Other Definitions
wanderlust (dict)
|
WanderlustWanderlust is a word derived from German, roughly translating as "love of travel" in English. One of the words comprising "Wanderlust" is "wandern", a verb meaning roughly "to hike", although it is different from the English sense of the word. The German word "wandern" is more akin to a leisurely, highly enjoyable jaunt in the outdoors, while the English connotation of "to hike" is more akin to something that's strenuous, difficult and challenging. "Lust" is fairly obvious for English speakers, meaning something akin to "love" or "desire", although the word in German also has the connotation of "delight" or "zest". Wanderlust is a cultural attribute of the Germans that should become readily apparent to anyone who spends any amount of time in Germany. The Germans, as a people, love the outdoors and highly value pristine, undisturbed natural surroundings, and attempt to keep human disturbances to a minimum. It's not uncommon for one to see regional trains in Germany on weekends packed with hikers wearing their Wanderschuhe. To the English speaker, wanderlust means something close to having the itch to travel, to get out and see the world. It's not quite the same as in German, but the ideas of embracing an urge to get outside and move are roughly equivalent. A televison show, Gerhard Reinke's Wanderlust, was created on the principle of travel shows. The term Wanderlust in German sounds old-fashioned today. To retranslate the English Wanderlust in the sense of "love of travel" into German the expression Fernweh is more appropriate.
|
 |