversations

Haha so many! I mean, half I think I’ve never said but it’s fun to learn their meaning and find words that can describe the things we feel and think when we travel x

Wonderful article, it must have taken a lot of work to put together so many words 🙂

Thanks! I collected them over a few years and then reworded in my own words :).

Nice article. Thanks for sharing these travel phrases. Looking forward to reading more of these informative articles .

Stunning article, loved to read. will read more for sure…

Was very helpful article

I love this list of inspiring words for travel! I’m always looking for new ways to explore new places and this list has given me some great ideas.

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60 Beautiful Travel Words Every Travel Lover Should Know

Are you dying to perambulate? Dreaming of the day when you can coddiwomple around? Wondering what the heck those things even mean? If the latter rings true, well, we’ve got some travel words you need to add to your vocab ASAP. Because, let’s be honest , being a lover of travel is almost a language unto itself already . If you’ve got roam in your bones and run across someone else in the world who does too, you just sort of get each other. And so hearing words that capture the inherent magic of being a traveler is bound to stir something inside of you. Or, at the very least, stir you into planning your next trip .

As an added bonus, the following lexicon can serve a few other excellent purposes for the wandering soul — like making for a great tattoo, or helping you beast all of your friends in Scrabble. So, keep reading, but be forewarned… you’re going to want to pack your bags and book a flight by the time you’re finished.

Other Words for Travel

• Pilgrimage (n.): A journey; the course of life on earth.
• Trek (n.): A trip or movement, especially when involving difficulties or complex organization; an arduous journey.
• Voyage (n.): An act or instance of traveling; a course or period of traveling by other than land routes.
• Gallivant (v.): To travel, roam, or move about for pleasure.
• Perambulate (v.): To travel over or through, especially on foot.
• Expedition (n.): A journey or excursion undertaken for a specific purpose.
• Excursion (n.): A usually brief pleasure trip.
• Odyssey (n.): A long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune .
• Walkabout (n.): A short period of wandering bush life engaged in by an Australian aborigine as an occasional interruption of regular work — often used in the phrase go walkabout; something (such as a journey) similar to a walkabout.
• Migrate (v.): To move from one country, place, or locality to another.
• Globe-trotting (adj.): Traveling widely.
• Itinerant (adj.): Traveling from place to place.
• Sojourn (v.): To stay as a temporary resident.
• Traverse (v.): To go or travel across or over; to move or pass along or through.
• Circumnavigate (v.): To go completely around, especially by water .
• Peregrinate (v.): To travel, especially on foot; to walk or travel over.
• Peripatetic (n.): Movement or journeys hither and thither.
• Coddiwomple (v.): To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.
• Dérive (n.): A spontaneous and unplanned journey where the traveler is guided by the landscape and architecture.
• Hitoritabi (n.): Traveling alone; solitary journey.

Words for Travelers

• Nemophilist (n.): One who is fond of forests or forest scenery; a haunter of the woods.
• Gadabout (n.): A person who flits about in social activity.
• Flâneur (n.): A person who strolls the city in order to experience it; deliberately aimless.
• Nefelibata (n.): One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams, or one who does not obey conventions of society, literature, or art; “cloud walker.”
• Hodophile (n.): One who loves to travel; a traveler with a special affinity for roads.
• Wayfarer (n.): A traveler, especially on foot.
• Livsnjutare (n.): One who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.
• Thalassophile (n.): A lover of the sea; someone who loves the sea, ocean.
• Musafir (n.): “Traveler” in Arabic, Persian, Hindu, and Urdu.
• Nomad (n.): An individual who roams about.
• Solivagent (adj.): Someone who wanders or travels the world alone; a solitary adventurer.
• Luftmensch (n.): An impractical dreamer, literally an air person; someone with their head in the clouds.

Creative Travel Words

• Sturmfrei (adj.): The freedom of being alone and being able to do what your heart desires.
• Resfeber (n.): The restless race of a traveler’s heart before a journey begins; a ‘travel fever’ of anxiety and anticipation.
• Hireath (n.): A homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.
• Sonder (v.): The full definition, taken from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows , is: “[Sonder is] the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.”
• Fernweh (n.): An ache for a distant place; missing places you’ve never been before.
• Sehnsucht (n.): A craving for adventure; an intense yearning for something far-off and indefinable.
• Numinous (adj.): A powerful feeling of both fear and fascination, of being in awe and overwhelmed by what is before you.
• Vagary (v.): An unpredictable instance; a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild, or unusual idea, desire, or action.
• Saudade (n.): A nostalgic longing to be near again to something, someone, or some place that is distant, or which has been loved and then lost.
• Trouvaille (n.): Something lovely discovered by chance; a windfall.
• Yoko meshi (n.): The peculiar stress induced by speaking a foreign language.
• Selcouth (adj.): Unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvelous.
• Yugen (n.): A profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe that triggers a deep emotional response .
• Novaturient (adj.): A desire to seek powerful change in one’s life; the feeling that pushes you to travel.
• Travitude (n.): When you start to feel grumpy and sassy because you miss traveling.
• Eudaimonia (n.): The condition of human flourishing or of living well.
• Ukiyo (n.): Living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life; “the floating world.”
• Strikehedonia (n.): The joy of being able to say “to hell with it.”
• Solivagant (n.): To wander alone. Someone who is a solo adventurer who travels the world. This word comes from the Latin word solivagus , which means lonely or solitary.
• Eleutheromania (n.): A great or incredible desire for freedom. This is a person who has an intense longing for liberty and independence.
• Cockaigne (n.): A place of luxury or idleness. This word comes from the French word cocaigne, which means “the land of plenty.”
• Ecophobia (n.): An abnormal fear of home surroundings.
• Morii (n.): The desire to capture a fleeting moment.
• Exulansis (n.): This is what you feel when you stop trying to explain or talk about an experience because the surrounding people cannot relate to it.
• Rückkehrunruhe (n.): The feeling of returning home after a trip and finding that you keep forgetting you’ve been away. The person has to constantly remind themselves that the excursion even happened.
• Absquatulate (n.): To flee or leave abruptly without saying goodbye.
• Onism (n.): The awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience. The frustration of being stuck in just one body that inhabits only one place at a time.
• Hygge (n.): The cozy feeling of relaxing with friends while having a meal or drinks. A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a sense of contentment or well-being.

This article was originally published on Jan. 8, 2021

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14 Awesome Travel Words You’ve Never Heard

Home » Blog » Travel » 14 Awesome Travel Words You’ve Never Heard

Traveling can make even the best storyteller speechless. Get ready for a little vocab lesson where you’ll learn some travel words that describe your wanderlusting perfectly. Guaranteed you’ll wish there was an English equivalent!

Have you ever tried to explain a travel experience and been at a loss for words?

Travel does that to us – it entangles us in its beauty, makes us feel a myriad of emotions we’ve never yet felt, and leaves us speechless and yearning for more. 

Lucky for us, there are some travel words that describe these beautiful achings perfectly. The thing is, they are words with no English equivalent. 

We had lots of fun pairing some of our favorite travel photos with definitions we think fit what we were feeling. So get ready to add some foreign words to your arsenal in this little travel vocab lesson!

1. Resfeber

Definition: The nervous feeling you get before a journey.

Yes, there’s a name for those jittery butterflies that flutter through your stomach as you pack your bags .

2. Eleutheromania

Definition: An intense and irresistible desire for freedom.

Let’s be real, whether your traveling to NYC , Iceland or Tokyo , who doesn’t have this feeling?

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Definition: Feeling homesick for a place you’ve never been.

I love this word because it puts a name to a feeling I’ve never before been able to describe. 

Psst! Looking for your next travel destination ?? We’ve got you covered!

4. Trouvaille

Definition: Something lovely discovered by chance.

Such a pretty word and such a beautiful idea.  I don’t know about you, but I hear a sexy French accent in my mind.

Travel Photography Tip: If you’re curious how we got these photos, we used a lot (if not all) of our 32 Easy & Creative Travel Photography Tips to make these shots happen. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, these tips will help you take incredible pictures!

Definition: The cozy feeling of relaxing with friends while having a meal or drinks.

I need this word in my life. Every day. 

Feeling the wanderlust yet?! I know I am! Here’s a great place to start planning a trip …

Definition: The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

If we take the time to consider that each person in this world is living a life as important as our own, this world will be a much brighter place.

Definition: The awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience. 

How many lifetimes would it take to visit the every single place you’ve ever dreamed of? For me, it would take hundreds of lifetimes. I guess I’ll have to settle for just this one, and make the most of it!

8. Livsnjutare

Definition: One who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

Always strive to be this type of person. Does it matter that you can’t pronounce it? Nope, just be it.

9. Waldeinsamkeit

Definition: The feeling of being alone in the woods.

This word brings to mind images of Hansel and Gretel wandering through the tangled paths of the Black Forest. Light streams through the thick trees, and the crisp air is scented with pine. Dreamy isn’t it? Walk alone in the woods and you might channel your inner fairy tale. 

Definition: Putting a part of yourself into what you’re doing. 

Whether you are a cook, an artist, an athlete – or hell, even an accountant – do your work with your whole heart. This word really resonated with us during the summer of 2020 while we were hard at work pouring our souls into Van Conversion Academy . 

11. Numinous

Definition: The powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired.

What stirs this emotion in you? For me, it’s the feeling I get when I hike to an extraordinary view and I can look down to where I started. Or the feeling I get when listening to music live and the lyrics ring true for me. And it’s the feeling I get when I visit a place I’ve been dreaming of, and I see the streets and buildings in person for the first time.

Definition: A spontaneous journey where the traveler lets the spirit of the landscape and architecture move them.

This kind of journey is my favorite. The kind where you don’t have any really solid plans. The kind where you wander into cute coffeehouses and picnic in parks. The kind where the day is yours to do with it as you’d like.

13. Forelsket

Definition: The euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love.

I’d like to think that this word could refer to a person or a place, as both give me butterflies. Find out how traveling makes your relationships stronger . 

Definition: The desire to feel things just as intensely as you did when you were younger — before expectations, before memory, before words.

One reason travel is so addicting is that you’re able to experience a place for the first time. You see colors more vividly, and see everything with a fresh set of eyes.

You might also like…

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• DIY Campervan Conversion on a Tiny Budget in Less than One Week!

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We want to hear from you!

Have you heard any of these travel words before? Which is your favorite? Do you have one to add to the list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Comments (28) on “ 14 Awesome Travel Words You’ve Never Heard ”

Hello. remarkable job. I did not expect this. This is a splendid story. Thanks!

I personally believe that all travelers must pick inspiring travel quotes in their mind. It helps to enjoy the trip. I always do the same for me. By the way, I wish you all a good holidays/travels for this 2021, if pandemics let us for sure!

The world ‘hygge’ reminded me of a dinner party I had few years ago out in my garden under the blooming wisteria with a few friends, one of whom was battling glioblastoma brain cancer. At one point he looked around at all the sites of the flowers, his friends, the candlelight and the food and was just soaking it in. He had this contented smile on his face, and I felt grateful I had created what I now know is a hygge moment.

The last word ‘Yuyi’ impressed me very much but I cant find its meaning in any language…

I’m Swedish and speak both Danish and Norwegian. "Hygge" isn’t just about spending "cosy" time with friends over a meal or drink. It’s acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cosy, charming or special. It describes a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life. In Swedish we use "livsnjutare" for anyone who enjoys life in an over-indulgent way so the translation you’ve provided is close enough. 🙂 I’ve always like the word "hodophile" – someone who loves to travel.

I’m looking for Brand Name which makes Travel product like Bag and accessories and Dress as well.

Great job you did by sharing this site. Thanks for sharing this Interesting blog. Thanks for the list.. best way to share your ideas and information.

As a Chinese person, I’ve never seen anyone using the term ‘yu yi’ like that, and further searches on google left me even more confused because ‘玉衣’ (yu yi) simply means jade burial suit and that’s about it. There isn’t really some deeper interpretation to it. The closest term I could think of would perhaps be ‘如意'(ru yi), but this term means something like ‘according to your wish’… Either way keep up the great work!

Can I use meraki for my travel package bookings company? Pl suggest another, if you have

Hi Vijay, you can use the word Meraki all you want (it’s of Greek origin). If you are looking to purchase our images, please use our contact us form and we can discuss pricing. Cheers!

a very simple words describe a very deep emotions…

Very well said!

Where is the source of the meaning of Yu Yi? I got tipped off by a comment of a Chinese person that said that this was not the meaning. So I am searching around and can’t find anything. I love this meaning. I just want to find its origins since I am putting that definition as part of a slogan (not your exact same words) thanks!

Oh my god, I’ve read soo many travel blog posts but this one just got my absolute favourite! Amazing post and I can imagine it took you forever to gather all those beautiful expressions!

Aww you’re so sweet! Your comment made our day!

How About , EUDAIMONIA The contented happy state you feel when you travel

Origin: Greek | U·de·‘mOn·E·a

Oooo, that’s a good one! Thanks for sharing!

I just love the word Livsnjutare! I don’t know how, but it gives me a feeling of peace. And i feel I can relate to it, even though I can’t pronounce it! Apart from these, I like Dérive, Trouvaille and Fernweh.

So many fun words, huh?! (We can’t pronounce many of them either! Hehe) I love how other languages have words for feelings that have no translation in English!

can one reuse these images for fun and to reach a wider audience?

We’ll encourage you to pin them on Pinterest and share the article on Social Media like Facebook and Twitter. But the images are ours and if you would like to purchase them, please email us at [email protected] and we can figure something out.

That’s very nice information. thanks.

Hey Ashish, Glad you like the travel words. Which one can you relate to most?

Did you purchase the rights to use the images for each definition above?

All photos were taken by me and designed by me as well. Thank you for your concern.

I have heard of fernweh before, but all of your other words are brand new to me. And how perfect are they? I love other languages and how sometimes they have just the perfect word. No translation would do it justice!

Aren’t they fun?! Fernweh has been one of my favorite words for some time now because it so accurately describes a pretty complex feeling. It was so fun putting together this list and I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂

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28 Beautiful Travel Words that Describe Wanderlust Perfectly

Describe your travels with these unique and beautiful travel words from different languages around the world.

I love travelling and I love languages, so imagine my excitement when I came across a treasure trove of travel words and wanderlust synonyms that describe how we feel before, during, and after we travel. 

Just like a photo can’t fully capture what it feels like to stand on the edge of a fjord , neither can ‘wanderlust’ fully express how we feel when we crave our next adventure. These travel words are literary gems which have been gathered from languages around the world. From Japanese to Swedish , Latin to Greek , travel brochures of the future will be peppered with travel words like of resfeber , livsnjutare, and coddiwomple .

Wanderlust meaning

As you’ll see in the list below, every language has its own variation of how it explains and defines what wanderlust is. In English, wanderlust means to have a strong desire for or impulse to travel, wander and explore the world.

Learn a language from home

During these times it can be bittersweet to think about travelling when we have to stay at home and practice social distancing, let this list of wanderlust-filled words inspire you to a learn a language from home and prepare yourself for your next trip. Being travel fluent is the best way to enrich your travel experiences.

Without further ado, here are 28 beautiful travel words you should slip into your vocabulary. When you’re done, take and look at this collection of inspirational travel quotes . I’d love to hear which ones are your favourites in the comment section below.

Table of Contents

• Eleutheromania
• Quaquaversal
• Schwellenangst
• Strikhedonia
• Livsnjutare
• Novaturient
• Coddiwomple

1. Resfeber  (n.)

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The meaning of resfeber refers to the restless race of the traveller’s heart before the journey begins when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.

It’s that moment just after you buy your plane tickets and excitement and fear floods in all at once, creating a mixture of emotions that make you feel anxious or physically ill.

For more inspiration, don’t miss my guide to cool gifts for language learners and the best travel accessories and travel gadgets here.

2. Sonder (v.)

Origin: Unknown

Definition: The realisation that each passerby is living a life as complex as your own.

The full definition, taken from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows reads:

[Sonder is] the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

I often feel this way when I pass groups of strangers, speaking a language that is completely foreign to me, and realise just how incredibly big the world is. We all have a life that is full of different connections, memories and possibilities. That’s sonder.

The internet suggests this may not be a real word, either way, the concept is beautiful.

3. Solivagant (adj.)

Origin: Latin

Definition: Wandering alone. A solitary adventurer who travels or wanders the globe.

Not all those who wander are lost, but all those who wander alone are definitely solivagants . From the Latin word solivagus , meaning lonely or solitary, solivagant describes anyone who enjoys meandering around new countries, alone, in order to take it all in.

4. Fernweh (n.)

Origin: German

Definition: This German word,means an ache to get away and travel to a distant place, a feeling  even stronger than wanderlust. If wanderlust wasn’t poetic enough for you, allow me to present fernweh , a German word that literally translates to “distance-sickness.”

While someone with wanderlust might sit at home and happily fantasise about all the places they might visit, someone with fernweh would feel a deeper sense of longing, a sort of homesickness but for foreign lands.  For me, it’s wanting to be back in Rome . Fernweh is one of most those beautiful untranslatable words I’ve ever come across.

Carry this beautiful word with you with my Fernweh T-Shirt available in men’s and ladies styles and black or white. Buy it here.

5. Sehnsucht (n.)

Definition: A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels past and future.

One author translated it as the “ inconsolable longing in the human heart for we know not what .” Another compared it to “ a longing for a far-off country, but not one which we could identify.”

When you return from travelling and wish you could do it all over again and experience every moment like it was the first.

6. Eleutheromania (n.)

Origin: Greek

Definition: An intense and irresistible desire for freedom.

We all want to be free, and travelling shows us how the freedom in the lives of others that is different from our own. Eleutheromania describes a person who has a strong desire and obsession for freedom.

7. Cockaigne (n.)

Origin: French , Middle French

Definition: An imaginary land of luxury and idleness.

Every destination seem like a wonderland or cockaigne before you set foot there and see it for yourself.

The term c ockaigne ” comes from the Middle French phrase pais de cocaigne, which literally means “the land of plenty.” The word was first popularised in a 13th-century French poem that is known in English as “The Land of Cockaigne.”

8. Quaquaversal (adj.)

Definition: Moving or happening in every direction instantaneously.

This perfectly describes my state when I’m in a new place and want to see and do everything at once.

9. Dérive (n)

Origin: French

Definition: A spontaneous and unplanned journey where the traveller leaves their life behind allows themselves to be guided by the landscape and architecture.

Literally translated as “drift”,  dérive is the idea that even if you drift you will end up on the right path. This could describe life in general, but it also describes small journeys. When you’re wandering through a new city and you just happen to wander on a path that takes you to great discoveries.

10. Ecophobia (n.)

Origin: English

Definition: This word came into English word via Greek and means a fear or dislike of one’s home.

I don’t dislike my home, but recently I can’t stop thinking about going back to Lofoten, Norway.

11. Numinous (adj.)

Definition: A powerful feeling of both fear and fascination, of being in awe and overwhelmed by what is before you.

Originally, this word refers to having a strong religious or spiritual quality; but it can also be used to describe how you feel when you see things that are so beautiful that you realise how wonderful the world is and the small part you play in it.   Hiking Trolltunga was a numinous moment for me.

12. Schwellenangst (n.)

Definition: Fear of crossing a threshold to begin a new chapter.

From s chwelle (“threshold”) and a ngst (“anxiety”), this word explains that feeling you get before deciding to set out on a new journey. Argh! Did I make the right decision?

13. Strikhedonia (n.)

Definition: The pleasure of being able to say “to hell with it”.

Another personal favourite word on this list. Not only is it the joy I feel, but the freedom to be able to say “to hell with it” and book that next trip and embark on your next adventure.

14. Vagary (v.)

Definition: A whimsical or roaming journey.

From Latin, vagārī meaning “ to roam”, is an unpredictable idea, desire or action to travelling without knowing the destination, and not caring.

15. Livsnjutare (n)

Definition: Literally meaning, “enjoyer of life”, this describes a person who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

If you’re reading this, that’s probably you!  Need more inspiration?

16. Commuovere (v.)

Origin: Italian

Definition: To stir, to touch, to move to tears.

Just like the euphoric emotions I felt whilst whale watching.

17. Sturmfrei (adj.)

Definition: The freedom of being alone and being able to do what you want.

Literally translating to “stormfree”, this describes the freedom of not being watched by others and being alone in a place where you have the freedom and ability to do what you want.

Another great German word. Travelling solo can be especially rewarding because you have complete control. No compromises, no one else to please. Just you and the big wide world.

18. Saudade (n.)

Origin: Portuguese

Definition: This Portuguese word describes the emotional state of nostalgia and longing for someone or something distant. S audade  was once described as “the love that remains” after someone is gone.

Saudade  is the recollection of feelings, experiences, places, or events that brought excitement and happiness but now triggers the senses and makes one live again.

19. Yūgen (n.)

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A profound and mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe.

An awareness of the Universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and powerful for words.

20. Acatalepsy (n.)

Definition: The impossibility of comprehending the universe.

Henry Miller said “ One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. ” Do we ever really understand the world and what we see on our  travels,  and how they mould us? Sometimes, if at all, it takes time to discover how these things change our lives.

21. Trouvaille (n.)

Definition: A chance encounter with something wonderful.

Whether it’s stumbling across a hidden back street, a quaint cafe, or connecting with a local, trouvaille describes those magical moments we experience in our journeys. 

22. Hygge (n.)

Origin: Danish

Definition: Pronounced hue-guh , hygge describes the warm feeling you get while enjoying the company of great friends and all life has to offer.

Hygge is the conscious appreciation of recognising everything you have and enjoying to the present moment.

23. Onism (n.)

Definition: The world is a big place as not everyone will get to see it. Onism describes understanding that we’ll never get to see it all. It’s the frustration of being stuck in just one body that can only inhabit one place at a time. I felt this way before going to Copenhagen !

Similar to the Swedish word ‘resfeber’, onism describes the feeling of knowing that you’ll never be able to see it all. They say that the more you travel, the harder it gets to stay in one place.

24. Novaturient (adj.)

Definition: A desire to change and alter your life.

This was exactly how I felt when I quit my job and moved to Rome . There was this strong urge that pulled me towards my dream of pursuing a life of speaking Italian and travelling. I knew I  wouldn’t be living my life if I didn’t go.

25. Yoko meshi (n.)

Definition: This untranslatable gem describes the stress of speaking a foreign language .

The Japanese word ‘meshi’ literally means ‘boiled rice’ and ‘yoko’ means ‘horizontal,’ together it means ‘a meal eaten sideways.’ The Japanese have created a beautiful way of describing the unique kind of stress you experience when speaking a foreign language. Furthermore, ‘yoko’ also references the fact that Japanese is normally written vertically, whereas most foreign languages are written horizontally. Clever, right?

Related: 69 Wonderful Japanese Expressions That Will Brighten Your Day

26. Selcouth (adj.)

Origin: Old English

Definition: When everything you see and experience is unfamiliar and strange, yet you find it marvellous anyway.

It’s that feeling you get when you travel to a foreign land and food, culture, customs, or language, is strange and different to everything you’ve experienced before, yet you love it and find it fascinating.

27. Eudaimonia (n.)

Definition: A state of being happy whilst travelling and everything feels great.

That intense excitement and appreciation when you travel and everything feels great. Seeing the Northern Lights was one of the best experiences of my life, a feeling I won’t forget.

28. Coddiwomple (v.)

Origin: English slang

Definition: To travel purposefully towards an unknown destination.

A brilliant word, coddiwomple is when you have a vague idea of your destination within a care for how long it takes to arrive. A great example is when you go hiking, you know you’ll eventually reach the summit, but every part of the trail along the way is just as beautiful.    Like the time I hiked Norway’s Trolltunga.

If you enjoyed these words, then let wordsmiths Stephen King, Mark Twain and the Dalai Lama transport you around the world with these inspirational travel quotes or start using some of the beautiful untranslatable words from other languages.

Want to know more about learning languages? Start here!

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• 22 KEY Travel Phrases That Will Transform Your Travels [Free Guide]

Over to you!

Which one of these travel words do you identify with the most? What others would you add? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

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Michele creates language learning guides and courses for travel. What separates her from other instructors is her ability to explain complex grammar in a no-nonsense, straightforward manner using her unique 80/20 method. Get her free guide 9 reasons you’re not fluent…YET & how to fix it! Planning a trip? Learn the local language with her 80/20 method for less than the cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant Start learning today!

Italian Cognates & Loanwords: 17 Rules to Italianizing English Words You Already Know

124 inspirational travel quotes that’ll make you want to travel in 2022, 12 comments.

Amazing list! One word I’d add is the Dutch word “gezellig” or “gezelligheid” – similarly to hygge, it describes a feeling of warmth/comfort/coziness/quaintness in certain settings or around certain people.

Thank you so much for sharing this Heba. So interesting to learn that Dutch has a similar word 🙂

This is such a fun article! Love these words and phrases!

Glad to hear it! Thank you so much, Eric 🙂

So many of these describe me or my feelings about seeing the world. But, if I had to pick one, the one that best describes how I choose my destinations would be “selcouth”. I so want to be a stranger in a strange land. To have my belief that there is no such thing as “normal” affirmed again and again and over again.

What a beautiful word. Thanks for sharing, Janet 🙂

Thanks Michele what a wonderful list of inspirational words. It nearly made me cry as I realised that I suffer from acute eleutheromania! ha

Thanks Juliana 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed this list. Eleutheromania? I know how you feel hehe

Unique list i must say – If you want to add one more word than check this !

In Hindi language (India) traveler called as “Musafir”

thanks Niraj 🙂

Thanks for sharing this! Really enjoyed it a lot ❤

Thanks Donah, I’m so glad you enjoyed it 😉

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If you don't know where you are , how do you know where you're going?   Find out how well you know Italian grammar today!

100 Unique and Creative Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

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Everyone (who knows me) knows how I love words. I hoard words . Everyone also knows how I love to travel. I eat, drink, and sleep travel 🙂 Here, in this post, I’ve blended two of my passions – words and travel. The post rounds up the creative travel words that describe wanderlust perfectly. You’ll never be at a loss for words while narrating your travel experiences once you equip yourself with these unique words about travel.

Unusual Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

Wanderlust (n.).

Origin: German Pronunciation: vawn-duh-luhst Meaning: a strong desire to travel

Resfeber (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: race-fay-ber Meaning: the restless race of the traveler’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together; the nervous feeling before undertaking a journey

Related Read: 27 Cool Swedish Words You Must Know

Strikhedonia (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: strik-he-don-e-a Meaning: the joy of being able to say “to hell with it”

Eleutheromania (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: eleuthero-ma-nia Meaning: an intense and irresistible desire for freedom

Origin: Hawaiian Pronunciation: ak-i-hi Meaning: listening to directions and then walking off and promptly forgetting them

Exulansis (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: exu-lan-sis Meaning: the tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it — whether through envy or pity or simple foreignness—which allows it to drift away from the rest of your life story, until the memory itself feels out of place, almost mythical, wandering restlessly in the fog, no longer even looking for a place to land.

Hodophile (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: hodo-phile Meaning: a lover of roads; one who loves to travel

Saudade (n.)

Origin: Portuguese Pronunciation: sau-da-de Meaning: a nostalgic longing for something or someone that was loved and then lost, with the knowledge that it or they might never return; “the love that remains”

Fernweh (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: feirn-veyh Meaning: an ache for distant places; a longing for far-off places; an urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust; being homesick for a place you’ve never been

Selcouth (adj.)

Origin: Old English Pronunciation: sel-kooth Meaning: unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvelous

Serendipity (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: seh-ruhn-di-puh-tee Meaning: finding something good without looking for it

Pilgrimage (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: pil-gruh-mij Meaning: a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion

Gökotta (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: yo-kot-ah Meaning: literally translates to the early cuckoo morning or dawn picnic to hear the first birdsong; the act of rising early in the morning to hear the birds sing at sunrise and appreciate nature

Schwellenangst (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: shwel-en-ahngst Meaning: fear of embarking on something new; fear of crossing a threshold

Voyage (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: voy-ij Meaning: a long journey involving travel by sea or in space

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: yoo-gehn Meaning: a profound awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep, powerful, and mysterious for words

Origin: Danish Pronunciation: hue-gah Meaning: the Danish practice of creating warmth, connection, and well-being; a complete absence of anything annoying or emotionally overwhelming; taking pleasure from the presence of gentle, soothing things; celebrating the everyday

You Might Like: Cool Danish Words We Need in English Now

Vagary (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: va-ga-re Meaning: an unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild, and unusual idea, desire, or action

Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: mo-rii Meaning: the desire to capture a fleeting experience

“With every click of the shutter, you’re trying to press pause on your life. If only so you can feel a little more comfortable moving on living in a world stuck on the play.”

Musafir (n.)

Origin: Arabic Pronunciation: mu-sa-fir Meaning: traveler

Musafir remains one of my most favorite words associated with travel.

Odyssey (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: aw-duh-see Meaning: a long and eventful or adventurous journey or experience

Sonder (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: sohn-dehrr Meaning: the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

Gadabout (n.)

Origin: Middle English Pronunciation: gad-uh-bout Meaning: a habitual pleasure-seeker; a person who moves about restlessly and aimlessly, especially from one social activity to another; a person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure

Acatalepsy (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: ey-kat-l-ep-see Meaning: incomprehensibleness; the impossibility of comprehending the universe; the belief that human knowledge can never have true certainty

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: noh-mad Meaning: a person who does not stay long in the same place; a wanderer

Cockaigne (n.)

Origin: Middle English Pronunciation: ko-keyn Meaning: an imaginary or fabled land of luxury and idleness

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: o-ni-sm Meaning: the awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience

“The frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time, which is like standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die—and all because, as the arrow on the map helpfully points out, you are here.”

Nemophilist (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: ni-mo-fi-list Meaning: a haunter of the woods; one who loves the forest for its beauty and solitude

Trouvaille (n.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: troo-vee Meaning: a lucky find; a chance encounter with something wonderful and valuable

Safarnama (n.)

Origin: Persian Pronunciation: su-fur-nama Meaning: travelogue; an account of the travels

Smultronställe (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: smool-tron-stall-uh Meaning: literally translates to place of wild strawberries; a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness

Livsnjutare (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: livs-noo-tuhreh Meaning: literally translates to enjoyer of life; someone who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme

Wayfarer (n.)

Origin: Old English Pronunciation: wey-fair-er Meaning: someone who travels, especially on foot

Kopfkino (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: kof-kino Meaning: literally translates to head cinema; the act of playing out an entire scenario in your mind

Hireath (n.)

Origin: Welsh Pronunciation: her-rith Meaning: a homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past

Peripatetic (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: per-uh-puh-tet-ik Meaning: a person who travels from place to place

Luftmensch (n.)

Origin: Yiddish Pronunciation: looft-mensh Meaning: literally translates to an air person; an impractical dreamer with improbable plans and no business sense; one with their head in the clouds

Solivagant (adj.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: soh-lih-va-ghent Meaning: wandering alone

Waldeinsamkeit (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: vahyd-ahyn-zahm-kahyt Meaning: literally translates to woodland solitude; the feeling of being alone in the woods

Ecophobia (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: eco-phobia Meaning: a fear or dislike of one’s home

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: u-key-yo Meaning: literally translates to the floating world; living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life

Meraki (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: may-rah-kee Meaning: to do something with soul, creativity, and love; when you leave a piece of yourself in your work

Wabi-sabi (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: wabe-sabe Meaning: finding beauty in imperfections; an acceptance of things as they are

Vorfreude (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: vor-froy-dah Meaning: the joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures

Cosmopolitan (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: koz-muh-pahl-i-ten Meaning: belonging to all the world; not limited to just one part of the world; someone who has traveled a lot and feels at home in any part of the world

Peregrinate (v.)

Origin: Middle English Pronunciation: per-i-gruh-neyt Meaning: to travel or wander from place to place

Sojourn (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: soh-jurn Meaning: a temporary stay

Shinrin-yoku (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: shin-rin-yo-ku Meaning: literally translates to forest bathing; a leisurely trip to the forest for recreation, relaxation, meditation, and therapy

Origin: Thai Pronunciation: ti-eow Meaning: to wander or roam around in a carefree way

Origin: Serbian Pronunciation: mir-ak Meaning: enjoyment of the simple things in life; the feeling of bliss and sense of oneness with the universe that comes from the simplest of pleasures; the pursuit of small, daily pleasures that all add up to a great sense of happiness and fulfillment

Dépaysement (n.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: de-pe-iz-ma Meaning: the feeling that comes from not being in one’s home country; disorientation due to experience of unfamiliar surroundings; being out of your element like a fish out of water

Itinerant (n.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: ai-ti-nr-uhnt Meaning: one who travels from place to place

Numinous (adj.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: noo-muh-nuhs Meaning: having a strong religious or spiritual or supernatural quality; indicating or suggesting the presence of divinity; describing an experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, wed yet attracted – the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired

Heimweh (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: haim-ve Meaning: homesickness; nostalgia; a longing for home

Sprachgefühl (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: shprahkh-guh-fyl Meaning: the character and spirit of a language; an intuitive sense of the rule and rhythm of language

Mångata (n.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: mo-an-gaa-tah Meaning: the glimmering, roadlike reflection of the moonlight on water

Dromomania (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: dro-mo-ma-nia Meaning: an uncontrollable impulse or desire to wander or travel

Sehnsucht (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: zen-zukt Meaning: the inconsolable longing in the human heart for we know not what; a yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one’s home

Dérive (v.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: de-rive Meaning: literally translates to drift; a spontaneous and unplanned journey where the traveler leaves their life behind for a time to let the spirit of the landscape and architecture attract and move them

Absquatulate (v.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: ab-skwoch-uh-leyt Meaning: to leave abruptly without saying goodbye

Thalassophile (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: thal-as-o-fahyl Meaning: a lover of the sea; someone who loves the sea or ocean

Yoko meshi (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: yoh-koh-mesh-ee Meaning: literally translates to a meal eaten sideways; refers to the peculiar stress of speaking a foreign language

Forelsket (v.)

Origin: Norwegian Pronunciation: phor-rel-sket Meaning: the euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love

Read More: 14 Beautiful Norwegian Words We Need in English Now

Rückkehrunruhe (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: rukee-ren-ruhee Meaning: the feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to keep reminding yourself that it happened at all, even though it felt so vivid just days ago—which makes you wish you could smoothly cross-dissolve back into everyday life, or just hold the shutter open indefinitely and let one scene become superimposed on the next, so all your days would run together and you’d never have to call cut.

Eudaimonia (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: u-de-mon-e-a Meaning: literally translates to human flourishing; a contented state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous

Sturmfrei (adj.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: stirm-fra Meaning: literally translates to storm-free; the freedom of not being watched by a parent or superior; being alone in a place and having the ability to do what you want

Origin: Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation: yu-yi Meaning: the desire to see with fresh eyes, and feel things just as powerfully as you did when you were younger-before expectations, before memory, before words

Photophile (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: pho-to-phile Meaning: Derived from the biological term “photophilic” for an organism that thrives in full light, it means a person who loves photography and light

Traipse (v.)

Origin: Unknown Pronunciation: trayps Meaning: to walk or go aimlessly or idly or without finding or reaching one’s goal

 Neophile (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: neo-phile Meaning: one who loves or has a strong affinity for anything new or novel

Ballagàrraidh (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: bal-la-ga-rye Meaning: the awareness that you are not at home in the wilderness

Vacilando (v.)

Origin: Spanish Pronunciation: vah-see-lan-doh Meaning: to wander or travel with the knowledge that the journey is more important than the destination

Quaquaversal (adj.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: kwey-kwuh-vur-sul Meaning: moving or happening in every direction instantaneously

Coddiwomple (v.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: kod-ee-wom-pul Meaning: to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination

Vemödalen (n.)

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: ve-mo-da-len Meaning: the fear that everything has already been done

“The frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist—the same sunset, the same waterfall, the same curve of a hip, the same closeup of an eye—which can turn a unique subject into something hollow and pulpy and cheap, like a mass-produced piece of furniture you happen to have assembled yourself.”

Commuovere (v.)

Origin: Italian Pronunciation: com-muo-ve-re Meaning: a story that touches or stirs you and moves you to tears

Natsukashii (adj.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: nat-soo-kash-ee Meaning: of some small thing that brings you suddenly, joyously back to fond memories, not with a wistful longing for what’s past, but with an appreciation of the good times

Querencia (n.)

Origin: Spanish Pronunciation: keh-rehn-syah Meaning: a place from which one’s strength is drawn, where one feels at home; the place where you are your most authentic self

Novaturient (adj.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: no-vah-ter-y-ent Meaning: desiring or seeking powerful change in one’s life, behavior, or situation

Komorebi (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: koh-moh-ray-bee Meaning: sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees

Flâneur (n.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: flah-nœr Meaning: one who strolls around aimlessly but enjoyably, observing life and his surroundings

Hanyauku (v.)

Origin: Kwangali Pronunciation: ha-ahn-yoh-kuu Meaning: to walk on tiptoes across the warm sand

Dès Vu (n.)

Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Pronunciation: des-vu Meaning: the awareness that this will become a memory

Gallivant (v.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: gal-uh-vant Meaning: go around from one place to another in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment

Nefelibata (n.)

Origin: Portuguese Pronunciation: ne-fe-le-ba-ta Meaning: literally translates to cloud-walker; one who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams, or one who does not obey the conventions of society, literature, or art; an unconventional or unorthodox person

Petrichor (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: pet-ri-kawr Meaning: a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground; the smell of earth after rain

Circumnavigate (v.)

Origin: Latin Pronunciation: suh-kuhm-na-vuh-gayt Meaning: to sail or travel all the way around the world

Hitoritabi (n.)

Origin: Japanese Pronunciation: hitori-tabi Meaning: traveling alone; a solitary journey

Torschlusspanik (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: tursh-luss-pan-ik Meaning: literally translates to gate-closing panic; a sense of anxiety or fear caused by the feeling that life’s opportunities are passing by and diminishing as one ages

Globetrotter (n.)

Origin: English Pronunciation: globe-trawt-uh Meaning: a person who travels widely

Menggonceng (v.)

Origin: Indonesian Pronunciation: menggon-ceng Meaning: to travel by getting a free ride, usually on the back of a friend’s bicycle

Vagabond (n.)

Origin : Old French Pronunciation: va-guh-baand Meaning: a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job

Gemütlichkeit (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: guh-myt-likh-kahyt Meaning: a feeling of cozy warmth, friendliness, and good cheer with a sense of belonging

Erlebnisse (n.)

Origin: German Pronunciation: ayr-leeb-nis-eh Meaning: an experience that one feels most deeply, and, in a sense, ‘lives through’ – not just mere life experience, but something memorable which happens to someone

Livslogga (v.)

Origin: Swedish Pronunciation: Meaning: literally translates to life log; continually capturing and documenting one’s life through pictures

Poudrerie (n.)

Origin: French Pronunciation: pu-dre-ri Meaning: fallen snow blown by the wind from the ground, appearing like fine powdery particles across the streets and highways

Yeoubi (n.)

Origin: Korean Pronunciation: yu-bi Meaning: literally translates to fox rain; a sunshower – the event of having a light rain while the sun is still shining

Morriña (n.)

Origin: Galician Pronunciation: mo-rina Meaning: a very deep, nostalgic, and melancholic homesickness experienced as one intensely longs to return home; “a ‘saudade’ so strong it can even kill”

 Víðsýni (adj.)

Origin: Icelandic Pronunciation: vith-see-nee Meaning: a panoramic view

Xenophilia (n.)

Origin: Greek Pronunciation: zen-uh-fil-ee-uh Meaning: love for, attraction to, or appreciation of foreign people, manners, customs, or cultures

Do you have other words that describe travel? Send them over! We’d be happy to add them to our list of words for travel lovers.

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Beyond Wanderlust: 30 Words Every Traveler Should Know

By emily petsko | jun 13, 2022, 5:14 pm edt.

For those who travel, wanderlust is a familiar feeling. It’s that nagging voice in your head that says, “Yes, you do need to book that flight,” even if your bank account says otherwise. Regardless of how many passport covers this word may adorn, it doesn’t begin to cover the spectrum of emotions and experiences that can be revealed through the act of travel. Here are 30 travel words from around the world to keep in your back pocket as you're exploring this summer.

From the Latin vagari , meaning “to wander,” this 16th-century word originally meant a wandering journey . Nowadays, "vagaries" refer to unpredictable or erratic situations, but that doesn’t mean the old sense of the word can’t be invoked from time to time.

2. Selcouth

An Old English word that refers to something that’s both strange and marvelous . It's a great way to sum up those seemingly indescribable moments spent in an unfamiliar land.

Who hasn’t felt a strong desire to be somewhere—anywhere—other than where you currently are? That’s fernweh , or “ farsickness ," and this German word has been described as a cousin of wanderlust, another German loan word.

4. Dépaysement

Anyone who has traveled abroad will recognize this feeling. The French word refers to the sense of disorientation that often sets in when you step outside your comfort zone, such as when you leave your home country.

Another gift from the French, this word literally translates to “drift,” but thanks to some mid-20th century French philosophers, it can also refer to a spontaneous trip , completely free of plans, in which you let your surroundings guide you.

6. Peregrinate

To peregrinate is to travel from place to place, especially on foot. Its Latin root, peregrinus (meaning “foreign”), is also where the peregrine falcon (literally “ pilgrim falcon ”) gets its name.

7. Perambulate

Similar to peregrinate, this word essentially means to travel over or through an area by foot. So instead of saying that you’ll be walking around London, you can say you’ll be perambulating the city’s streets—much more sophisticated.

8. Numinous

This English word could appropriately be used to describe the Grand Canyon or the Northern Lights. Something numinous is awe-inspiring and mysterious. It's difficult to understand from a rational perspective, which gives it a spiritual or unearthly quality.

9. Peripatetic

The young and the restless will want to incorporate this word into their lexicon. The adjective refers to those who are constantly moving from place to place—in other words, a nomadic existence. It stems from the Greek word peripatein (“to walk up and down”), which was originally associated with Aristotle and the shaded walkways near his school (or, according to legend, his habit of pacing back and forth during lectures).

10. Waldeinsamkeit

You’re alone in a forest. It’s peaceful. The sun is filtering through the trees and there’s a light breeze. That’s waldeinsamkeit . (Literally "forest solitude." And yes, Germans have all the best travel words.)

11. Shinrin-Yoku

In a similar vein, this Japanese word means “ forest bathing ,” and it's considered a form of natural medicine and stress reliever. There are now forest bathing clubs around the world, but you can try it out for yourself on your next camping trip. Take deep breaths, close your eyes, and take in the smells and sounds of the forest. Simple.

12. Solivagant

In those moments when you just want to run away from your responsibilities, you may consider becoming a solivagant : a solo wanderer .

13. Yoko Meshi

This Japanese phrase literally translates to “ a meal eaten sideways ,” which is an apt way to describe the awkwardness of speaking in a foreign language that you haven’t quite mastered, especially over dinner.

14. Resfeber

You just booked your flight. Your heart starts racing. You’re a little nervous about your journey, but mostly you just can’t wait to get going. The anticipation, anxiety, and excitement you get before a big trip is all rolled into one word— resfeber —and you can thank the Swedes for it.

15. Flâneur

Taken from the French flâner , meaning to stroll or saunter , this word describes someone who has no particular plans or place they need to be. They merely stroll around the city at a leisurely pace, taking in the sights and enjoying the day as it unfolds.

16. Gadabout

This could be construed as the traditional English equivalent of flâneur . Likely stemming from the Middle English verb gadden , meaning “to wander without a specific aim or purpose,” a gadabout is one who frequently travels from place to place for the sheer fun of it. In other words: a modern-day backpacker.

17. Hiraeth

Sometimes, no matter how amazing your vacation may be, you just want to come home to your bed and cats. This Welsh word sums up the deep yearning for home that can strike without warning. As Gillian Thomas put it in an interview with the BBC , “Home sickness is too weak. You feel hiraeth , which is a longing of the soul to come home to be safe.”

This Japanese word can be taken to mean “graceful elegance” or “subtle mystery,” but it’s much more than that. It's when the beauty of the universe is felt most profoundly, awakening an emotional response that goes beyond words.

19. Schwellenangst

Translating to “ threshold anxiety ,” this German word sums up the fears that are present before you enter somewhere new—like a theater or an intimidating cafe—and by extension going anywhere unfamiliar. The fear of crossing a threshold is normal, even among the most adventurous of travelers—but it often leads to the most unforgettable experiences.

20. Commuovere

Have you ever seen something so beautiful it made you cry? That’s commuovere in action. The Italian word describes the feeling of being moved, touched, or stirred by something you witness or experience.

This Danish word refers to a warm feeling of contentedness and coziness, as well as the acknowledgment of that feeling. Although not explicitly related to this term, author Kurt Vonnegut summed up the idea behind this concept quite nicely when he said, “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'"

22. Hanyauku

Here's one for those who have a beach trip coming up. Taken from Kwangali, a language spoken in Namibia, hanyauku is the act of tiptoeing across hot sand.

23. Smultronställe

This Swedish word translates to something along the lines of “place of wild strawberries,” but its metaphorical meaning is something along the lines of a "happy place." Whether it’s a hidden overlook of the city or your favorite vacation spot that hasn’t been “discovered” yet, smultronställe refers to those semi-secret places you return to time and time again because they’re special and personal to you.

24. Dustsceawung

This Old English word describes what might happen when you visit a place like Pompeii or a ghost town. While reflecting on past civilizations, you realize that everything will eventually turn to dust. A cheery thought.

25. Vacilando

In some Spanish dialects, the word vacilando describes someone who travels with a vague destination in mind but has no real incentive to get there. In other words, the journey is more important than the destination. As John Steinbeck described it in his travelogue Travels With Charley : “It does not mean vacillating at all. If one is vacilando , he is going somewhere, but doesn't greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction. My friend Jack Wagner has often, in Mexico, assumed this state of being. Let us say we wanted to walk in the streets of Mexico city but not at random. We would choose some article almost certain not to exist there and then diligently try to find it.”

26. Lehitkalev

Backpackers and budget travelers, this one is for you: The Hebrew word lehitkalev translates to “dog it” and means to deal with uncomfortable living or travel arrangements.

27. Komorebi

This beautiful Japanese word is a good one to save for a sunny day spent in the woods. Komorebi translates to “sunshine filtering through the leaves.” Does it get any lovelier than that?

This Balinese word refers to something that is simultaneously chaotic and joyful. It isn’t specifically a travel word, but it does seem to fit the feelings that are often awakened by travel.

29. Trouvaille

Translating to a “lucky find,” this French word can be applied to that cool cafe, flower-lined street, or quirky craft store that you stumbled upon by chance. Indeed, these are the moments that make travel worthwhile.

30. Ullassa

Just in case you needed another reason to plan that trip to Yosemite, here's one last word for nature lovers. The Sanskrit word ullassa refers to the feelings of pleasantness that come from observing natural beauty in all its glory.

A version of this story ran in 2018; it has been updated for 2022.

50 Unusual Travel Words with Interesting and Inspiring Meanings

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Have you ever tried to explain a travel experience or feeling and you found yourself at a loss for words? (Unusual travel words) .

Well much like you, there are events and moments wherein I feel like I couldn’t fully express myself — which is probably why I’ve turned to other languages and unusual travel words to help expand my vocabulary… and yes, to satisfy that gnawing feeling.

The more I started researching and looking up these unique words, the more I fell in love with them because somehow, they could perfectly convey certain feelings and emotions where the English language just doesn’t cut it. Inspired by the success of my popular best travel quotes article, here is my top list of the most unusual words with cool and beautiful meanings!

100 Best Travel Quotes & Captions

Check out these best travel quotes that will help inspire you to travel!

Table of Contents

. Best Unusual Travel Words

1. Exulansis

The tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / exu·lan·sis)

“…whether through envy or pity or simple foreignness, which allows it to drift away from the rest of your life story, until the memory itself feels out of place, almost mythical, wandering restlessly in the fog, no longer even looking for a place to land.”

FYI : In case you don’t know, the ‘Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows’ is written by John Koenig and it has become so famous that he even went on to do a TED show. Basically, the dictionary presents neologisms (up and coming words) for powerful feelings that you likely don’t have a proper term for, and indeed ‘exulansis’ is one of the beautiful unusual travel words that you must know!

The desire to capture a fleeting moment (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / mo·rii)

“ With every click of the shutter, you’re trying to press pause on your life. If only so you can feel a little more comfortable moving on living in a world stuck on play.”

I’m sure that we all have felt this, not only when we’re traveling but in all the meaningful moments of our lives! We all have this kind of desire given the fact that cameras together with social media will — and always — be on the rise. After all, we simply don’t want to miss a thing. We just want to capture moments before they slip through our fingers so that we can hopefully relive and relish on it later on. But then again.. it is a constant struggle of balance between ‘capturing’ and being there and savoring those moments.

The awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / o·ni·sm)

“The frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time, which is like standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange city names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die.”

ETYMOLOGY : Portmanteau of monism (the philosophical view that a variety of things can be explained in terms of a single reality) + onanism (alternative word for self-pleasure).

Raise your hand if you’ve ever encountered this thought — yep, I knew it, you’ve felt this too! This sentiment is often the reason why I like the idea of immortality… because yes, I am selfish: I would really like to see and experience EVERYTHING. But as it is, I’ll make most of my time — and you should too!

4. Photophile

A person who loves photography (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / pho·to·phile)

This is an obscure word but supposedly, this came about after deriving it off from the word “photophilic” which is an organism that loves or seeks light — which is related in a way to how cameras function.

The realization that each random passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / son·der)

“The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own — populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness.”

ETYMOLOGY : Related to the German word ‘sonder’ (special) and French ‘sonder’ (to probe). If you ask me, this is one of my favorites on all of these unusual travel words especially because I personally love people-watching when I travel abroad. It’s just simply the kind of realization you gain as you witness more of the world.

6. Rückkehrunruhe

The feeling of returning home after a trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / rück·keh·run·ru·he)

This is exactly why I learned how to create a travel blog as well as build a travel vlog . Both of them help me record the fleeting memories that I’ve had for as much as I could!

7. Vemödalen

The frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist ( Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / ve·mö·da·len)

“The frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist — the same sunset, the same waterfall — which can turn a unique subject into something hollow and pulpy and cheap.”

ETYMOLOGY : From the Swedish word vemod which means “tender sadness, pensive melancholy” and then combined with Vemdalen, the name of a Swedish town. Swedish place names are the source of IKEA’s product names — the original metaphor for this idea was that these clichéd photos are a kind of prefabricated furniture that you happen to have built yourself.

So, I never actually felt this… because though there are tons of ‘duplicates’, I still like to make my own and say that “Ah, I shot this!” . BUT of course, I have a lot of friends — most especially the avid photographers — who go through vemodalen ! Let me know if you also have the same sentiments.

8. Absquatulate

To flee or leave abruptly without saying goodbye (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / ve·mö·da·len)

I once reached a point where I just wanted to leave everything and go. I can still vividly recall that memory because it’s how my travel lifestyle started !

9. Cockaigne

An imaginary place of extreme luxury and ease (Noun / Origin: English / cock·aigne)

This is one of the many uncommon English words and this term is derived from the Middle French phrase pais de cocaigne , which literally means “the land of plenty.”

10. Coddiwomple

To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination (Verb / Origin: English / cod·di·wom·ple)

I gotta admit, the first time I saw this word (which was when I was around 15), I honestly thought that it meant cuddling or something of that sort. It’s just such a unique word! When I finally saw the correct definition, I was floored at how deep it was so I just had to put it up in this list of unusual travel words.

11. Ecophobia

A fear or dislike of one’s home (Noun / Origin: English / e·co·pho·bia)

— and so you leave, to find where home is for you. *wink*

This word is based from Ancient Greek in whick ‘eco’ is derived from oîkos or “house”, and then of course ‘phobia’ from phóbos or “fear”.

12. Gadabout

A person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure (Noun / Origin: English / gad·about)

Tracing back to the Middle English verb ‘gadden’ which means ‘to wander without a specific aim or purpose’. Speaking of, I’m definitely a gadabout as I find pleasure in going on adventures all over the world !

13. Nemophilist

A person who is fond of forests or forest scenery (Noun / Origin: English / ne·mo·phi·list)

As far as unusual travel words go, I have added yet another term on my arsenal to describe not only my friends but myself as well!

14. Numinous

Feeling both fearful and awed by what is before you. (Adjective / Origin: Latin / nu·​mi·​nous)

This word can mean a lot of things and it especially leans more towards depicting something supernatural or mysterious that is almost as if it’s by some divine power.

You can take this word the way you want it, but the way I see it, this perfectly describes several travel experiences that I have had.

I’m not exactly a spiritual person but I recognize some strong connection to nature and you bet that I felt a numinous presence in amazing places like Antarctica and Iceland . You just gotta be there to experience the emotion yourself!

15. Selcouth

Something unfamiliar, unusual or wondrous (Adjective / Origin: Old English / sel·couth)

This is the perfect adjective to use when defining a place you have traveled to that just feels foreign or novel — which is in itself a good thing and an inevitability.

16. Serendipity

The natural ability of making desirable discoveries by accident (Noun / Origin: English / ser·en·dip·i·ty)

A term in the 1750s to describe those who ‘ were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of’ . This usually happens to me in moments where I least expect it and it’s such a wonderful thing!

17. Wayfarer

A person who travels on foot (Noun / Origin: English / way·far·er)

This is from the Middle English word weyfarere which is equivalent to way +‎ farer (‘to journey).

Spontaneous journey, led only by the spirit of the landscape (Noun / Origin: French / de·ʁiv)

This is a French word that originally refers to a strategy whereing participants “drop their everyday relations and let themselves be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounters they find there”.

In this list of unusual travel words, don’t you think that this perfectly describes a lot of traveling and digital nomads today?

19. Flâneur

A person of leisure who strolls aimlessly, observing life and society (Noun / Origin: French / flâ·neur)

The flâneur was, in some way, essential to any picture of the streets of Paris . The word carried a set of rich associations: the man of leisure, the idler, the urban explorer, the connoisseur of the street.

20. Dépaysement

The good or bad feeling that comes from being in a foreign country (Noun / Origin: French / de·pɛ·iz·mɑ̃)

This word could literally mean something like: ‘to be uncountried’ and it could either be due to disorientation or gladness — depends on you, and you bet that I’ll be using this word from now on!

21. Trouvaille

A lucky find (Noun / Origin: French / trü·ˈvī’)

There’s something about the French language that is romantic and melodic, and this has got to be one of my favorite unusual travel words!

22. Acatalepsy

The impossibility to truly comprehend anything find (Noun / Origin: Greek / acat·​a·​lep·​sy)

This is clearly an overwhelming feeling, but don’t you think that it humbles us in some way? The more I travel, the more I feel a sense of acatalepsy and though it might seem daunting at first, I think that’s just what makes our world and life itself an incredibly beautiful thing.

23. Novaturient

A desire for powerful change in one’s life or situation (Adjective / Origin: Latin / nO·va·’tUr·E·ent)

ETYMOLOGY : The word “nova” originates from the Latin novus meaning ‘new’.

24. Peregrinate

To travel or wander around from place to place (Adjective / Origin: Latin / per·​e·​gri·​nate·​e·​gri·​nate)

The best way to plan for such an adventure? By checking out these top travel resources and planning tips!

25. Solivagant

A solitary wanderer (Noun / Origin: Latin / so·liv·a·gant)

ETYMOLOGY : Latin word of solivagus meaning wandering alone + English – ant

26. Eleutheromania

An irresistible yearning for freedom (Noun / Greek / el·u·ther·o·man·ea)

ETYMOLOGY : From Ancient Greek ἐλευθερία (eleuthería, ‘freedom’) +‎ -mania.

27. Hodophile

One who loves to travel (Noun / Origin: Greek / hodo·phile)

ETYMOLOGY : From Ancient Greek ὁδός (hodós) which means travel.

Putting a part of yourself into what you’re doing (Noun / Origin: Greek / me·ra·ki)

This is a modern Greek word that’s often used to describe the instance wherein you leave a part of yourself (your soul, creativity, or love) in your work — so it’s like when you intensely love to do something or just about anything that you put something of yourself into it.

29. Peripatetic

A person who travels from place to place (Noun / Origin: Greek / peri·pa·tet·ic)

We can trace back the origin of this word to Aristotle and his followers. They often walked around peripatos (covered walk in the Lyceum) while Aristotle does his lectures, given that the former loves walking. As such, the Greek word peripatētikos (from peripatein, meaning “to walk up and down”) came about because of them.

30. Eudaimonia

A contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous (Adjective / Origin: Greek / U·de·‘mOn·E·a)

Leave a comment below if you’ve felt eudaimonia while traveling!

31. Fernweh

Wanderlust; an ache for distant places or a strong desire to travel (Noun / Origin: German / feirn·veyh)

ETYMOLOGY : From the word fern (“far”) and weh (“pain”). It can be literally translated as farsickness or longing for far-off places.

32. Heimweh

A longing for home (Noun / Origin: German / heim·veyh)

As contrasted with Fernweh, this is a German word for homesickness.

33. Kopfkino

The act of playing out an entire scenario in your mind (Noun / Origin: German / kopf·ki·no)

Hard translation is “head cinema” and as the definition goes, these are for those times where you start daydreaming or imagining scenarios about how a situation will unravel.

34. Schwellenangst

Fear of crossing a threshold to embark on something new (Noun / Origin: German / shwel·en·ahngst)

ETYMOLOGY : From the German words Schwelle (threshold) + Angst (anxiety).

35. Sehnsucht

An intense yearning for something far-off and indefinable (Noun / German / zEn·‘zUkt)

ETYMOLOGY : From German words sehnen (to long) and Sucht (anxiety; sickness; addiction).

The origin of the word doesn’t sound too good but as a whole it simply means that it’s an indescribable yearning for far off places and indescribable goals.

36. Sprachgefühl

A person who has the feel for a language (Noun / Origin: German / shpräḵ-gə-ˌfᵫl)

This literally translates as ‘language feeling’ from compound nouns combining Sprache (language) and Gefühl (feeling). Basically, this does not only refer to a person who has a good understanding of foreign languages but also to a person who has intuitiveness for what is linguistically appropriate.

37. Sturmfrei

The freedom of being alone (Noun / Origin: German / shtUrm·frI)

A German word that translates literally to “storm free” — but the real meaning has nothing to do with the weather. As a slang, it means having the house or place to one’s self; but if we put a romantic twist to it then it’s about having the freedom or of having some alone time.

38. Vorfreude

The joyful anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures (Noun / Origin: German / FOR·frI)

ETYMOLOGY : Combination of German words vor (pre) and Freude (happiness). This is one of the rare words that I’ve come to love!

39. Waldeinsamkeit

The feeling of solitude in the woods (Adjective / Origin: German / vahyd-ahyn-zahm-kahyt)

ETYMOLOGY : Combination of Wald (forest) and Einsamkeit (loneliness)

40. Livsnjutare

A person who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme (Adjective / Origin: Swedish / lives·noo·tuhreh)

Yet another word discovery that I loved since it’s something that I want to refer to myself as!

41. Mångata

The reflection of the moon on the water (Noun / Origin: Swedish / mo-an-gaa-tah)

ETYMOLOGY : Combination of Swedish words måne (moon) and‎ gata (street, road). If you ask me, this is one of the best aesthetic words!

42. Resfeber

The tangled feelings of fear and excitement before a journey begins (Noun / Origin: Swedish / reece·FEE·ber)

I always experience this, especially when I’m about to board a flight — and it’s not just because I have a fear of flying , but it’s simply because there are just far too many mixed emotions swirling inside me (which is a great and surreal thing!)

43. Smultronställe

A special place discovered for solace and relaxation (Noun / Origin: Swedish / smUl·tron·’stel·e)

This Swedish word literally translates to “place of wild strawberries” and it’s a place where you feel most at home that’s away from any stress or sadness.

44. Komorebi

The sunlight that filters though the trees (Noun / Origin: Japanese / 木漏れ日 ko·mo·RE·bee)

The Japanese truly have a way of coming up with the most interesting words and this is such a poetic addition to this list of unusual travel words!

45. Natsukashii

A happy recollection of an event or memory in the past (Adjective / Origin: Japan / 懐かしい nat·su·ka·shii)

The adjective originally described wanting to keep something close or wanting to express fondness for something. Over time, this term was used more to describe happy reminiscences, leading to the modern meaning. Take note that this is different from a nostalgic longing, but more of joyous remembrance of a past memory.

46. Shinrin-yoku

Forest bath; a visit to the forest to take in it’s atmosphere (Noun / Origin: Japan / 森林浴 shin·rin·yo·ku)

This is actually a form of nature therapy that is practiced in Japan ever since the 80s.

“The floating world” — living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life (Noun / Origin: Japan / 浮世 ooh-ki-yo)

A hard translation of this word dates back to Japan’s Edo-period as it describes the urban lifestyle, and a famous related word is ukiyo-e or Japanese art paintings of the ‘Floating World’ or of our fleeting life and transient world.

48. Y oko Meshi

The stress caused by speaking a foreign language (Noun / Origin: Japan / 横飯 yo·ko·me·shi)

Its hard translation is ‘boiled rice’ ( meshi ) and ‘horizontal ( yoko ) which will sort of mean as ‘a meal that’s eaten sideways’ — this metaphor actually refers to the fact that the Japanese write vertically instead of horizontally. Hence, the word yoko-meshi has a nice spin to it, doesn’t it?

A profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe that triggers a deep emotional response (Noun / Origin: Japan / 幽玄 yu·gen)

TRIVIA : Yugen is an important concept in the study of traditional Japanese aesthetics.

50. Wabi-sabi

The discovery of beauty within the imperfections of life (Noun / Origin: Japan / 侘寂 wabe·sabe )

This yet another Japanese aesthetic that has a very deep meaning in which life and art are viewed as beautiful not because they are perfect and eternal but because they are imperfect and fleeting. Isn’t this truly one of the best unusual travel words with a beautiful meaning?

. Bonus Unusual Words

Ballagàrraidh

The awareness that you are not at home in the wilderneess (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows / bal·la·ga·rye)

ETYMOLOGY : From Gaelic balla gàrraidh , “garden wall”

This is a word with a very deep meaning — so don’t let that simple definition fool you. To better understand it, I implore you to watch this video .

In fact, I gotta say that this is one of the unusual travel words that I often always feel most especially when I’m doing nature trips . Of course, there have been times when I’ve felt the opposite, but it’s more common to feel and be aware of how highly domesticated we all are. It’s not an entirely bad thing because advancement is a blessing; however, sometimes, it just makes you think how the olden times were truly far simpler and pristine. * sigh * I can’t really put it into words well, but let me know your thoughts once you get to watch the video above!

The awareness that this will become a memory (Noun / Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows)

ETYMOLOGY : From the French word dès vu, “seen as soon as” or “seen from this point forward”

“ Once in a while you look up, and watch as the present turns into a memory, as if some future you is already looking back on it. “

A feeling of warmth and cosiness as you enjoy life’s simple pleasures (Noun / Origin: Danish / hoo·gah)

This is a well-loved word in Denmark with Norwegian origins and you can even basically call it a way of life and it’s basically all about creating a warm atmosphere with other people.

To stir, to touch, to move to tears (Verb / Origin: Italian / ko’mːwɔvere)

A homesickness for a place which you can’t return to or never was (Noun / Origin: Welsh / HEER-eyeth)

This is a Welsh concept of longing for home — but more than just missing something, it implies the meaning of having a bittersweet memory of missing a time, era or person.

Thalassophile

Someone who loves the sea (Adjective / Origin: Greek / THəˈlasəˌfīl)

From the Greek words θάλασσα / thalasso- (sea) and -phile.

I hope you enjoyed discovering these unusual travel words — as much as I had a lot of fun discovering them too!

I’m sure there are still a lot of other unique words out there that could perfectly capture an emotion that we can’t easily express with our own language; so if you have something in mind that’s not already listed here, do let me know in the comments section below!

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I really really enjoyed this ! And esp the way it was presented. I am crazy about words. Yhanks. Pardis Kavousi

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Unusual & Creative Travel Words that you must know in 2019

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Last Updated on: Oct 10, 2023  

About this blog: This contains 38 unique and creative travel words that you can use in your travel vocabulary. Use them in your travel captions or use them for naming your blog . 

Oh, yes! We love to travel. And we love to get amazed at new experiences. We love to look over in awe at the jaw-dropping scenery before us. At times, words fail. The feeling, the emotions that we encounter after scaling a summit, or after having a scuba diving experience cannot often be described with words. I am sure all of us have these moments when we fall short of words. But there are some beautiful and creative travel words that describe these various feelings very well. Some of these words might not have English equivalents.

As a traveller and writer, I often keep looking for words to describe my feelings. The more I look into these words, the more I fall in love with them. These words have such powerful emotions and feelings! So we decided to share some of our favourite unusual and creative travel words with you.

UNUSUAL AND CREATIVE TRAVEL WORDS

Peregrinate (v.).

Origin: Latin

Definition: To travel or wander around from place to place

The feeling we have whenever we are visiting any new place. We love to wander around and discover the hidden and not so hidden gems. And Darjeeling happens to be one of our favourite places to wander around. What’s yours?

Nemophilist (n.)

Origin: English

Definition: One who is fond of the forest

Serendipity (n.)

Definition: The fact of finding interesting or valuable by chance

Trouvaille (n.)

Origin: French

Definition: Something lovely discovered by chance

These two words are so close to our hearts. That we would be together was destiny, but our meeting was definitely serendipity! We had been travelling together for a long time, but it was only after our Amarnath Yatra , that we truly realized what travel means to us and what we actually want of our life.

Eudaimonia (n.)

Origin: Greek

Definition: The contented happy state when you travel

Eleutheromania (n.)

Definition: The intense desire for freedom

These two Greek words so wonderfully summarize our feeling when we travel. Travelling makes us contented and happy.

Sonder (n.)

Origin: Unknown

Definition: The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own

Resfeber (n.)

Origin: Swedish

Definition: The tangled feelings of fear and excitement before a journey

This always happens before a journey. There is a perpetual state of excitement as well as nervousness before I start any journey. And I enjoy both the state.

Before our trip to Uzbekistan, I had a bad case of travel anxiety after I read about Airbnb scams. It was only after I found out methods to detect Airbnb scam , I caught a break.

Fernweh (n.)

Origin: German

Definition: An urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust ; farsickness

Dérive (n.)

Definition: To drift unplanned, only led by the landscape and architect around you.

Have you done this? Have you travelled without any fixed plan? Often it is the unexpectedness of a journey that makes it even better. When we went to Majuli , we did not know where we would visit next. It was an impromptu decision to next visit Meghalaya . And this time we decided to give Shillong and Cherrapunji a miss and visit the offbeat places in Meghalaya . It was surely a memorable trip!

Solivagant (adj.)

Definition: Wandering alone. A solitary adventurer who travels and wanders the globe.

Strikhedonia (n.)

Definition: The joy of being able to say “to hell with it”

The feeling we had when we visited Ladakh !

Numinous (n.)

Definition: The powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired

I had this feeling when I trekked the Rupin Pass summit . It was an overwhelming experience to stand there and look at the Kinner-Kailash range before me.

Forelsket (n.)

Origin: Norwegian

Definition: The euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love

This is such a beautiful and creative travel word. The first time we fell in love with each other, it was confusing. But the tangled emotion that I was feeling at that time was probably known as “forelsket”! And I think it is the same feeling when we fall in love with each other after completing every trek or doing something that we never thought we would do.

Hireath (n.)

Origin: Welsh

Definition: A homesickness for a home which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was.

Sehnsucht (n.)

Definition: A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

Livsnjutare (n.)

Definition: Someone who loves life deeply and enjoys life

Sturmfrei (n.)

Definition: The freedom of being alone and having the ability to do whatever you want.

Sometimes, being alone is the best thing that we can gift ourselves.

Coddiwomple (v.)

Definition: To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination

Nefelibata (n.)

Origin: Portugese

Definition: One who lives in the cloud of their own imagination; an unconventional person

This word so describes me. I love to live in my own imagination.

Hodophile (adj.)

Definition: A lover of roads. One who loves to travel.

Schwellenangst (n.)

Definition: Fear of crossing a threshold to embark on something new.

Don’t we all have the fear while starting anything new? It might be a new job, or a new life at a different city, or even changing our lifestyle. I was always very complacent with my life with a high paying job. But there was a void somewhere. Even after I knew that I have to take the leap, the fear hold me back. The fear of uncertainty was keeping me back from doing what I loved.

Today, I have crossed that threshold. And let me tell you the joy that it brings is totally worth all the difficulties and problems and hard work that went. What is the fear that is holding you back?

Vagary (v.)

Definition: A wandering or roaming journey

Saudade (n.)

Definition: A nostalgic longing to be near something or someone who is distant.

Origin: Danish

Definition: The cosy feeling you get when you are enjoying the good things in life with friends

Commuovere (v.)

Origin: Italian

Definition: To stir, to touch, to move to tears

The feeling we had after completing the Chadar Frozen River Trek .

Origin: Japanese

Definition: A profound and mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe

Definition: Awareness of how little of the world you will experience

These two words sum it all. The universe, the world is so mysteriously beautiful. We can feel and experience only a part of this beauty!

Petrichor (n.)

Definition: The smell of earth after rain

Flâuner (n.)

Definition: A person of leisure, deliberately aimless, simply wandering the streets, soaking in the city

Whenever we visit any city, we love to walk around. It is the best way to discover the charm of a city. We loved to roam around Yangon and explore the city on foot discovering its gems, hidden or otherwise!

Sometimes Kolkata , our hometown does this to us. We simply wander around, soaking in the little delights, wandering around the lanes and bye lanes and falling in love over and over again with the city. And so does Delhi !

Jijivisha (n.)

Origin: Sanskrit

Definition: The strong eternal desire to live and continue living

Rasasvada (n.)

Definition: The taste of bliss in the absence of all thoughts

Exactly what we felt after seeing the Everest and Kanchenjunga ranges in front of us from the Phalut. The Sandakphu-Phalut Trek is a great experience.

Smultronställe(n.)

Definition: Lit. “ Place of wild strawberries ”; a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress and sadness.

Darjeeling and Sikkim is our “place of wild strawberries”. What is yours?

Querencia (adj.)

Origin: Spanish

Definition: A place where one feels safe, A place where one feels at home

Musafir (n.)

Origin: Urdu

Definition: Traveller

Vuslat (n.)

Origin: Turkish

Definition: A union or reunion after being apart for a long time with one’s beloved

This is one of my favourite creative travel words.

Thalassophile (n.)

Definition: A lover of ocean

Waldeinsamkeit (n.)

Definition: The feeling of being alone in the woods

So did you find your travel inspiration from these beautiful and unusual travel words? What is your favourite? Let us know in comments.

Pin this post for a later dose of inspiration!

Agni Amrita

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26 comments.

Amazing list! This should keep me busy for a while. I would like to add French noun Flânerie – Aimless strolling or sauntering without a set plan or defined destination; walking at a leisurely pace, simply observing as you’re being taken along. Sometimes I write about similar topics. Here is an example post I wrote in case you or any of your readers find it interesting. Our content complements each other nicely, perhaps we can collab in some way in the future. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait to see something new from you! Cheers!

Thank you so much for the comment and another beautiful word. You blog is amazing too. Maybe we can connect over for a collab in some way. Looking forward.

Excellent post..very informative!!

Always admire your writting skills and this time thanks for introducing new words in my dictionary. Great way to increase ones vocabulary with pictures origin and all.

Thank you Pallavi. So glad that you liked the post.

Thanks for enhancing my vocabulary.. none them was familiar to me so far.

Thank you Sapna! I did not know a few before writing this.

Wow that made for an interesting read. Adding them to my dictionary right away!

Thanks so much.

Woow so many beautiful, unique travel words i am unaware off. Love it

Thank you Gurjeet!

Such words , very useful must say. I love to read and learn new things. These will definitely help me to increase my vocab.

Thank you Pamela!

That is a very unique topic for a blog. Though I would want to identify myself with all the term, but I find myself closest to be a Nemophilist and Trouvaille. I also identify with Resfeber. No matter how much I have travelled, I still get a little nervous (and excited) before a foreign trip.

Thanks Abhinav. I can understand that nervous and excited feeling before a foreign trip!

Thanks for sharing this, great to know these word and their meaning. And yes I can say now I am Nemophilist. 🙂

Thank you Sundeep!

I am not just inspired but so well educated too now. Y next travel will now be so well-informed.

Thank you Sanjay!

This post was such a treat! I love travel and I love words, and it was nice to recognise a few that I knew, and learn new ones that I didn’t!

Thank you so much! So glad that you liked the post.

These are indeed words that provide full expression to the meaning of travel. Thanks for adding to my vocabulary. this is indeed the serendipity of reading travel blogs.

Thank you Sandy and Vyjay!

Brilliant post, some of these descriptive words I read for the first time. Bookmarked for future reference. Thanks for Sharing.

Thank you Anahita. Glad that you liked the post.

If you love to travel and excited to know different places in world then pack your bag and travel to India. India the birth place of yoga. Good for peace your mind and relaxing body.

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29 travel words that describe travel better than you ever thought possible

We love travelling and we love words, so imagine our surprise when we came across a massive treasure trove of travel words that describe how we feel before, during and after we travel better than anything we’ve ever seen, ever. In the history of everything.

These literary gems make ‘wanderlust’ look like an overrated show pony. Which it is. Travel brochures of the future will be littered with the likes of resfeber, eudaimonia and fernweh. At least, they will if we have anything to do with it.

TAKE IT AWAY, WORDS!

1. Trouvaille (n.)

Origin: French

Something lovely discovered by chance, like stumbling on a waterfall in Costa Rica .

2. Dérive (n.)

Origin: Latin/French

Lit. “drift”; a spontaneous journey where the traveller leaves their life behind for a time to let the spirit of the landscape and architecture attract and move them.

Dériving along the Quarry Trail. Photo by Stephen Parry.

DÉRIVE YOUR WAY AROUND SOUTH AMERICA ON A SMALL GROUP ADVENTURE NOW 

3. Numinous (adj.)

Origin: Latin

Describing an experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted; the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired. For example, you may have a numinous experience at Yosemite National Park , gazing up in wonder at El Capitan, or at a towering black bear.

4. Cockaigne (n.)

Origin: French, medieval trope

An imaginary land of luxury and idleness. Think House Tyrell of Highgarden, minus the poisoning.

5. Schwellenangst (n.)

Origin: German

Fear of embarking on something new; fear of crossing a threshold. But you know what? You should totally just go with it, and cross that threshold.

Getting all Strikhedonia in Jordan. Photo by tegan & nathan.

6. Strikhedonia (n.)

Origin: Greek

The pleasure of being able to say “to hell with it”. Try it now. Head to our North America page  and shriek ‘Strikhedonia’ immediately before booking a trip.

7. Resfeber (n.)

Origin: Swedish

The restless race of the traveller’s heart before the journey begins when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together; a ‘travel fever’ that can manifest as an illness. The only cure is another grand adventure.

8. Vagary (n.)

An unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild or unusual idea, desire, or action.

ESCAPE THE VAGARIES OF LIFE ON, SAY, A SMALL GROUP ADVENTURE IN AFRICA

Embracing eudaimonia in Japan. Photo by Stephen Parry.

9. Eudaimonia (n.)

Lit. “human flourishing”; a contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous. For example, you are pretty much guaranteed to experience eudaimonia as you watch the sun rise above the ocean in Playa del Carmen .

10. Quaquaversal (adj.)

Moving or happening in every direction instantaneously. It’s a little like when you think your passport’s in your sock drawer but it’s not and your flight’s leaving in three hours.

11. Novaturient (adj.)

Desiring or seeking powerful change in one’s life, behaviour, or situation.

Happily quaquaversal in Guatemala. Photo by Nathan Landers.

12. Sehnsucht (n.)

“The inconsolable longing in the human heart for we know now what”; a yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one’s home.

13. Ecophobia (n.)

Origin: English

A fear or dislike of one’s home.

14. Eleutheromania (n.)

An intense and irresistible desire for freedom. Pretty much describes every picture of the Greek Islands  we’ve ever seen.

Livsnjutare in Italy. Photo by The Common Wanderer

15. Livsnjutare (n.)

One who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

16. Solivagant (adj.)

Wandering alone. Although we think it’s better when you’re solivagant with a small group of other solivagant types.

17. Saudade (n.)

Origin: Portuguese

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”. For example, I have a nostalgic longing for Turkish Delight right now.

Having eunoia in Vietnam. Photo by Damien Raggatt.

18. Eunoia (n.)

Beautiful thinking; a good mind. My love of Turkish Delight proves I have eunoia (or does it?).

19. Sturmfrei (adj.)

Origin: Germany

Lit. “stormfree”; the freedom of not being watched by a parent or superior; being alone at a place and having the ability to do what you want. Like eating 18 waffles in a day in Belgium .

20. Yoko meshi (n.)

Origin: Japan

The peculiar stress of speaking a foreign language (literally means ‘a meal eaten sideways’). If you’ve ever tried to order ramen in one of Tokyo’s  laneway bars, you’ll know exactly what this means.

Selcouth outfits in the Sacred Valley. Photo by Stephen Parry.

21. Selcouth (adj.)

Unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvellous, like adding cheese to your coffee in Colombia .

22. Fernweh (n.)

An ache for distance places; the craving for travel; the opposite of homesickness. Also one of Instagram’s most popular hashtags.

23. Yūgen (n.)

An awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words.

It’s hard not to feel yūgen in a place like this. Photo by Damien Raggatt.

24. Commuovere (v.)

Origin: Italy

Only in Italy  would you find such a sensual word meaning to stir, to touch, to move to tears. Possibly while eating a giant slice of thin-crust pizza.

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25. Peregrinate (v.)

To wander from place to place. AKA travel. It’s the very definition. Think of a falcon and BE THE FALCON by embracing its love of flying immediately.

26. Nemophilist (n.)

One who is fond of forests; a haunter of the woods. Not like a spooky ghost; more like a guy with a top-knot who enjoys spending his weekends writing poetry under an old oak tree and drinking black coffee from a vintage thermos.

Peripatetic over a rock. photo by Phoebe Escott-Kenny.

27. Peripatetic (n.)

A person who spends his or her time wandering. There’s nothing pathetic about being peripatetic – we embrace the wanderers wholeheartedly.

GET PERIPATETIC IN THE MIDDLE EAST. EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF ADVENTURES NOW

28. Hireath (n.)

Origin: Welsh

A homesickness for a home that you can’t return to, a home that perhaps never was. Which is kind of a downer, but a good excuse to keep travelling.

29. Gadabout (n.)

A person who travels often, and for pleasure. Something we should all aspire to, right? Be professional gadabouters? Update your LinkedIn profiles now, gang.

Now you’ve got the lingo, USE IT! Impress your friends with your newfound vocabulary on a small group adventure with Intrepid .

Feeling inspired?

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid has been leading small group adventures for over 30 years. We’re a certified B Corp, which means we want to be the best travel company not just in the world, but for the world. To create positive change through the joy of travel. You can read our latest adventures right here.

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• 17 Eye-Opening Foreign Travel Words That Describe Wanderlust
• December 23, 2022

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• World Travel

Have you ever been to a place so beautiful, amazing, or surreal that there were no adequate words in your language to describe it? Or maybe you’ve been to a place where everything is just so different from home that it’s hard to find the right way to talk about it.

Blake Miner

Do you ever feel like you need a new word to describe your travel experience? Something that really captures the feeling of being in a new place, seeing amazing things and living life on the go? Well, you’re in luck. Because foreign languages have all sorts of great words for describing travel . Here are 17 of our favorites that help describe feelings you experience on the road in a way English just can’t.

These thought-provoking foreign words each explain a concept that isn’t as simply or easily expressed in English.

Bon voyage !

Travel Words From Foreign Languages

1. flânerie.

Definition : Aimless strolling or sauntering without a set plan or defined destination; walking at a leisurely pace, simply observing as you’re being taken along. 

Part of Speech : Noun

Origin : French

Definition : A longing or craving for distant, far-off places; “homesick” for places you’ve never been to. Literally: farsickness. 

Origin : German

  Definition : To become free or untied; to break loose .

Part of Speech : Verb

Origin : Tagalog

4. Novaturient

Definition : Desiring to alter your life; a feeling that pushes you to want to travel. 

Part of Speech : Adjective

Origin : Latin

5. Metanoia

Definition : The journey of transforming your mind, heart, self, or way of life .

Origin : Greek

Definition : A deep, profound awareness of the universe; an unfathomable realization that triggers an emotional response .

Origin : Japanese

7. Peripatetic

Definition : A person who spends his time walking or traveling from place to place .

Definition : A deep, nostalgic, melancholic yearning for something or someone absent; accompanied by the realization that what you’re longing for will never be experienced again.

Part of Speech : Noun  

Origin : Portuguese

9. Lebenskünstler

Definition : A “life artist” who is able to deal with any arising problems in a very artful, almost magical manner. Literally: someone who has mastered Lebenskunst (the art of life).

Definition : A quality of coziness and comfort accompanied by feelings of well-being, relaxation, contentment and presence; often likened to the feeling of drinking a warm cup of cocoa on a snowy day .

Parts of Speech : Noun, adjective

Origin : Danish

11. Resfeber

Definition : The restless feeling before starting out on a journey; a mix of anxiety, excitement and anticipation.

Origin : Swedish

12. Shinrin-yoku

Definition : The practice of going into the woods seeking out a mentally soothing experience; taking in the forest atmosphere with your senses. Literally: “forest bathing.”  

13. Nefelibata

Definition : Someone who doesn’t conform to the conventions of society, literature, or art; an unconventional, unorthodox person who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams . Literally: “cloud walker.”

Definition : A vague sense of unease, sadness, melancholy, nostalgia or yearning; a type of spiritual anguish.

Origin : Russian

Definition : Drifting; a spontaneous, unplanned journey in which the traveler relinquishes control and is guided solely by the landscape and architecture.

16. Rasāsvāda

Definition : The sensation of bliss in the absence of all thought.

Origin : Sanskrit

17. Trouvaille

Definition : A chance encounter with something wonderful; a valuable discovery; a lucky find .

A Final Word

We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief foray into the strange, wonderful world of foreign travel words. What’s your favorite? Leave us a comment below! And don’t forget to share with your friends – they may find some of these words useful on their next trip abroad (or even just in their day-to-day lives).

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Aw I love these words! I know a little French and an even smaller amount of Spanish but putting these words from all different languages is such a good idea. Alpas is a great one! Soph – https://sophhearts.com x

I know the feeling of yugen well. It’s being moved to tears when you watch the sunrise from a mountain top, or suddenly realizing how very small you are when confronted with the vastness of the ocean.

Interesting list. I’m curious to also know how you discovered these words.

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27 Creative Travel Words That Describe Travel

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Scroll down for 27 of the ultimate creative travel words that perfectly describe travel!

Think back on your travel memories and try to conjure up that travel feeling with words? It’s hard to describe right? How can you explain the feeling of pure awe after waking up at 4am to hike up a mountain and watch a breath-taking sunrise?

Some travel experiences are that good they are almost indescribable. But, we gave it our best shot, here is a list of creative travel related words. 27 of the most powerful travel words to describe how travel feels. Feel free to use any words from the list  in your next inspirational Instagram caption.

A List Of 27 Creative Travel Words

1. hozhoni .

Definition: An American Indian Navajo word meaning a feeling of being filled with beauty and balance. 

Although this is a list of creative travel words in English, there are words included that came from other cultures. Hozhoni describes the feeling that everything is right where it needs to be. This travel related word is exactly how I feel when I’m gazing out at another sunset on a tropical beach. I’m right where I need to be. 

Definition: A beautiful descriptive Arabic-derived word, related to destiny.

Encountering something by chance but it seems like it was meant to be, then it could be kismet , your destiny. Who hasn’t experienced this when traveling, when you meet someone unexpected but connect immediately.

3. Numinous

Definition : A word to describe the sense of a supernatural presence around you.

A perfect creative travel word that describes the awe inspiring places that travel takes you to. Like when you’re stargazing in a desert. You just know that there is something out there, watching over us.

4. Clinophilia

Definition: An individual with a passion for beds.

After months of hostel dorms and thin, aged mattresses. I think any backpacker would proclaim a love for good quality, comfortable beds.

Related: 6 Things I Hate About Backpacking

Definition: A short, romantic interlude.

Is there anything more intense than a travel romance? A few short days of utter bliss before you have to say your goodbyes, never to see them again apart from in your memories. 

Definition: Gaia theory is who postulate that the whole biosphere may be alive in that the Earth’s life forms are themselves responsible for regulating the conditions that make. 

I’m obsessed with Gaia theory, that our planet is a breathing organ. I think about it constantly while traveling. How can we not love the beautiful woman that is the Earth and how she creates this creative art in nature? 

Definition: A feeling of homesickness for somewhere you’ve never even visited.

This solemn travel word escapes me to be honest, I’m too busy feeling homesick for the places I’ve already left and may never return to.

Related: Why You Should Quit Your Job And Travel

8. Harbinger

Definition: A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.

This travel word originally described a person who provided lodging, later one who went ahead to find lodgings for an army or for a nobleman and his retinue, hence, a herald (mid 16th century). Now, I like to think it gives a creative travel word to that feeling of being on the edge of something great. 

Definition : When you finally realise how big the world is and how small you are in comparison.

Finally, a travel associated word to explain how insignificant we are as backpackers. Pointlessly trying to experience as much as this vast planet as we can, whilst knowing we’ll never achieve our dream. 

10. Neophile

Definition: Not to be confused with necrophilia, a neophile is someone who loves all thnovel experiences.

Anyone who loves travel loves the new. Routine is for non-backpackers while true adventurers crave novel experiences.

Related: My Digital Nomad Story

11. Eudaimonia

Definition: A Greek word meaning a content state of being happy and healthy. 

Every since I became a digital nomad over 3 years ago, even through the hard times I am feeling eudaimonia. 

12. Waldeinsamkeit

Definition: A Germanic word to describe the feeling of being alone in a forest.

Although I dislike being lonely as a long-term backpacker. Sometimes there is nothing better than a solitary hike or stroll through peaceful nature. 

13. Mimeomia

Definition: The frustration of knowing how easily you fit into a stereotype.

This creative travel word is perfect for anyone who’s ever stayed in a hostel or two. Backpackers all over the world unfortunately fit neatly into the stereotype of their home country. Aussies loving Vegemite and British loving their cups of tea. Sigh…

Related: 10 Eco-Friendly Toiletries Every Backpacker Needs

14. Midding

Definition: A perfect travel word to describe the pleasure of observing a social gathering but not actually being in the midst of it.

I love relaxing in a hammock, watching fellow backpackers sharing a beer and chatting about their days. A feeling like no other.

Definition: An infectious enthusiasm.

What’s not to love about meeting positive travelers who possess a zest for life you just don’t see in daily life back home? These kind of Ioer people spark up an excitement for you to get the most out of travel.

16. Mamblory

Definition: The feeling of arriving home whilst you in the midst of traveling. 

As much as travel is amazing, sometimes we all crave that just arrived home feeling. Where everything is familiar and you are surrounded by people who know you. No small talk required. 

17. Gemütlichkeit

Definition : A Germanic word to describe a feeling of natural friendliness.

There’s something about hostels and the people they attract. Hostel-lodgers are a friendly bunch, you’re always guaranteed to make a new mate every day. (Admittedly there are foreign words associated with travel in this list, please forgive!)

18. Heliophilous

Definition: A feeling of being attracted to the sunlight.

Calling all sunseekers! If you’re a cold-blooded human like me, you probably identify as an heliophile.

19. Eleutheromania

Definition: The constant  desire to be free.

This is less a word about travel and more an instinctive human feeling. We were born to be nomads, so return to your instincts and travel.  

20. Morosophy

Definition: A foolish pretence of wisdom

The more I travel, the more I learn how little I know. Travel is eye-opening and teaches you to remain humble and open to new ideas, because, you know nothing.

Related: 25 Best Self-Help Books For Women

Definition: A wild, unplanned adventure where the traveler lets spontaneity decide the path. 

Those days where you don’t have an itinerary to visit 3 churches, 4 castles, hike up a mountain and kayak back down it are often the best kind of days. Travel SHOULD be spontaneous . Let destiny decide. 

22. Gest Or Geste

Definition: 13th century word describing one last adventure

How many times have you heard yourself saying ‘This is my last big trip before I settle down’ and then before you know it, you’re planning one final ‘Gest’! Now, though, at least you have the perfect travel related word to describe your last gest!

23. Theosophy

Definition: An immediate divine illumination.

This travel associated word is for those epiphany moments on travel adventures when the answer to a problem that you left at home, finally comes to you. This happens because travel helps you to get to know who you are, and what you want. 

24. Ilotriophagy

Definition: The craving for strange foods.

Anyone for fried cockroaches from a Thai street stall? Food makes up a massive part of the travel experience. So, this list of travel words had to include a couple words about food.

25. Novaturient

Definition: A beautiful Latin word for when you a desiring a change in your life. 

This is often the reason many of us begin to travel. We want to change our lives to become more authentic to ourselves. An inspirational travel word to use in your next Instagram caption 😉

26. Integrum

Definition: complete in latin.

A travel word to describe something no true traveler ever feels – Complete. Once wanderlust takes hold, you’ll never feel complete again, always yearning for the next adventure. 

27. Saudades

Definition: an ebbing feeling of missing someone..

This is a Portuguese word with no translation in another language. It’s beautiful, it combines longing and missing someone in a pure way. 

Simply, indescribable. Just like travel. 

If you enjoyed this list of creative travel words, make sure you pin it for later! Or have I missed any word that perfectly describes travel? Leave a comment below and let me know.

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Travel Words: 27 Special Worldly Words to Inspire Travelers

Table of contents.

Do you want to travel around the globe but also fill your journey with inspiring and insightful words along the way? Whether it’s a phrase, proverb, fairy tale, or even a religious dictum – learning foreign expressions or travel words can open up a gateway of knowledge while enriching the experience of any trip.

Why Learn New Travel Words?

Learning travel words from other cultures can be a great source of inspiration, especially for those who love to travel. Exploring different languages and learning new travel words can broaden your vocabulary and allow you to express yourself in new and exciting ways. Incorporating travel words from other cultures into your writing or speech can add depth and personality to your communication.

Plus, it’s always satisfying to connect with people from other parts of the world on a deeper level. By embracing linguistic diversity, you can open yourself up to new ideas and perspectives, making you a more creative and culturally aware individual.

Here is our list of 27 travel words to elevate your trips and enhance your life experiences:

Abditory (Latin)

Abditory refers to a secret hiding place, often used for storing valuable or treasured items. The idea of having your own abditory can be quite inspiring, as it gives you a sense of privacy and security. Imagine creating your own hidden nook, filled with special mementos and memories from your travels. It’s a wonderful way to keep your experiences close to your heart.

Datsuzoku (Japanese)

This fascinating Japanese word captures a concept that’s highly valued in their culture. It means to break away from the norm, the established order, and pursue something that brings you joy. It’s about exploring new paths and seeking out experiences that fill your heart with excitement. For travelers, Datsuzoku can be incredibly inspiring and a reminder to let go of expectations and embrace the unknown.

Fernweh (German)

Are you feeling homesick for a place you have never been to? Maybe what you’re experiencing is Fernweh – a German word that translates to “wanderlust” or a strong desire to travel and explore new places. It’s that longing feeling you get when you see a photo of a beautiful landscape or hear someone talk about their travels. Fernweh is more than just an urge to wander, it’s a passion that drives you to experience all the beauty and wonder that the world has to offer.

Gemütlichkeit (German)

The German word is all about creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere, often involving things like warm blankets, good food, and great company. It’s a feeling of relaxed contentment, of feeling at home while away from home. And isn’t that what travel is all about? Finding inspiration in new places, connecting with new people, and experiencing different cultures–all while feeling a sense of comfort and familiarity. Embrace the spirit of gemütlichkeit on your next adventure and see where it takes you.

Haneul (Korean)

“Haneul” is a Korean word for “sky” or “heaven.” It is often used in Korean culture as a symbol of inspiration and hope. The vast and limitless nature of the sky inspires many to dream big and reach for the stars. In Korean literature and poetry, the word “Haneul” is often used to depict a sense of freedom and a connection to the divine.

Hanyauku (Namibian)

When it comes to travel, inspiration can come from the most unexpected sources. One such source is the word Hanyauku, which has a fascinating meaning when it comes to hot sand. In the Himba language of Namibia, Hanyauku refers to the art of walking on hot sand without showing any signs of discomfort. It’s an ancient practice that has been passed down through generations and is still used today. This incredible skill is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the human body and serves as a source of inspiration for those looking to push their physical limits.

Hiraeth (Welsh)

While difficult to translate directly, hiraeth is often described as a longing or nostalgia for a place or time that may never have existed. It’s a complex emotion that speaks to our deepest desires to connect with the world around us and find meaning in our journeys. Whether you’re exploring new destinations or reminiscing on past adventures, hiraeth is the word that encapsulates all the beauty and mystery of travel in one succinct term.

Hygge (Danish)

Pronounced “hoo-gah”, it’s a term that describes the feeling of cozy contentment and warmth, often associated with a peaceful moment spent with loved ones. Although it’s difficult to translate directly into English, understanding what hygge means can inspire travel and a deeper appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. From curling up with a good book on a rainy day to sharing a meal with friends by candlelight, hygge encourages us to find comfort in the present moment and savor the joys of life.

Jayus (Indonesian)

This unusual word comes from Indonesian culture and refers to a joke that is so unfunny that everyone breaks out laughing. However, it’s often used to describe something that’s funny in an absurd way, which can inspire creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

Kilig (Filipino)

“Kilig” is a Filipino term that describes the feeling of butterflies in your stomach, the thrill of excitement, or the happiness of being in love. It’s the natural high that one experiences when they feel inspired and touched by something or someone. Whether you’re traveling solo, with your partner, or with friends, kilig is a feeling that can positively impact your journey and give you those unforgettable moments.

Koi No Yokan (Japanese)

The Japanese term is often used to describe the feeling of knowing that you will soon fall in love with someone. However, it’s a phrase that goes beyond romantic love. It’s all about the feeling of intuition, the sense of knowing that something is about to happen. Koi No Yokan can apply to any situation, whether it’s a new job opportunity or a chance meeting with a stranger. The beauty of this concept lies in the anticipation and the mystery of what comes next. It’s a reminder that life is full of surprises, and we should embrace them with open arms.

Komorebi (Japanese)

Have you ever strolled through a forest on a sunny day and noticed the way the sun’s rays filter through the leaves, creating a mesmerizing pattern on the ground? That dappled effect has a name: Komorebi. In Japanese, komorebi refers to the interplay between light and foliage and is often used to describe experiencing nature in a spiritual way.

La Dolce Vita (Italian)

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, you may have heard the phrase “La dolce vita” being thrown around. In essence, la dolce vita captures the idea of “the sweet life” – a lifestyle of leisure and pleasure. This phrase has become emblematic of Italian culture and the allure of travel to Italy.

Lebenskünstler (German)

In German, it loosely translates to “life artist,” someone who lives their life to the fullest and finds inspiration in the everyday. As a traveler, I have met many Lebenskünstlers along the way. They are the ones who embrace the unknown, take risks, and see beauty in the simplest things. They inspire me to live in the moment and approach life with a sense of curiosity and creativity.

Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan)

Hailing from the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego, this word is often cited as one of the most difficult concepts to translate into English. It refers to a meaningful, reflective, yet fleeting look between two people who both desire something but are hesitant to initiate it. While the literal definition may seem abstract, the concept can apply to all sorts of travel-related experiences: connecting with locals, exploring hidden corners of a new city, or simply taking a risk on an adventure.

Meraki (Greek)

Meraki is a beautiful Greek word that is often used to describe the intense passion and creativity that goes into creating something. It can be applied to anything, from cooking a delicious meal to painting a piece of art. This word is truly inspiring and can be used to encourage creativity and exploration in all aspects of life.

Pura Vida (Spanish, Costa Rican)

Translated literally, Pura Vida means “pure life.” However, it’s so much more than that. It’s a philosophy, a way of living, an attitude toward life. Pura Vida is all about enjoying the journey, taking things as they come, and appreciating the little things. It’s an inspiration to live life to the fullest, with a sense of gratitude and joy.

Resfeber (Swedish)

A Swedish word that describes the mix of emotions you feel when embarking on a journey, whether it’s adventure, anxiety, curiosity, or excitement. Essentially, it’s the feeling of butterflies in your stomach and a racing heart as you’re about to board a plane, train, or even a car for a road trip. Resfeber is a reminder that travel is not just about the destination, but the journey that takes you there, and it’s something that can provide inspiration to embrace the unknown and accept that the adventure of travel comes with a mix of emotions.

Saudade (Portuguese)

It’s a Portuguese word that doesn’t have a literal translation in English, but experienced travelers know what it means. It’s a feeling of nostalgia and longing for a place or person that’s currently far away. Even if you’ve never heard the word before, there’s a good chance you’ve felt saudade during your travels. It’s a bittersweet emotion that can inspire us to keep exploring the world, to stay connected with the people we meet, and cherish the memories we create.

Sisu (Finnish)

Sisu is an untranslatable Finnish word that describes a particular mindset. It conveys the idea of inner strength, tenacity, resilience, and perseverance in the face of adversity. It is a quality that Finns hold dear and derive inspiration from when facing tough challenges. Sisu can be found in the way they approach work, sports, relationships, and life in general.

Smultronställe (Swedish)

Smultronställe translates to “wild strawberry patch,” but it holds a deeper meaning for Swedes. It refers to a special place in nature that is known only to a few, a spot where one can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and find inner peace. Smultronställe can inspire anyone to explore and uncover their own version of hidden havens around the world, whether it’s a deserted beach or a hiking trail. Don’t let the limits of technology stunt your travel dreams; let “smultronställe” be your guide to finding the next adventure that awaits.

Sobremesa (Spanish)

This phrase encapsulates the cultural tradition of post-meal conversation and relaxation. Sobremesa translates directly to “over table” and refers to the time spent lingering over food and drink while enjoying the company of friends and family. This concept is so important in Spanish culture that it has become a cornerstone of their way of life.

Tsundoku (Japanese)

Tsundoku refers to the habit of acquiring too many books, but not having enough time to read them all. It’s a word that many of us can relate to, especially those who love to travel and seek inspiration through literature. Despite being a seemingly innocuous word, Tsundoku perfectly captures that feeling of excitement when we discover a new book we simply can’t resist, even if we still have a pile of unread books at home.

Ubuntu (Zulu)

This mystical, ancient word is a cornerstone of the country’s cultural identity and is held in high esteem by all who live here. At its core, ubuntu represents compassion, connection, and a sense of community spirit. It’s an idea that inspires people to look out for each other, and to recognize that every individual is an integral part of something much larger.

Vacilando (Spanish)

The Spanish term, often associated with writer John Steinbeck, encompasses the idea of wandering with a sense of purpose. It’s about exploring a place, whether new or familiar, with open eyes and an open mind. It’s about embracing uncertainty, taking detours, and discovering unexpected treasures. Vacilando invites us to be present in the moment and to let go of preconceived notions.

Wabi-sabi (Japanese)

Originating from Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is an idea that embraces the beauty of imperfection, simplicity, and nature. It celebrates the flaws and unique characteristics of objects and living things, rather than striving for perfection and uniformity. By traveling to Japan and experiencing the wabi-sabi lifestyle firsthand, you may find a new source of inspiration that encourages you to find beauty in the ordinary and appreciate the impermanence of life.

Schwellenangst (German)

This a German term that refers to the fear of crossing a threshold- a perfect word to describe that overwhelming feeling of apprehension before taking a leap of faith into something new. For those who love to travel, Schwellenangst can be a common experience, particularly when visiting foreign countries with different customs, languages, and cultures. But through facing our fears, we often find the most inspiring experiences and create unforgettable memories.

Worldwide Travel Words

Learning words from other cultures is a great way to bring new perspectives to our work and inspire creativity. By reading about different cultural concepts, we can gain new ideas for approaching familiar problems or finding innovative solutions. It’s also important that we remember the context in which these travel words are used, as their real meanings may differ from those of the language they originated in.

If done respectfully, learning and understanding travel words from various cultures can become a beautiful form of collaboration that can unite us all in our quest for knowledge and self-improvement. As always, we must strive to honor each culture’s unique perspective and traditions without causing offense. To ensure respect and understanding of different cultures within our conversations, the best place to start than by looking at each other’s language.

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Travel Word FAQs

How can i learn new travel words.

Reading about different cultures is a great way to expand your understanding and knowledge of their language and customs. You can also look for language-learning resources online, such as apps or podcasts, to help you get started on learning the basics of a new language. Additionally, if you’re traveling, you could try practicing the language of the country you’re visiting with a local.

Are there any tips for remembering travel words?

One way to help remember new vocabulary is to write down or create flashcards of important terms and concepts so that you can easily refer back to them. Additionally, listening to native speakers of the language is an effective way to learn pronunciation and get a feel for the language. Finally, incorporating travel words into daily conversations or activities is another great way to remember them.

Are there any other ways I can use travel words?

Travel words can be used in many different ways! You could incorporate them into your conversations with friends or co-workers, use them in writing, or even create art inspired by different cultural concepts. They can also be used to help you understand and appreciate the cultures of other countries while traveling. Finally, learning new travel words is a great way to challenge yourself and continually expand your global knowledge base.

Should I worry about cultural appropriation when using travel words?

It is important to be mindful and respectful of different cultures, traditions, and languages when using travel words. Research the deeper meanings behind the words you learn, as some have multiple interpretations or connotations depending on the context. Finally, it is always important to ask for permission before using any words from another culture in order to avoid any potential cultural appropriation or offense.

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25 Words Every Traveller Should Have in Their Vocabulary

25. Numinous (adj.)

Origin: English

Definition: Describing an experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted.

24. Dépaysement (n.)

Origin: French

Definition:  The disorientation felt in a foreign country or culture. The feeling of being a fish out of water.

23. Dérive (n.)

Origin: Latin/French

22. Sehnsucht (n.)

Origin: German

Definition:  The inconsolable longing in the human heart for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one’s home.

21. Fernweh (n.)

Definition: A craving for travel. Being homesick for a place you’ve never been.

20. Sonder (v.)

Definition: The realization that each random passer-by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

19. Hodophile (adj.)

Origin:  Greek

Definition:  “Lover of roads”, or better “love of travel.”

18. Resfeber (n.)

Origin:  Swedish

Definition: The restless race of the traveller’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.

17. Nemophilist (n.)

Origin: Greek

16. Vagary (n.)

Origin: Latin

Definition: An unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild or unusual idea, desire, or action.

15. Coddiwomple (v.)

Origin: English Slang Word

Definition: To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.

14. Annu Miarabilis (n.) (phr.)

Definition:  A remarkable or notable year in history; a year of wonders and miracles, used to speak hopefully of the future.

13. Wanderlust (n.)

Definition: A strong, innate, impulse or desire to travel the world.

12. Yūgen (n.)

Origin: Japanese

Definition:  An awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words.

11. Sojourn (n.)

Origin: Latin, Old French

Definition: A period of time when you stay in a place as a traveler or guest.

10. Strikhedonia (n.)

Definition:  The pleasure of being able to say “to hell with it!”

9. Eleutheromania (n.)

Definition: An intense and irresistible desire for freedom.

8. Smultroställe (n.)

Origin: Swedish

Definition:  A special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress and sadness.

7. Solivagant (adj.)

Origin:  Latin

Definition:  Wandering alone.

6. Wayfarer (n.)

Definition:  Someone who travels, especially on foot.

5. Livsnjutare (n.)

Definition: One who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme

4. Sturmfrei (adj.)

Definition: The freedom of not being watched by a parent or superior; being alone at a place and having the ability to do what you want.

3. Cosmopolitan (adj.) (n.)

Definition: At home all over the world,” and as a noun, “a citizen of the world.

2. Selcouth (adj.)

Definition:  Unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvellous.

1. Peregrinate (v.)

Definition: Travel or wander around from place to place.

Which word do you connect with the most?

You may also like.

86 Comments

I just realized this word , it fits me wonderful I just got another pickup truck and I’m a junker going to put this on the clincher!!!

I didn’t know many of these terms even when I am fond of travelling! Thank you for sharing these!

Hi , you are very nice 😍😍😍 this site is really amazing and awesome! Thank you so much to provide us !

Such great information about the words every traveller should have in their vocabulary thanks sharing this article

Superb article

Great Post! This Post is very informative & helpful for trip to India. I got too much information about it & I will go to rann utsav of kutch in my holidays. Thanks for sharing such a amazing post.

Thanks sharing this article about the every traveler should have vocabulary

You’ve (via this post 😁) made me feel like getting few of those inked on myself!!! Hell yeah, I could relate to multiple ❤❤❤ Lots of love and best wishes to both of you!

Thanks so much! I’m literally planning my next tattoo right now.

Thanks sharing this article about the traveler should have in their vocabulary

Thank you so much for sharing this its really amazing

Thank you so much for sharing this info

Thanks sharing this article about the traveler

Thanks sharing this article

amazing such a nice blog , you write very well blog for travelling

Thanks for your post

I like Nemophilist. I wrote a book about a young wanderer named Everett Ruess. who roamed the southwest of America for four years (in the early 30s) before disappearing. He changed his name to Nemo near the end. Some think because he was a fan of Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo and others believe because of it’s Latin meaning, “No man or no one”. He was definitely one who loved nature. TheNextSkill is my website. Do visit.

Ahh these are so cool Happy to learn the word! Good Hopes & Wishes Sanoosh.Online

Thanks For these Words. I have read them Carefully and Also they Help Me in Travelling. Good Luck!!! Regards Hoverboards Reviewer

Very nice topic and very helpful for who students are studying in other languages. Regards:

I appreciate your work..Thank you so much for such a nice read.. If you would like to see my work: My Mother Essay

Very nice topic and very helpful for who students are studying in other languages. Regards: Learn French Online

These words are very important for those people who are eager to travel from one to another country. But Most of the people do not care for their life and they suffer from an accident and they lose their lives that is why this post is very useful for them https://www.affordable-dissertation.co.uk/dissertation-writing-services-uk/

You’re English is AMAZING! I can’t believe you’ve only been learning for a few years. Keep up the amazing work 🙂 Languages are a beautiful thing and that’s amazing that you can speak 3. https://essayspeechon.com/ That my website!!!

Amazing. The knowledge given by your blog is awesome. I usually read and increase my knowledge. Thanks for such amazing post.

Great books great knowledge

The word that truly inspires me is Freedom “Eleutheromania ” The wonderful and aesthetic. Regards

Excellent information I always seeking for. Really nice

The Language, specially the English, is really one of the wonderful and most eloquent language. It makes you understand a certain thoroughly by the availability of various options and sources in front of you. Truly enjoyed it, Regards,

Generally, from the above topic, we can infer this concept that luck alone does not exist in the world. But I think we had better define each word located in this phrase then we interpret and analyze the whole phrase. These are “luck, preparation, and opportunity”; I mean unless we define these words, we may not be able to get out the correct and exact concept from this phrase which we are looking for.

Well, I have been round a few countries lately, and got to know this, I can definitely say that this one is really really a helpful and beneficial guide for all travel geeks.

Stay blessed.

Wow! The travel needs the variety so is for the vocab, Best read Indeed

THE FERNWEH , HODOPHILE & NEMOPHILIST are my type of travelling terms that matches soulfully.. i appreciate your collection. thanks for sharing ..

Wow 🙂 This is an amazing collection of ideas! Waiting for more helpful info .

Heartfelt words for a traveller as well the one who is longing for it hardly😍

This was indeed highly useful

I wonder if Eleuthra is named after Eleuthriomania? It is so beautiful there and what a coincidence!

Nice blogpost, find it usefull. I found this most common english word in all languages on provocab website

However, it’s spelled smultronställe, literally meaning a place where you can find wild strawberries. Smultron = wild strawberries. I also speak German and adore words like Fernweh and Wanderlust. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Yes, agree with that, it’s really necessary, espeically when you go to new locations. I’ll add them to my vocubulary. Thanks alot.

Amazing info. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Love these words. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Thanks – these are amaing words to know … .and I love travelling. I may go to Findland this summer.. The word I love most if Coddiwomple…. Hope to become one in the future.

Totally agree with these. I added a few to my list for the future. Thanks for sharing this.

I was a Coddiwompler. Beware of getting comfortable.

I’m a travller and I can say this is a great list needed for anyone who want to travel. Excellent Work!

Yes, agree with that, it’s really necessary. I am also a traveler, I want to come and explore all over the world and language seems to be the biggest barrier. Thank you for sharing, that’s great

These are necessary words for a traveler. I think you traveled to many countries.

I named my sailboat Coddiwomple. Can’t think of a more fitting name for a fine sailing vessel

I just learned this word , it fits me perfect I just got a new pickup truck and I’m a junker gonna put this on the topper!!!

Take me with you!

What a great name for a boat. Do you need a first mate?

Outstanding list! I’m glad that Swedish, with only 10 million native speakers, was able to contribute with no less than three words among the top 18. However, it’s spelled smultronställe, literally meaning a place where you can find wild strawberries. Smultron = wild strawberries. I also speak German and adore words like Fernweh and Wanderlust. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Oh this is comment love!

coddiwomple is my new favorite word I just learned it because a friend posted it on Facebook and so I ended up on this page thank you for sharing all these great words I feel like I relate to almost every one of them but rarely get the chance to travel. So I fulfil the need Vine taking as many spontaneous road trips as I possibly can

How do you pronounce livsnjutare? I tried searching it but there are many pronunciations I just don’t know which is the real one.

love these words – thanks! and happy coddiwompling.

Such a Great article. Thanks for sharing.

Sorry for my comment earlier, I foolishly believed the “post comment” button would turn a darker shade of green if one finished filling out the formula so I accidentally posted an unfinished comment. 🙂 Sometimes it’s really striking to me how every language lacks beautiful words, even if it’s a universal language such as English, especially since I myself speak at least 3 languages fluently. (German, English and Italian) But I don’t necessarily find this to be a problem , since it makes each language unique. The number 12 is primarily to my liking, seeing that I’m a fan of both the meaning and the language of origin, I’m 14 and started learning English at 11, so please bear with my mistakes 😀

You’re English is AMAZING! I can’t believe you’ve only been learning for a few years. Keep up the amazing work 🙂 Languages are a beautiful thing and that’s amazing that you can speak 3.

I agree that number 12 is the most interesting here. Yūgen. I’m so delighted to find there is a word to describe this.

Fernweh! I realy love your word. ? TY for sharing

You’re very welcome!

I think travel is very good for life and mind.

I couldn’t agree with you more.

Me too. It’s one of my favs 🙂

Livsnjutare. Always.

Hey, I would love sources on these terms. Did you use any special sources, perhaps some kind of etymological dictionary?

I like Nemophilist. I wrote a book about a young wanderer named Everett Ruess. who roamed the southwest of America for four years (in the early 30s) before disappearing. He changed his name to Nemo near the end. Some think because he was a fan of Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo and others believe because of it’s Latin meaning, “No man or no one”. He was definitely one who loved nature.

“Anno mirabilis” instead of “”Annu miarabilis” Apparently a double typo?

numinous as things really are as opposed to phenominal= as things appear

Sturmfrei. Happy to learn the word!

Fernweh! 🙂 I love that word. 🙂

Ahh these are so cool! I already knew a few of them, I really like Hedophile 🙂

I like that one too 🙂

Smultroställe I personally have one near home, well I guess everyone has one 😀

That’s so important to find a place close to where you live. That way it’s always there…not too far away for when you need that time to get away.

Number 9, for me. This is what has been within me alays

That’s one of my favourites too.

Enjoyed this. My favourite was #4: Sturmfrei and #18: Resfeber.

I can definitely relate to both of those as well. I think 13, 9 and 17 connect with me the most.

I read out your content and I really enjoy you this. Your blog is so informative for travel. I’ll wait for your next post.

Good Luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Travel Vocabulary in English with Travel Stories

Apr 27, 2016 | Advanced Vocabulary

I know you love to travel as much as do. So today I want to share some of my favorite advanced travel vocabulary in English so you can tell your own travel stories more easily. 

I have 3 different travel stories for you today. In each, I’ve highlighted useful vocabulary and groups of words that often go together or collocations.

Here’s what I want you to do:

• Read the stories.
• Note the highlighted vocabulary and groups of words – can you identify the meaning from the context? (If you need help, you can use the definitions I’ve provided to help you.)
• Write your own travel story using some of the new vocabulary and expressions. You can write about a past travel experience, a business trip, a future vacation or any other travel opportunity. Then share your story in the comments.

The goal is for you to use the same keywords in your own sentences.

This is the best way for you to truly learn and remember new vocabulary. And this means the next time you talk or write about travel, you’ll have all these words available to you in your mind!

Advanced Travel Vocabulary in English with Real-Life Stories

Sharon’s travel story: a staycation on a tight budget.

When I was younger, I had a real  sense of adventure . I loved backpacking, camping in the woods, sleeping in tents and spending the evening next to the campfire. As a child, I remember trying to build a fire  from scratch  by rubbing two sticks together. I think my entire family laughed while I worked at it for an hour. Unfortunately, I never succeeded.

But I do have such good memories of camping and hiking with my family. Every summer my parents would  pack up  the kids and the dog into the car, pack all our  outdoor gear  on the roof of the car and fill coolers full of food.

My mom would pack all the usual stuff:  trail mix , fruit, marshmallows to  roast over the fire , stuff to make sandwiches, etc. We’d take a road trip to the mountains in Colorado, find our spot to  set up camp  and pitch our tents near the river. I loved listening to the sound of the river at night!

I haven’t camped for years! Neither David nor I can take that much time off of work. It makes me a little sad that Sophie, our daughter, won’t have those same memories.

But last year we did do something a little fun, a little different: we had a  staycation . The two of us could only get 4 days off of work and we were  on a tight budget . We hadn’t enjoyed everything the city has to offer for ages so we decided to just pretend to be on vacation here at home. We visited the museums, went to the theater, we even took a day trip to the coast a few hours away for a day of sun, sand, and surf.

We have some wonderful photos (and memories) of our picnic dinner watching the sunset on the beach.

sense of adventure

The desire to explore and to take advantage of adventurous opportunities.

outdoor gear

Generally used to describe items or equipment needed for outdoor recreation: tents, skis, bicycles, snowboards, etc.

set up camp

To prepare and position everything in a campsite.

from scratch

To make (or create) from the beginning with the basic ingredients.

A snack mix with a combination with dried fruit, grains, and/or nuts.

The combination of stay-at-home and vacation. A vacation where you stay at home and enjoy local sites.

pack up (the kids/the car)

To prepare one’s belongings; to gather one’s things together and prepare to depart. With “the kids” this refers to prepare the kids and their belongings for departure.

roast over the fire

To cook over the fire.

on a (tight) budget

To be on a budget means to not have a lot of extra money. A “tight” budget means very little extra money.

Lara’s Travel Story: Anything All-Inclusive

Ugh! I hate planning vacations. I mean, I do love traveling but I don’t want to think about it. All those little details – I  can’t be bothered !

I prefer those  all-inclusive  kinds of vacations for a  little R&R . You know, those places where  all you do is show up  and that’s it.

You have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Activities, the beach, the pools, dancing. Sure, they usually cost a little more but if I don’t have to plan everything then it’s worth it. The only thing is you have to be careful of those  hidden extras ! I’ve definitely been surprised by the final bill a few times.

My fiancé and I are talking about an all-inclusive cruise for our honeymoon. It sounds amazing but I’ve never been on a ship for that long.

can't be bothered

Don’t want to waste time doing something.

all you do is show up

Show up = to arrive for an appointment or gathering. “All you have to do is …” means that there is nothing else expected of you.

An exaggerated way to say, “a lot of.”

all-inclusive

(Almost) all activities and food are included in the total cost.

hidden extras

Expenses that are not included (or unexpected) in the final cost.

The services or perks that a hotel provides with the reserved room.

a little R&R

A little r est and r elaxation.

island-hopping

To visit one island after another.

To pack too much.

Jean-Luc’s Travel Story: Exotic Adventure

I’m always dreaming of my next  far-off, exotic destination . I’ll go anywhere as long as it’s adventurous.

Last year I  chartered a boat  with a friend to sail around the Greek Islands. In the afternoons, we’d  pull into ports , dive into the water, enjoy dinner on the beach and then  head back  to the boat for the night. On really warm nights we actually sleep right on the deck  under the stars .

What’s next? I don’t know. Maybe Colombia, Peru, or Chile? I’ve never been to South America and I love the idea of spending time in the Andes Mountains. Hiking in the  middle of nowhere , you know what I mean?

Those kinds of places give you such a better  perspective on life . It’s easy to forget we’re all just a tiny piece of this earth.

Or maybe Thailand? That’s another of my  bucket list  destinations.

far-off destination

A destination remote (in time or space).

To return to a place.

perspective on life

A particular attitude toward or belief about something; a point of view.

charter a boat

The reservation of a plane, boat, or bus for private use.

under the stars

To be outside with no covering.

bucket list

The achievements or experiences a person hopes to have or accomplish in their life.

pull into port

The place where a vehicle or driver stops into. In this case, a boat stops in a port.

middle of nowhere

A remote place far from any city, town, or village.

Now I’d love to hear your travel story!

Practice and build your vocabulary by sharing your own travel story in the comments below!

Using the vocabulary from the stories above, describe your favorite travel experience or tell me about a trip you’d like to take in the future.

Don’t forget to read and comment on stories from other Confident English readers. You might learn something new or have an interesting question to ask.

Happy travels!

~ Annemarie

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Extend invitations in English with phrases that strike the perfect balance between formality, friendliness, and warmth to make your invitations feel genuine and welcoming.

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Thank you for this lesson ,Annemarie ,

Very useful to me and as complete as possible

There is a typo. The last line should be a bucket list for not of.

Good eyes, Harsha, and thank you. We’ve corrected the sentence.

Dear Annemarie, Am new to this site and blog .AM very thank ful to you for sharing all these good phrases and vocabularies which helped a lot . looking forward for great lessons .Your videos are so good which helped me alot to get the correct pronunciation and also i have seen you are reading all the comments and giving a positive feedback which is so appreciated am looking forward for your comment. I have read and seen lot of english leaning sites but they usually wont reply to the comments . thanks Neetha

I’m very happy to hear you’re enjoying the Speak Confident English website and the lessons we have here. We definitely work hard to create lessons that will truly help you advance your English skills. And yes, my team and I definitely read all the comments and respond. 🙂

Hi Annamarie,

Thanks so much for this lesson. I have an advanced student and new vocabulary is always helpful.

I live in Chile, so if you need any tips or recommendations, plesase let me know, I would be happy to help you out if you are still planning to visit South America,

Awesome! I’m so glad this lesson was helpful to use with your student. And I’d LOVE to visit Chile one day. I’ll definitely ask you for recommendations if I get the opportunity. 🙂

Wow, Your have shared here such an amazing and best post which is useful for all of us. I like it and wanna say that your travel story is really fantastic and know I want to bookbus for visiting NY after reading your post.

Hi Ammy, thanks so much. I’m glad to know enjoyed and felt inspired by the lesson.

Dear Annemarie I’ve been to Iceland two years ago and I had a wonderful vacation! As Sharon, I had a real sense of adventure so I convinced my best friend to come with me, we packed up our backpacks and then we departed. We chartered a car and we traveled all over the country for 11 days. We saw amazing landscapes, waterfalls, geyser, volcanos, glaciers, and we did whale watching. We had nothing but our backpack, our tent and a burning desire to explore. Iceland is a great place. I look forward to come back there and have one more …  Read more »

Sounds like an amazing opportunity and adventure, Davide! Thanks for sharing. I’ve always wanted to visit Iceland. I really liked your use of “a burning desire to explore.” What a great expression!

Hi Annamarie, my last trip was in the city of Madrid. A wonderful city. At the time I was always without money because of I was unemployed but in the same time I craved traveling. So my sense of adventure took me to packed up my stuff buying an airline one-way ticket for Madrid. After few days in Madrid I found a job just in the week ends. I didn’t waste my time because there’s no time like present and every day I walked through the parks , visited museums and, I always looked around the city, the square, I …  Read more »

Hello Annemarie I’m from Thailand. I just learned your lesson. It was very useful. I have to say that I really like your blog, especially this topic because I love traveling. So today I have my travel story to share with you. Last month, I went to Phuket, which is an island in Thailand. I’ve already been there two or three times actually but I couldn’t get enough of it. Somebody even calls me an “island queen” and yes I truly am. I got a chance to do some diving and island hopping with one-meter-high waves. And of course, I …  Read more »

Dear Annemarie , I love these adventaures and I love going and having a trips with my friends and my family,Ande mountains I love pack packing that is my adore and I did it before with my family in sinai we climbed the mountains of sinia I loved it because the sunset seen was wonderful and we took exactly 6 hours with the tour guide and we had a rest so I wish to make a trip like me in sinia with your family or you friends Egypt is wondeful Thank you

Dear Annemarie , I really enjoyed reading Sharon’s Travel Story” A Staycation on a Tight Budget ” , it has little details which helped me in imagining the story , I felt every line in the story and how enjoyable was the trip . In addition I’ve learned many expressions like : – sense of adventure – outdoor gear – set up camp – from scratch – trail mix – stay cation – pack up – roast over the fire – on a tight budget Waiting for more ….. 🙂

Hello Rana,

Thank you for your comments. I’m so glad to know that you enjoyed this lesson and found some useful vocabulary. I hope you have the opportunity to use that vocabulary soon.

Hi Ms Annemarie! I loved this story about travel it have lots of adventures, i also loved your interesting language, and i`ve learned more vocabulary from you. I wish you more success on your project.

Hello Renad,

Thank you. I’m happy you enjoyed this lesson and I hope you’ll have the opportunity to use the vocabulary you learned. Learning + immediately practicing is the best way to improve your vocabulary knowledge.

Dear Annemarie thanks for this beautiful stories , it’s very useful and i have loved them so much. the most beautiful one is the “Jean-Luc’s Travel Story: Exotic Adventure” it’s really simple , understandable, meaningful and exciting . the most expression i had loved it in this story is “under the stars”. i hope you can do more than this , by the way you can make this stories like in an audio track or on a cd , it will be more helpful and skillful to the students who are get bored from reading stories. great job hope to …  Read more »

Hello Arwa,

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson and learned some useful vocabulary.

Hi Annemarie , I really enjoyed getting to read your story about jean ,also i liked your language so much it was so helpful , although i love reading adventurous stories. I wish you every success on your projects, I will continue following and sharing them on social networks. yours, ahmed

Thank you for the kind comments, Ahmed. I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson.

Dear Ms Annemarie, I’ve read your story “Lara’s Travel Story: Anything All-Inclusive”. And I learned so much new vocabulary expressions such as; – can’t be bothered -all you do is show up -a ton of -all-inclusive -hidden extras -amenities -a little R&R -island-hopping -over pack I liked the idea of it, it is creative and simple. And I’m waiting for another one, and looking forward to reading your next stories. Every good story you get here in this website and upload it gives you a push froward to reach your goal, so I advice you to complete uploading stories alike …  Read more »

Thank for sharing your thoughts, Bishoy. I appreciate them and I’m glad you learned so much useful vocabulary.

Dear Annemarie My name is Abdullah, i am a student in the 8th grade. I am from Egypt. It’s the first time to read stories with this exciting an I would be so glade to read more for your stories. At first, my teacher in the school told us to read it as a homework and Summarizes, but now I would to read more from you. best wishes , abdullah

Hello Abdullah,

Wonderful. I’m glad this lesson was interesting for you and I hope you’ll continue to find useful lessons on this website.

Hi , I like this type of stories , I’ve learned new vocabulary and new phrases . This type of stories make me excited to continue reading and choosing another one.

Hello Ahmed,

I’m so glad you enjoyed this lesson and that it makes you want to continue reading. Thank you.

I’m really very thankful to you because travel stories helped me so much in teaching my students new vocabulary about journeys . Hope to find more and more in future lessons

Hello Antar,

Thank you for the comment. I’m very happy to know this has been helpful to you in your classroom and with your students.

Hi Annemarie , Thanks a lot for sharing this post on travel stories. Actually my English not well but I can understand at all, I really like that it help me improve my English as well. Thanks again 🙂

Thanks for your comment, Sakuta. I’m happy that you enjoyed this lesson and have learned some new vocabulary!

Hi Annemarie, First of all, thank you very much for sharing this post on travel stories. I have been following your weekly posts since a couple of weeks, I like this post a lot, it is always exciting listening and talking of travel stories. Sharon’s staycation story resonates well with me as I like going out with family even if it is not such a significant or a popular place to go visit. The feel of going out together and experience the joy of spending time with family outside is worth experiencing and treasure the memories. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go …  Read more »

Hello Hari,

Thank you so much for your comments. I’m thrilled to have you following my Confident English lessons.

Very impressive vocabulary with your sentence, “Sharon’s staycation story resonates well with me…” Nicely said.

This was very well written and you did a great job using vocabulary from the lesson.

Hey AnneMarie to be honest the traveling now is the most important thing in my life, I sounds good when i travel abroad and discouvir a new places, traditions, cultures, countries. I love that !! when I’m thinking of my next trip I be happy for searching for a cheap fly and think in all little details (hotels, food , bus from airoprot to the city centre then to hotel, mesuems, things to do in that city) so for the me the word of cant be bothered doesnt exist in this kind of things. and i dont like all inclusive …  Read more »

Hello Alami,

Thank you for sharing about your travel preferences. Your love of travel is like many of us here. 🙂 As you described, I think planning a vacation can be fun, almost as fun as the vacation.

Do you have a favorite country or place that you like to visit? Best, Annemarie

Mahmoud on May 06.05.2016 Hi Annmarie As this is my first challenge I hope that you like it and that it’s good. On Last May and during a party I won a two hotel full board nights pouch for two in Aqaba_Jordan. Me and my wife were very existed and started to plan for when,how and what kind of activities we can do in Aqaba while staying there, off course budget wise it was affordable due to the pouch, First of all we picked the right weekend to do so, and then I rented a car. Meanwhile, using the net …  Read more »

Hello Mahmoud,

Welcome and thank you for sharing your story!

How wonderful to win an all-inclusive two-day trip to Aqaba! It sounds wonderful. And Petra! I have always wanted to visit Petra! And was this the first time you or your wife scuba dived? How was it?

A few small corrections: “… I won a [full-board two-night hotel stay …]” “My wife and [I] were very [excited] …”

It sounds like the perfect two-day quick trip to get away! Thanks again for sharing. ~ annemarie

Hello Annemarie! Fortunately, I have some free time to accomplish the task and to tell about my vacations. A new trip always means that I will open something new. I always have a sense of adventure when taking some journey, so I always look forward to my holidays and therefore to travelling. It doesn’t matter what kind of holidays I’m going to take, the main thing is what emotions I will have. It may be a camping where I can spend wonderful time roasting meat over the fire, singing campfire songs, eating some trail mix and chatting with my friends …  Read more »

Hello Alexandra – I loved this! You used so many of the key words and expressions! Fantastic work. And I really like the expression: “… if I’m squeezed like a lemon …” I assume that means to feel really stressed, is that correct? What a perfect description for feeling stressed and needing a break! One question, when you say “the main thing is what emotions I will have” do you mean emotions or experiences? When I see emotions, I think of happy, sad, angry, frustrated, joyful, etc. If that is what you mean, that is okay but I wanted to …  Read more »

Thanks a lot for your comments, Annemarie! I appreciate them greatly!!! Frankly speaking I’ve thought that the expression “to be squeezed like a lemon” (that really means “to be very tired and stressed” as you have said) really exists in English, because I leart it at university, but now I doubt… Do native speakers use it in their speech? As for the phrase “the main thing is what emotions I will have”, I’ve meant here that I always get some positive emotions after having travelled, because travelling enriches me, gives the opportunity to meet new people, to get to know …  Read more »

Hello Alexandra,

You are so welcome.

As for “to be squeezed like a lemon” it is possible that it is an idiomatic expression. Idioms can be regional, so it is possible that it is used in another country or a specific region. For me it was new, but I understood what you meant. It was easy to understand from the context. I’ll have to do some research to see if I can find where they use it. 🙂

Best, Annemarie

Thank you, Annemarie!

Hello Annemarie! I miss our challenge and such short stories :)) I will tell you about my nearest travel just in a few days – from Saint-Petersburg to Helsinki by bus. If my budget not so tight, I would prefer the train because it is faster and more comfortable, but I am going to spend two nights in a bus… awesome! It is a business trip just for one day and I will have a lot of free time in the city. So, I hope weather will be well and I have pleasure of the walking and sitting near the …  Read more »

Hello Yulia, I miss our daily challenges too!! It makes me excited for the June challenge. And how fun to go to Helsinki for work! It sounds like you have some good plans for your free time there – the idea of coffee and a sandwich by the sea sounds perfect. A few things: “If my budget [wasn’t] so tight …” — we need to have a verb. ” …spend two nights [on] a bus.” Prepositions are so tricky. We can say “in a car” or “in a truck” but for larger vehicles we say “on a bus,” “on a …  Read more »

Hello Annemarie! I missed your reply on my travel story. Thank you very much for your comments and correction of my text. As you already know, my trip was success and also I had extra practice in English. And weather was really amazing! The local people jocked that we have a chance to get very unusual gift from Helsinki – a sunburn!

A sunburn in Helsinki! That is the first time I’ve ever heard about that! 🙂

I’m so glad it was a successful trip, Yulia. It really made me happy to hear about your experience! ~ annemarie

Everybody loves traveling and I’m not an exception! There is no point in choosing the best way of traveling, all of them are good to get new impressions, to relax and to reload your mind. As a rule it’s me who arranges family vacation from scratch. The choice of vacation depends on a budjet, on a season and its length. Especially I love short holidays for 3-4 days because they are so dynamic, full of events; it’s really a great short break in a busy life. We usually stay at small private hotels without many amenities but with picturesque views …  Read more »

This sounds like the perfect long weekend, Olga! Especially now that spring is starting, I’m dreaming of an easy 3-4 day trip on the countryside. Do you enjoy the planning for vacations or is it stressful for you?

Perfect use of: from scratch, without many amenities, not any hidden extras.

A few changes for articles: “…it’s me who arranges [the] family vacation” “…on [the] season and its length.” “… [a] friendly atmosphere.”

I hope you get to go on a vacation like this soon! 🙂 ~ Annemarie

Hello, I am Rafif Last summer I travelled to Turkey with my family ; my husband and my four daughters, my father and mother, my sisters and brother and their own families . We were 21 persons which means different ages, different needs and expectations about vactions, and I can’t be bothered by all those details. For that I have chosen All_inclusive kind of vactions. Our choice settled on Kartepe (green park ) for a littlr R&R. They also offer breakfast, dinner and afternoon snack time and a lot of amenities like Turkish bath, ( sauna and Jacuzzi), paint ball …  Read more »

Hello Rafif – great travel story! And wow, 21 people! I can imagine that packing was a problem and I love that you watched a Mr. Bean video to help. Great use of: I [couldn’t] be bothered, I [chose an] all-inclusive kind of vacation, all we [had to do was] show up, hidden extras and several more. Two corrections: There were 21 of us (instead of We were 21 persons). The final bill was acceptable [,it wasn’t that much] or [, it wasn’t that big.] I really enjoyed this and you did a great job using some of the more …  Read more »

Thank you Anne marie for your comment and the correction

I love traveling, I do believe that traveling gives you a better perspective on life, it changes you. When you come back home you are a bit different! You have tons of new ideas, stories to tell! I think it is a good way to reboot all your system and we all need a little R and R after all! I remember when a child we would go to the seaside like every year. Our parents would pack up a car and all our belongings and our trip would begin. You know Ukraine is the biggest country in Europe, so …  Read more »

Excellent!!!! You described your memories in that way I felt I was there!!! It’s wonderful that you love traveling and can go anywhere easily without a doubt! I think you are really interesting person to have among friends!

Thank you so much! You are adorable!:) It is always fun to travel with a great company!:)

What wonderful details, Maria! I can imagine getting up early and into the car to start a 10-hour road trip! And I love your 3 must-haves (don’t forget the ‘s’ on ‘haves’ since it’s 3). Like you, I love the idea of the seaside, the sunset, and grilling over the fire! Great use of: sense of adventure, perspective on life, a little R&R, tons of, on a tight budget and several more! A couple things: I remember when [I was] a child or I remember [as] a child, stroll [on] the beach Thanks so much for sharing this! I enjoyed …  Read more »

Thank you! I do have a quick question (this is your phrase, I know:)): stroll on – is it always with “on”? Or it depends? Could you help me with this one, please? I like this word and want to use it correctly! Thank you!

Great question. Actually, it isn’t the verb (stroll) that is important. It is the noun that follows: on the beach. We can use any verb with this: jog on the beach, run on the beach, stroll on the beach, etc. Other examples: along the river, around the city. So you could say: stroll along the river, stroll around the city.

Frankly speaking, I love travelling a lot. I love spending my free time or vacation with my family and my friends! By the way, I can have a great vacation even if I’m on a tight budget. The alternative variant is to have a staycation. My city is so amazing and beautiful! There are a lot of places of interest here. I also like to go out of the city, to go to the country, for example. Love that feeling when you pack up the kids, friends, dogs into the car, pack all outdoor gear. And It goes without saying …  Read more »

And here we go – well marinated meat is a must-have thing!;)

We have something in common- we both love shashlik))

Tatyana, you’ve done such a great job creating your own story and sharing your memories! Great use of: on a tight budget, staycation, pack up the kids, outdoor gear, all-inclusive. I was quite impressed with your use of prepositions and articles. There are just a couple missing: [the] outdoor gear, [an] all-inclusive. Really impressive! And I agree with you completely, with some inspiration and desire, any vacation can be magical! Thank you so much for sharing your story! ~ Annemarie

Dear Rachel, I am Tanja Kuzmanoska from Macedonia. I follow your posts and videos, but I resonate with this post the most, it came just in time. I love traveling, I have traveled places and been on interesting vacations. Recently I started a blog on traveling , the first post I wrote was in Macedonian, but few days ago I translated it in English. It is written in a different style, rather a blend of travel guide and prosaic, emotional text. I would love if you read it and give me a feedback. I send you the link below. Thank …  Read more »

Thank you for your comment. How exciting that you have started a blog on traveling! I’d be happy to read it.

I do have a quick question – I wasn’t sure who Rachel was?

Thanks again for the comment. I’ll be sure to email you with any feedback on your English travel story! ~ Annemarie

Hi again Annemarie, I am so sorry I have mistaken your name for Rachel, I hope you will forgive me! Regards, Tanja

🙂 Hi Tanja, No problem. It happens. I just wasn’t sure who you meant. I’ll look forward to reading your blog later today! ~ Annemarie

Dear Tanja,

I really enjoyed getting to read your story about your hometown or where your ancestors are from. You have a gift with words. I could really get a feeling for the area. How interesting that there are only two families there now!!

Thank you for sharing your site. I hope you will continue to write! ~ Annemarie

Dear Annemarie

Thank you so much for your time to read my story, your comments mean a lot to me. I am happy that you enjoyed reading it, and I appreciate your support very much. I will certainly continue to share my stories in words and photos and you are welcome to visit my site 🙂

I wish you every success on your projects, I will continue following and sharing them on social networks!

Many thanks and all the best, Tanja

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90 English Tourism Vocabulary Words and Phrases [With Sample Dialogues]

English is the most common language used in the international tourism industry.

People who work in the tourism industry use it to communicate with tourists from all over the world.

If you work in tourism or hope to find a job in the industry, it helps to know the right words and phrases for this type of work.

Interacting with Customers

Greeting customers, asking customers questions , responding to questions, checking for understanding, common scenarios in tourism english, giving recommendations, giving directions , making friendly small talk, jobs in hospitality and tourism, jobs at hotels and resorts, bar and restaurant staff, jobs at travel and tourism companies, more tourism vocabulary in english, how to learn english tourism vocabulary, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

You always want to welcome customers or guests with a friendly, professional greeting :

• Good morning (before 12 p.m.)
• Good afternoon (between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.)
• Good evening (after 5 p.m.)
• Welcome to… [company name] . My name is… [your name] .

Be sure to always use a respectful term to refer to your customers:

• Miss — Young women (under age 30)
• Ma’am — Mature women (over age 30)
• Sir — Men of all ages

For example, using these terms you can now greet customers in a very respectful way:

• Good morning, miss .
• Good afternoon, sir .

If you are working at a hotel, restaurant or tour agency, you can greet a customer and then ask them this question:

Do you have a reservation with us?

To answer the phone, you only need one simple phrase:

Hello, you’ve reached [company name]. This is [your name]. How may I help you?

If you are working with customers in a hotel, before they go to their rooms you can say one of these phrases:

• We hope you enjoy your stay!
• Please let us know if you have any questions or comments during your stay.

You will want to make sure your customers are safe and happy while they are with you. You can do this by asking friendly and polite questions, such as:

• How are you doing this morning? (or afternoon/evening)
• Have you been having a good time?
• Is there anything else we can do to make your experience more enjoyable?

Customers will have many questions, and sometimes you will not know the answer. You may need to ask a coworker or supervisor. When this happens, you can use the following phrases:

• I will get that information for you right away.
• That’s a great question! I will check with my supervisor and let you know.

As a guide, host or receptionist, you will need to double-check for understanding. These phrases are simple and quick ways to make sure you have understood the guest or customer:

• I heard you ask (about flights) . Is that correct?
• So, you said (you wanted to visit the ruins) , right?
• Okay, I understand that (your flight leaves at 3 PM) . Is that correct?

To ask for clarification

Your guest may use vocabulary that you are unfamiliar with. Likewise, they might have an accent that is difficult for you to understand. Here are some polite ways to ask them to repeat or clarify what they said:

• I’m sorry, I didn’t quite understand that. Can you say that again?
• Pardon my English, but I didn’t understand that. Can you say that again?
• I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Can you describe what you mean?

To invite your guests to ask questions

You can make all of your guests feel welcome by encouraging them to ask questions:

• Does anyone have any questions?
• Yes, sir? / Yes, ma’am? Do you have a question?
• Please feel free to raise your hand any time if you have a question.
• So, any questions?

When working in tourism, you might need to give directions to tourists, share recommendations for a good restaurant or attraction or make friendly conversation.

In these scenarios, you will play the part of the “guide,” but it could be any job where you interact with tourists. Practice these dialogues so you feel confident using these words and phrases in your interactions.

• For (authentic cuisine, family activities, etc.), I recommend…
• My favorite place is…
• Personally, I suggest…

Tourist: Excuse me, do you know a good place for ice cream?

Guide: Oh, yes. For really good ice cream, I recommend Maria’s. It’s located about six blocks from here, and it’s my favorite place. Personally, I suggest the chocolate cherry flavor. I think your family will like it.

Tourist: Great, thanks!

If you work in tourism, you will need to give directions to visitors. Here are some key phrases you might use to explain how to get somewhere: 

• Go straight
• Stop at the…
• Continue until…
• Take the subway (or bus, train, etc.)
• Follow the signs for…
• At the traffic light
• At the next street (or light, block, etc.)
• In five blocks
• Near the hotel (or beach, station, etc.)
• On the main plaza

See this post for more words and phrases for giving directions: 

Asking for and giving directions in English is a helpful skill, and this guide will show you the important vocabulary you need to know, with audio pronunciation included!…

Tourist: Can you tell me how to get to the theater?

Guide: Sure! The theater is near the train station. You need to go straight down this street for one block. At the next street, turn left. Continue until you see a sign for the theater, in about five blocks. If you’re lost, you can follow the signs for the train station. Does that make sense?

Tourist: Yes, thank you!

Here’s a helpful video to practice basic phrases for giving directions:

Here are some phrases that you can use when you want to make friendly conversation with a guest or visitor:

• So, are you enjoying your time in (Paris) so far?
• Tell me, what is your favorite part of the city so far?
• What do you think of the (architecture, food, beach, festival, etc.) ?

This vocabulary will help you a lot when you are working in the tourism industry or searching for jobs. 

• Bellhop / baggage handler — the person who will open the front door for guests and carry their bags to their rooms
• Concierge / receptionist — the person at the front desk who welcomes the guests, gives out room keys, helps guests make reservations and takes payments for reservations
• Maid / housekeeper — the person who cleans the hotel rooms ( see English vocabulary for housekeeping here ) 
• Janitor — the person responsible for cleaning everything outside of hotel rooms, such as the lobby and other common areas 
• Groundskeeper — the person who takes care of all the plants outside the hotel
• Maintenance worker — the person who fixes anything that stops working in the hotel 
• Manager / supervisor — the person who makes sure everything goes well at the hotel, hires employees, teaches new employees how to do their jobs and makes sure that guests are happy
• Event planner — the person who makes sure the hotel is ready for big events such as business conventions (meetings) or weddings 

Here are a couple of vocabulary guides for working in hotels:

Practicing English for receptionists can help you greet and assist hotel guests with ease. By studying the right phrases, you can prepare yourself to handle common…

Knowing hotel vocabulary in English is essential if you want to work in the hospitality industry. Check out our list of 100+ vocabulary words and phrases on everything…

These jobs might exist at a hotel if it has a bar and/or restaurant. 

• Bartender — the person who makes and serves drinks at the bar 
• Host / hostess — the person who stands at the entrance to the restaurant and welcomes guests, brings them to a table and takes reservations on the phone and in person
• Server / waiter / waitress — the person who serves customers who are eating at the restaurant (“waiter” refers to a male, “waitress” refers to a female and “server” can refer to any gender)
• Busboy / busser — the person who makes sure that tables are clean and ready for customers
• Chef / cook — the person who prepares food at the restaurant

If you work or want to work in a bar or restaurant, check out this vocabulary guide next:

Click here to learn English for restaurant staff! Here, we have information about six essential restaurant positions, the common phrases used by each one and study…

There are entire companies that exist just to help travelers book their trips. If you work for one of these companies, you will either work in an office or outside the office helping travelers enjoy their time in your city or country.

• Secretary / administrative assistant — someone who takes care of the whole office by organizing paperwork, making and receiving phone calls, organizing the office schedule and taking reservations for tours and trips
• Travel agent — someone who helps people find the most affordable flights, hotels, etc. and helps them buy tickets and make reservations before they travel
• Tour guide — someone who goes out with tourists and takes them on adventures to explore towns, cities, farms, mountains, jungles and more
• Taxi driver / private driver — someone who drives tourists in a taxi or private car between different places, and sometimes on a tour around the area
• Shuttle driver — someone who drives a large vehicle (usually a small bus or large van) to transport groups of people between places, such as from the hotel to some popular tourist destinations or between the hotel and the airport
• Airline agent — someone who works at the desk of an airline (a company that owns airplanes and provides transportation services with them)
• Flight attendant — someone who takes care of passengers on airplanes by serving food and drinks and giving safety instructions ( see English vocabulary for flight attendants here )
• Cruise attendant — someone who takes care of people on boats and ships by doing the same things as flight attendants, providing services like food and drinks and giving safety instructions
• Translator — someone who translates between different languages in writing, such as for tourism guides or flyers 
• Interpreter — someone who translates between two languages by listening and speaking, often to help tourists and visitors understand and speak with local people
• Recreational guide — someone who goes with tourists to do activities like yoga, surfing, cycling, running, hiking and climbing mountains

Here is a list of common tourism-related English words. You might be asked questions with these words or you might need to use them yourself. Make sure you’re familiar with them and can use them in full sentences.

• Tourist – someone who travels to different places for enjoyment or to see new things
• Attractions — places of interest that are often visited by tourists, such as museums or amusement parks
• Landmark – a special or famous place that people can easily recognize, often used for giving directions
• Destination – a place to which people travel for leisure, business or other purposes
• Guide – a person who helps tourists by showing them around and giving them information about a place
• Guidebook – a book that provides information for travelers about a particular destination, including attractions, hotels and restaurants
• Souvenir – a small item that people buy to remember a place they visited, like a keychain or a postcard
• Itinerary – a plan or schedule that shows the activities or places someone will visit during their trip
• Accommodation – a place where travelers can stay overnight, such as a hotel, hostel or campground 
• Transportation – the way people travel from one place to another, such as by car, bus, train or airplane
• Passport – a document issued by a government that proves a person’s identity and nationality, allowing them to travel internationally
• Visa – a stamp or document given by a country’s government that allows someone to enter or stay in that country for a certain period of time, usually for tourism, work, or study
• Business district — also called the financial district, this is the center of the city where many offices, banks and companies are located
• Entertainment district — a part of a city where there are lots of restaurants, bars, theaters and other fun places
• Dining district — an area within a city with a lot of restaurants 
• Custom — a traditional way of doing something that is common in a particular culture or society
• Highlight — the most interesting or exciting part of something, often the main attraction 
• Scenery — the natural features of an area, such as mountains, rivers or forests, that people find beautiful to look at
• Surroundings — the area or environment around a particular place, including nearby buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods
• Depart — to leave from a place, especially when traveling
• Arrive — to reach or get to a place or destination, especially when traveling
• Recommend — to suggest or advise someone to do something because you think they will enjoy it
• Read the “English for International Tourism” textbooks. They are available in low-intermediate ,  intermediate  and  high-intermediate levels. As long as you have a foundation in English, this series is perfect for learning how to communicate with coworkers and tourists in different tourism-related scenarios. Here are some more English for Tourism books we recommend.  
• Take an English for Tourism course. You can find some great courses on Udemy, such as this English for Business and Tourism course aimed at low-intermediate to intermediate students. Or take lessons with a tutor who specializes in tourism on Preply .
• Complete tourism English courses on Memrise. Focus on Memrise English courses for tourism. These lessons feature English vocabulary words and phrases that anyone in the tourism industry would use in their daily activities. Try spending at least 30 minutes a day using Memrise to brush up on your tourism vocabulary—you’ll notice a difference!
• Follow travel vloggers on YouTube. Look for channels or specific videos about the place where you will be working. Engage in discussions in the comments as well! Not only will that make using YouTube more fun , but it will also require you to learn and use new words during your chats back and forth with others.
• Participate in discussions on travel forums. Travel forums allow you to use your new tourism vocabulary with native speakers and practice written English . On TripAdvisor , you can talk with English speakers about traveling, hotels, restaurants, transportation and more. The /r/travel subreddit is a great place to talk about everything related to tourism. 
• Give yourself daily homework. A great place to start is  the tourism section of ESL Conversation Questions . You’ll find a variety of tourism-related topics that you can discuss with your friends and coworkers. If you’re a hospitality professional, check out Oxford University Press’ free online workbook series, English for Careers . 

Bookmark this page so you can come back and view this tourism vocabulary whenever you have some free time.

Soon you will be able to communicate with any tourist who crosses your path!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

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Top Travel Words to Explore the Incredible World

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: September 7, 2023

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Are you planning a trip abroad? Knowing some essential travel words and phrases in English can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the vocabulary and expressions related to travel.

In this article, we’ll cover a wide range of travel-related words and phrases that can help you communicate more effectively during your trip. From airport and hotel vocabulary to transportation and directions, we’ll provide you with the essential vocabulary you need to navigate your way around a new place. We’ll also include example sentences and tables to help you better understand the context in which these words and phrases are used. So, let’s get started.

Travel Words

Travel Words: Modes of Transportation

Travel words: air travel.

Air travel has become a popular mode of transportation due to its speed and comfort. Here are some words related to air travel:

Example sentences:

• I am flying to New York tomorrow.
• The plane takes off at 9 am.

Travel Words: Land Travel

Land travel refers to traveling on the ground. It includes various modes of transportation such as cars, buses, and trains. Here are some words related to land travel:

• I usually travel by car to work.
• The train station is located in the city center.

Travel Words: Sea Travel

Sea travel refers to traveling on water. It includes various modes of transportation such as ships, boats, and ferries. Here are some words related to sea travel:

• The ship is leaving from the port at 5 pm.
• We took a boat to the island.

Travel Words: Booking and Reservations

Travel words: ticketing.

When booking a trip, you will need to purchase a ticket. Here are some words related to ticketing:

• I need to book a ticket to New York.
• What’s the fare for a one-way ticket?
• I’ve already bought my ticket, so I just need to board the plane.

Travel Words: Accommodation

When traveling, you will also need to book a place to stay. Here are some words related to accommodation:

• I made a reservation at the hotel for next week.
• What time is check-in?
• I need a single room for tonight.

Travel Words: Car Rentals

If you need a car during your trip, you can rent one. Here are some words related to car rentals:

• I need to reserve a car for next weekend.
• How many passengers can fit in the car?
• My departure time is at 10 am, so I need to return the car before then.
• What time is your arrival?

Travel Words: Navigating Your Journey

Travel words: maps and directions.

When travelling to a new place, it is essential to have a map and know how to read it. Here are some words and phrases related to maps and directions:

• Can you show me the route to the airport on the map?
• Please give me directions to the nearest train station.
• Be careful when crossing the road, watch out for traffic.

Travel Words: Signage and Symbols

Signs and symbols are essential when travelling in a foreign country. Here are some words and phrases related to signage and symbols:

• Follow the arrows to find the baggage claim area.
• The entrance to the museum is on the left.
• The warning sign indicates that the road is closed ahead.

Travel Words: At the Airport

Travel words: check-in process.

The check-in process is the first step in any air travel journey. Here are some words and phrases you might encounter during this process:

• I need to go to the check-in counter to get my boarding pass.
• I prefer to sit in an aisle seat because I like to stretch my legs.

Travel Words: Departure Lounge

The departure lounge is the area of the airport where you wait for your flight. Here are some words and phrases you might encounter during this process:

• My gate is number 12. I need to find it.
• The flight attendant was very friendly and helped me with my luggage.
• The take off was a bit bumpy, but we made it safely into the air.

Travel Words: Arrival and Baggage Claim

After your flight, you will arrive at your destination airport. Here are some words and phrases you might encounter during this process:

• I need to go through customs before I can leave the airport.
• My luggage should be at the baggage claim area. I hope it arrives soon!

Travel Words: On the Plane

Travel words: seating arrangements.

• I prefer to sit in the window seat because I like to look out at the view.
• Excuse me, can you help me find my seat? I think I’m in the middle seat.
• The overhead bins are full, so you’ll have to check your luggage.

Travel Words: In-flight Services

• Can I have a blanket and pillow, please? I’m feeling cold.
• We’re experiencing some turbulence, so please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened.
• The pilot has announced that we will be landing in approximately 10 minutes.
• I need to go to the baggage claim to pick up my suitcase.

Travel Words: Accommodations

Travel words: hotels.

Hotels are the most popular type of accommodation for travelers. They offer a range of amenities and services, from basic to luxurious, depending on the budget and preferences of the traveler. Here are some common words and phrases related to hotels:

• I’m looking for a budget hotel near the city center.
• We arrived at the hotel late at night and had to check-in quickly.
• I need to book a room at the hotel for next week.
• We checked out of the hotel early in the morning to catch our flight.

Travel Words: Hostels

Hostels are a popular accommodation option for budget travelers, especially backpackers. They offer basic amenities and shared facilities, such as kitchens and bathrooms, at a lower cost than hotels. Here are some common words and phrases related to hostels:

• I’m planning to stay at a hostel during my backpacking trip.
• I booked a dormitory bed at the hostel to save money.
• We upgraded to a private room at the hostel for more privacy.
• The common area at the hostel was a great place to meet other travelers.

Travel Words: Exploring the Destination

When traveling to a new place, exploring the destination is one of the most exciting parts of the trip. Here are some essential words and phrases to help you make the most of your sightseeing, local cuisine, and shopping experiences.

Travel Words: Sightseeing

When visiting a new place, it’s essential to explore the local landmarks and attractions. Here are some words and phrases to help you navigate your way around:

• “I want to visit all the tourist attractions in the city.”
• “Can you show me on the map where the landmark is located?”
• “I’m planning to visit the museum tomorrow.”

Travel Words: Local Cuisine

Trying local cuisine is an essential part of exploring a new destination. Here are some words and phrases to help you order food and understand the menu:

• “I want to try the local cuisine. Can you recommend a good restaurant?”
• “Do you have a menu in English?”
• “What is the specialty of this restaurant?”

Travel Words: Shopping

Shopping is a fun way to explore the local culture and pick up souvenirs. Here are some words and phrases to help you navigate the shopping scene:

• “I want to go shopping for souvenirs.”
• “Where is the nearest market?”
• “Can you give me a bargain on this item?”

Travel Words: Travel Challenges

Travel words: delays and cancellations.

One of the biggest challenges of traveling is dealing with delays and cancellations. Whether it’s due to weather, mechanical issues, or other unforeseen circumstances, delays and cancellations can be frustrating and stressful. Here are some words and phrases you may encounter when dealing with delays and cancellations:

• My flight was delayed by two hours due to bad weather.
• The airline announced the cancellation of my flight, and I had to book another one.
• I need to return to the baggage compartment to get my suitcase.
• The airline provided excellent service during the delay.
• The train arrived at platform 3.

Travel Words: Lost Baggage

Another common travel challenge is lost baggage. It can be frustrating and stressful to arrive at your destination without your luggage. Here are some words and phrases related to lost baggage:

• My baggage was lost during my flight, and I had to fill out a claim form.
• I need to find the baggage compartment to get my suitcase.
• The airline provided excellent service when my baggage was lost.
• I need to find a currency exchange to exchange my money.
• The bus stop is just around the corner.

Travel Words: Language Barriers

Finally, language barriers can be a challenge when traveling to a foreign country. Here are some words and phrases related to language barriers:

• I had trouble communicating with the locals due to the language barrier.
• I need to find a translation app to help me communicate.
• The interpreter helped me communicate with the locals.
• I brought a phrasebook to help me communicate in a foreign language.
• The locals had a strong accent, and I had trouble understanding them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common phrases used when traveling?

• Excuse me, where is the restroom?
• Can you help me find my gate?
• How much does it cost?
• Can I have a menu, please?
• Is there a taxi stand nearby?
• Do you speak English?
• Could you take a photo of us, please?
• What time is the next train/bus/flight?
• Could you recommend a good restaurant?
• I’m lost, can you point me in the right direction?

What are some essential travel vocabulary words?

What are some words to describe different types of vacations?

What are some travel-related idioms?

• Catch some rays (to get some sun)
• Hit the road (to start a trip)
• Live out of a suitcase (to travel frequently)
• On the go (constantly moving or traveling)
• See the sights (to visit tourist attractions)
• Take a hike (to go for a walk or hike)
• Travel light (to pack lightly)
• Wanderlust (a strong desire to travel)

What are some English words for describing tourist attractions?

• I'm lost, can you point me in the right direction?

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100 + Travel Words explained 🛫🏝❤️ Best Free Lesson

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Booking a Holiday

Travelling to your destination, arriving at your destination, places to visit, describing places, asking for help.

Whether you are going on a short holiday for a few days or planning to travel around various countries for a few months, having a basic understanding of the vocabulary and phrases you might need to use for communication is quite important.

English is a widely spoken language in the majority of countries that welcome tourism, so it would be beneficial to familiarise yourself with some useful phrases before departing.

In addition, if you could find out how to say some basic phrases in the country’s native language, I’m sure the local people there would appreciate your efforts!

Basic phrases in English that you should translate and try to use in the native language of your destination:

Book:  as opposed to the noun (reading material), this verb means to arrange and confirm a place on a flight, a room in a hotel or a ticket for an event in the future.

Depart:  to go away or leave, especially on a journey.

Arrive:  to reach a place, especially at the end of a journey.

Reservation:  an arrangement in which something like a seat on a plane or a table in a restaurant is kept for you.

Destination:  the place where someone is going, or something is being sent or taken.

Complimentary:  if tickets books or any other items are complimentary, it means they are given free, especially by a business.

All-Inclusive:  Including everyone or everything. In holiday terms, this would refer to a hotel deal where the price usually includes accommodation, meals and drinks (any extra activities or facilities would be charged separately).

Travel Agency:  a company or shop that makes travel arrangements for people.

Ticket:  a small piece of paper or card given to someone, usually to show that they have paid for an event, journey or activity.

Brochure:  a type of small magazine that contains pictures and information about a product or a company.

Leaflet:  a small piece of paper that gives you information or advertises something.

Last Minute Deals:  these are promotions that are advertised at the latest possible time for those who are more spontaneous!

Promotion:  publicising a product to increase sales or public awareness.

Package Deal:  an offer or agreement involving a number of related items or the acceptance of one being dependent on acceptance of another.

Half-Board:  if you request ‘half-board’ at a hotel, breakfast and dinner would be included in the hotel price (as part of the package).

Full-Board:  if you request ‘full-board’ at a hotel, that would include all three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in the price of your accommodation.

Self-Catering:  if you stay in self-catering accommodation, you would be in a place where you are provided with the facilities to prepare and cook your own meals.

Accommodation:  a room or building in which someone may live or stay. Different types of accommodation include apartments, hotels, guesthouses and backpacking hostels.

Vacation:  the American term for ‘holiday’.

Camping:  the activity of spending a holiday (vacation) living in a tent or campervan.

Backpacking:  to travel or hike carrying one’s belongings in a backpack.

Transfer:  the act of moving someone or something from one place to another.

Budget Holiday:  (adjective) meaning inexpensive. Planning a trip using a minimal amount of money. (Budget – noun) Having a limited amount of money for expenditure:

• ‘We have to keep within the household budget).

Travel Documents:  all the necessary documents you would need to take with you on a holiday i.e. passport or ID card, driving license, flight/bus/ train tickets, visa confirmation etc.

Outbound:  travelling away from a particular place, usually the first half of a journey.

Inbound:  travelling towards a particular place, especially when returning to the original point of departure.

Two-way, Return Ticket (UK), Round Trip (US):  a ticket that allows someone to travel to a place and back again.

One-way, Single Ticket:  a ticket that allows a passenger to travel only to his/her destination, without returning.

Transport:  (verb  trans-PORT ) to take or carry goods or people from one place to another. (noun  TRANS-port ) A system or means of conveying people or goods from place to place by means of a vehicle, aircraft or ship.

Splash out:  a phrasal verb (mainly used in British English) meaning to spend money freely

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Sample Conversation about Booking a Holiday: Travel Agent = TA, Customer = C

TA:  Good afternoon madam, how can I help you today? C:  Good afternoon, I would like to book a trip to Italy for 2 people and a 6 year old child please.

TA:  Is there anywhere in particular you would like to go? C:  I can’t decide between Venice or Rome, whichever is cheaper as we’re on a budget this year!

TA:  Okay, and when would you like to go? C:  We have two weeks of holiday between 18 th June and 2 nd July, and we’d like to go for at least 10 days during that period.

TA:  No problem, I’ll just check to see which destination would be cheaper…. We have a special promotion on at the moment, if you book a package deal to Venice, you get free transfer to and from your hotel to the airport, plus one free meal each day. Would you be interested in that? C:  Yes, that sounds great!

TA:  And would you like full-board or half-board ? C:  Well, seeing as we will get one free meal each anyway, I think self-catering would be better. I’ll have a little bit of extra money to splash out in a nice restaurant somewhere!

TA:  Okay, that’s fine. We have a hotel that offers self-catering facilities and is right in the centre of Rome. They also have special facilities for children such as meal deals, extra beds, a play area in the lobby and a crèche. C:  Perfect! I won’t need to spend too much money on transport and our son will surely have fun too!

TA:  Exactly. Your outbound flight will be on the 19 th June, departing from London Gatwick Airport at 11:30am , and your return flight will be on the 30 th June at 10:30pm. That gives you 11 and a half days in Rome, does that suit you? C:  Yes, that’s excellent, and we’ll still have a couple of days to recover before going back to work! How much will that be?

TA:  Well, the promotion is £200 per adult, and your child can go for free because he is under 8 years old. That includes the return flights , accommodation for 11 nights, airport transfer and a complimentary meal each per day. Shall we go ahead and book it ? C:  Wow, that is a fabulous deal! Yes please.

TA:  Okay. How would you like to pay? C: Credit card please. Here you go.

TA:  Thank you. Could I also see your passports please? C:  Sure, here you go.

TA:  Thank you. Here are your tickets and everything else you’ll need to know about your package holiday. Remember to keep all your travel documents safe throughout the whole trip. C:  Thank you so much for your help!

TA:  You’re welcome. Enjoy the rest of your day and please contact us if you have any queries before you set off on your holiday !

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NEXT: Packing Vocabulary

Suitcase:  a case with a handle and hinged lid, used for carrying clothes and other personal possessions.

Backpack (US), Rucksack (UK):  a bag with shoulder straps that allow it to be carried on one’s back.

Currency:  a system of money in general use in a particular country.

Appropriate Clothing:  suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person or occasion.

Seasonal:  relating to a particular season of the year (Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer).

Swimwear, Bikini:   clothing worn for swimming (bikinis are specifically for women).

Fanny Pack (US), Bum Bag (UK):  a small bag used to safely store small valuable items when on holiday. This is usually worn around the waist and can be concealed under one’s clothing.

Sample Conversation about Packing:

A: Sarah, I’ve managed to book the flights and the train tickets for our vacation to Switzerland! B: Wow, that’s so exciting! So, are we leaving next month on the date we wanted?

A: No, we’re leaving next week! The travel agency gave us a great package deal and we’ve saved a lot of money, but it meant changing the dates to go earlier. We don’t have to work anyway, so I thought it would be nice! B: Oh, I see! Okay, that means we’ll have to start packing very soon. What will the weather be like?

A: Well, it’ll be spring but we’re going for 3 weeks, so I would say it’s safer to take clothing for hot and cold weather. We’ll probably go skiing too, so let’s pack our snow gear . B: Sure. I’m going to pack a few bikinis too, just in case we find a small beach!

A: It might be easier to take our backpacks , as we can fit more into them. B: I agree, they’re a lot bigger than the suitcases . Have you got all our travel documents together?

A: I just need to print off the flight confirmation details and the train tickets . B: Great. I’ll get some dollars exchanged to Swiss franc for the first few days. A: Okay, so you’re in charge of getting the currency sorted and I’ll keep all the travel documents together.  Now, let’s start packing!

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NEXT: Traveling to your destination

Check-In:  the act of reporting one’s presence and registering, typically at an airport or hotel.

Departure Gate:  gate where passengers embark.

Airport Terminal:   this is a building at an airport, where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board or disembark from an aircraft.

Departure Lounge:  a seating area in an airport where passengers wait to board an aircraft or vehicle.

Duty-Free:  Items available for purchase that are free of duty or tax charges in a particular country, generally sold at airports.

Ferry:  a boat or ship for conveying passengers or goods, especially over a relatively short distance and as a regular service.

Take Off:  (of an aircraft or bird) becoming airborne.

Board:  to get on or into (a ship, aircraft or other vehicle).

Passport Check, Security Checkpoint:  a barrier or manned entrance typically at a border of a country where travellers are subject to security checks.

Overweight:  baggage weighing in excess of the allowed amount.

Destination:  the place to which someone or something is going or being sent.

Window Seat:  a seat positioned next to a window on a large vehicle or aircraft.

Aisle Seat :  a seat positioned beside the walkway on a large vehicle or aircraft.

Sample Conversation about Checking-in at the Airport: Airport Attendant = AA, Passenger = P

AA: Next please! P: Hi. Good Afternoon.

AA: Good Afternoon sir. May I see your passport please? P: Yes, here you go.

AA: Thank you. Please place your luggage on the belt. P: (Places suitcase on the conveyor belt)

AA: I’m afraid this suitcase is 7kg overweight . You are allowed a maximum of 30kg and this suitcase weighs 37kg. You will need to remove some items or pay an additional fee for the extra weight. P: Oh no! I see. Okay, I’m happy to pay the fee.

AA: Is this your bag sir? P: Yes, of course it is.

AA: Did you pack it yourself? P: Yes.

AA: Were you given anything by someone else to take on the flight? P: No, definitely not.

AA: Do you have any of the following items in your luggage ? (points to images of dangerous objects) P: No, I’m certain.

AA: Okay, that’ll be 56 euros for the overweight case please. P: Okay, here is the right amount in cash. Also, could I please have a window seat ?

AA: I’ll just see if there is one available…. Okay, you’ll be seated in 25A. Here is your passport and boarding pass , please keep all your documents safe. Enjoy your flight. P: Thank you very much.

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Landing:  an instance of coming or bringing something to land, either from the air or from water.

Customs:  the place at a seaport, airport or frontier where officials check incoming goods, travellers or luggage.

Baggage Collection Point, Baggage Reclaim, Baggage Claim Area:  an area where arriving passengers claim checked-in baggage after disembarking from an airline flight.

Nothing to Declare:  exiting the airport at a gate where you state that you do not have any goods where duty is payable or that need checking whether entry into the country is permitted.

Credit Card:  a small plastic card provided by a bank or company which gives you access to money that you will need to pay back within an agreed time limit.

Debit Card:  a small plastic card provided by your bank which gives you access to money that you already have in your bank account.

Porter:  a member of staff in a hotel who assists guests with carrying their luggage.

Alarm:  something to help you wake up at an appropriate time, this could be a sound notification on your smartphone or a telephone call from staff if you are staying in a hotel.

Room Service:  requesting food, drinks or other services to be delivered to your hotel room.

Sample Conversation about Checking-in at the Hotel: Hotel Receptionist = HR, Guest = G, Porter = P

P: Good morning Sir, welcome to The Royal Pavilion Hotel. May I take your bags please? G: Oh, that’s very kind of you! Thank you. I am quite tired after that journey.

P: Please follow me this way to the check-in desk. HR: Good morning Sir, do you have a reservation ?

G: Yes, I booked online. HR: Which name was it booked in?

G: Mr. Graham Watts HR: Yes, I have it here. Could I see the credit card you paid with please?

G: Yes, here you go. HR: Thank you. Would you like an alarm call to wake you up?

G: Yes please. If you could call me around 11am, that’d be great. I would like to rest for a few hours before my meeting. HR: No problem. The complimentary breakfast is served until 11:30 and you can call for room service at anytime.

G: I will most probably do that! Thanks. HR: Your room is number 237 on the third floor and here’s the key. Our porter will help you with your bags and show you to your room.

G: That’s wonderful, thank you. Is there a Wi-Fi connection available in my room? HR: Yes, you’ll find the password in you room beside the TV. We hope you enjoy your stay with us. P: Okay Mr. Watts, if you please come this way, I’ll show you to your room…

• Kitesurfing 
• Rock Climbing 
• Windsurfing 
• Wakeboarding 
• Paddleboarding 
• Sunbathing 
• Sightseeing 
• Amusement Park
• Art Gallery
• Miniature Golf, Crazy Golf
• Animal Sanctuary
• National Park
• Invigorating
• Enervating 
• Fascinating 
• Old-Fashioned 
• Picturesque 
• Over-Priced
• Cosmopolitan 
• Metropolitan 
• Neopolitan 

NEXT: Asking for help

Catching someone’s attention:

• Excuse me, could I ask you a quick question please?
• Excuse me, sorry to bother you but could you help me please?
• Hello sir/miss, …
• Sorry sir/miss, …
• Excuse me, do you speak English?

Asking for information:

• You wouldn’t happen to know where … is, would you?
• I’m trying to find the …
• I need to get to the …
• How can I get to the …?
• Do you know where the … is?
• Where is the nearest …?
• I’m a little lost, where is the …?

If you miss a flight, bus, transfer, train:

• It seems I have missed my … could you please book me onto the next available one?
• I’ve missed my … is there any way of getting a refund?
• I’ve missed my … could you please give me information about the next one?
• Could you please help me to rearrange my …?

When you’re feeling unwell:

• Excuse me, is there a first aid room here?
• I feel really unwell, is there someone who can help me?
• I’m suffering from … do you have medical staff here?
• Do you have a first aid kit I could use please?
• I’ve injured my … could you please help me?

If there is something wrong with your luggage:

• My suitcase has not arrived yet, where can I get it from?
• My luggage is missing, could you help me please?
• My rucksack has been damaged, what can I do about this?
• I cannot find my suitcase, where can I check please?

Asking someone to translate:

• Could you tell me what it says on that sign please?
• Could you translate this message for me please?
• Could you please ask this person to …?

Prepositions and giving directions:

• (Turn) Right
• (Turn) Left
• Straight On
• Opposite the …
• Next to the …
• The … is on your (right, left)
• Before, After the traffic lights 
• Take the first, second, third exit at the roundabout 

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• Difficult Words

200+ Difficult Words in English Vocabulary

The English language is enriched with more than a million words. There are numerous difficult words in English vocabulary. Learning an approximate count of 3000 words is enough for an individual to actively participate in an everyday English conversation. A rich vocabulary eases the trouble of expression, and it helps individuals improve their communication skills. The following article on difficult words in English will help you to build a wide and varied vocabulary.

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letters ‘A’ to ‘Z’

Difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘a’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘b’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘c’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘d’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘e’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘f’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘g’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘h’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘i’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘j’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘k’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘l’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘m’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘n’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘o’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘p’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘q’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘r’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘s’.

• Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘T

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘U’

• Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘V’
• Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘W’
• Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘X’
• Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘Y’
• Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘Z’

How Can We Learn Tough English Words?

Frequently asked questions on difficult words.

Are you thinking of a solution to enrich your English vocabulary? Practising difficult English words and using them frequently will help you. Use the comprehensive list of words given below to learn more hard words and improve your vocabulary.

List of Difficult Words in English:

The following list of words will help you improve your reading comprehension, language knowledge, communication skills, and expression of ideas to others. Always keep in mind that everything is hard until it’s made easy.

Difficult Words in English Vocabulary Starting with the Letter ‘T’

Difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘v’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘w’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘x’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘y’, difficult words in english vocabulary starting with the letter ‘z’.

Have you heard the term ‘Semantics’ before? Semantics is the study of meanings. English is not our mother tongue, so it requires effort to learn. There are numerous difficult words in the English language. It is hard to acquire knowledge and apply it in day to day conversations. But by practising semantics, even the most difficult words in English can be learnt quickly. Mastering the English language will not be a Himalayan task if you are ready to learn new vocabulary on a regular basis. Start practising on simpler words and gradually step into difficult vocabulary words. Prepare a list of complex words with meaning and try to learn at least five new words from the list regularly to improve your wisdom in the English language.

List 20 hard words in English.

Labyrinth Nirvana Nomenclature Pandemonium Patriarchy Pseudonym Malapropism Omniscient Rejuvenate Sagacious Serendipity Solace Tangible Tenet Unbiased Unilateral Utopian Valediction Overwhelm Whimsical Xenophobia

List 10 difficult words starting with the letter ‘I’.

Iconoclast Idiosyncrasy Idle Imbibe Imperative Impetus Incarnate Indigenous Inevitable Insane

What is semantics?

Semantics is the study of meanings.

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Travel Nightmare: Multiple Airlines Pull Plug on All Future Disney World Flights, Refund Requests Denied

in Disney Parks , Walt Disney World

Another airline has cut all flights from Orlando, making it even more difficult to visit the most magical place on earth. 

If you are planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation , you may be looking to fly into Orlando International Airport. While many guests drive into the theme park haven, depending on your location, flying to Florida may be the better option. Lately, we have seen quite a few airlines end their run to Disney World, and now, another airline is joining the ranks of those who have fallen.

It was reported that Avelo has paused its direct flights from Kalamazoo to Orlando.

Avelo Airlines is a low-cost American airline with its headquarters located in Houston, Texas. Formerly known for operating charter flights under the names Casino Express Airlines and Xtra Airways, it later shifted its focus to scheduled operations and underwent a rebranding as Avelo Airlines on April 8, 2021.

While the airline has stopped running for now, the service will continue at a later date, according to airport director Craig Williams who calls this a “temporary hiatus”. The last scheduled flight to Orlando was April 8, and Avelo said the service would resume in November. No specific date was announced at this time, however.

While this may not seem like a big deal for some, as it is just one route of one airline, this is not the first budget airline to cut its service to Orlando.

Lynx Air, a Calgary-based airline that launched less than two years ago with a promise to make air travel more affordable for Canadians, also has shuttered its wings. 

“Over the past year, Lynx Air has faced a number of significant headwinds including rising operating costs, high fuel prices, exchange rates, increasing airport charges and a difficult economic and regulatory environment,” said the company in a news release.

“Despite substantial growth in the business, ongoing operational improvements, cost reductions, and efforts to explore a sale or merger, the challenges facing the company’s business have become too significant to overcome.”

Lynx Air quickly canceled hundreds of flights with little notice and told passengers that they would have to contact their credit card company for a refund, as Lynx would not be giving any out.

With multiple budget airlines ending their service, trips out to Walt Disney World Resort may become increasingly difficult over time. Just in the first few months of 2024, we have already seen prices at Disney hit all-time highs in terms of ticket costs, hotel room prices, and Disney Genie+. Over spring break, guests were paying up to $184 for a single-day theme park ticket, as well as $35 to use the Lightning Lane 2-3 times. Food and drink costs have also been steadily increasing across the board, and when you total the end cost for a family to visit Mickey Mouse at the Magic Kingdom, it doesn’t sound so magical.

On top of this, prices of tickets for Disney World will be increasing in 2025, as confirmed by CEO Bob Iger after he famously agreed that prices to visit the theme park were getting out of hand.

These budget airlines are among some of the cost-saving methods that guests can use to make their Disney vacation more affordable, so it is sad to see a lot of them closing down.

While these budget airlines have slowed down their operations entirely, Orlando International Airport is still seeing success with an increase of travel coming to and from the airport. In the month of March, MCO had over 7.6 million guests travel in and out of the state, with certain days breaking the record for the all-time busiest day in history.

While we cannot guarantee that everyone who came to Orlando went to Disney World , with over 20 million visitors a year, it is safe to say a large chunk of them did.

Do you think that the price of visiting Walt Disney World has gone up too high?