travel lover synonym

8 Words To Describe A Person Who Loves To Travel

Someone who loves to travel often enjoys introducing themselves to a wide range of cultures and countries. We might want to come up with a good synonym to describe people like that, and this article is the place for that.

Which Words Can Describe A Person Who Loves To Travel?

There are plenty of options to describe a person who loves to travel. Some of the best ones that we’ll cover in this article include:

Globetrotter

• Travel freak

Peripatetic

The preferred version is “globetrotter” because it refers to somebody who is happy to spend their days traveling around the globe. They like to immerse themselves in their travels, and it’s the only word on the list that specifically plays into someone’s love of traveling.

Let’s start with “globetrotter,” which is by far the best word we can use on this list.

A globetrotter is somebody who enjoys traveling and will do so more often than most people. They’ll usually be the first person to book plane tickets out of the country, and they usually won’t care much about the time they come back.

Making holiday or vacation plans for a globetrotter is easy. Since they love traveling so much, they’re more than happy to invest a lot of their time and money into their next big trip.

The definition of “globetrotter,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “someone who often travels to a lot of different countries.”

You might see “globetrotter” in the following ways:

• He’s such a globetrotter! I wish I could visit as many countries as he has.
• I like to think of myself as a globetrotter, and I never stay in one country for more than two weeks.
• We’re a family of globetrotters, and we can’t wait to explore more of the world as we adventure.

Travel Freak

“Travel freak” is a slang phrase, where “freak” is a positive word to talk about someone’s obsession with something.

A travel freak is somebody who is completely obsessed with traveling. They’re more than happy to explore the world, and they don’t care what people might think about their freedom or love to explore new cultures and countries.

While “freak” is usually a negative slang phrase, we use it here in a positive way to show that we’re amazed by someone’s obsession with traveling.

You could see the slang phrase “travel freak” work as follows:

• You’re such a travel freak! I wish I was as confident as you at getting out and seeing the world.
• I’m a travel freak! I can’t get enough of all the wonderful adventures I get to have.
• I’m a travel freak, and I’m more than happy to admit it! I don’t know where my next adventure will be.

“Wanderlust” is a noun and not an adjective. However, it’s still a great way to describe somebody’s feeling of the love they get from traveling around.

Someone who has wanderlust will often dream about new adventures and places to go. We combine “wander,” meaning to explore, and “lust,” meaning “to long for.”

Wanderlust is an emotion that people can feel, which is why it’s not a descriptive word and doesn’t rank higher on this list. Still, we can describe someone’s emotions with “wanderlust” as a noun, which makes it a good choice nonetheless.

The definition of “wanderlust,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “the wish to travel far away and to many different places.”

While “wanderlust” is a noun, we can still use it in the following ways:

• I’ve got wanderlust, and it won’t go away until I get abroad!
• Wanderlust is such a powerful emotion that I feel nearly every day.
• He’s got plenty of wanderlust to go around, and I’m sure you can ask him where he’ll be traveling to next!

Now we come to some of the more specific words. “Rover” doesn’t strictly apply to someone who loves travel, but it can still work well.

A rover is somebody who spends a lot of time traveling. While the exact definition doesn’t mean they love traveling, it’s heavily implied that somebody who calls themselves a rover is more than happy to explore the world and everything in it.

The definition of “rover,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “a person who spends their time traveling from place to place.”

“Rover” works in the following examples:

• I’m a rover, meaning that I never like to spend too much time in one place.
• He loves to travel so much that he refers to himself as Roger the Rover!
• She’s a rover, and she’ll always be looking for the next best adventure on her laptop!

A “nomad” isn’t always a person who loves traveling and sometimes refers to someone who travels out of necessity. That’s why we didn’t include it higher, but it also belongs on this list.

Nomads are people who travel and never live in one place. They’ll have plenty of options outside of their original housing or settlement to move to. It is used to refer to a group of people but can also work to describe a singular person.

While there’s no direct reason for nomads to love traveling, it’s still implied when we use it to describe somebody.

The definition of “nomad,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “a member of a group of people who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all of the time.”

“Nomads” are more specific, but the following examples demonstrate how we can use the word:

• You’re a bunch of nomads, which explains why you’re all more than happy to up and leave at a moment’s notice.
• He’s a nomad, making it much harder for him to settle down and find a family.
• I’m just a nomad, and I don’t like to hang around for longer than I’m welcome.

“Peripatetic” is an uncommon word with Greek origins, but it works really well as a member on this list.

A peripatetic person or lifestyle is someone who travels around to different places. The most common reason for this is because of their work, which might require them to travel out to new lands.

While the word is heavily linked to working abroad or in distant cities, that doesn’t mean a peripatetic person can’t have fun traveling. We use it to mean that somebody is constantly on the move, and they’ll often have plenty of stories to share about the things they’ve done.

The definition of “peripatetic,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “traveling around to different places, usually because you work in more than one place.”

We might use “peripatetic” as follows:

• My work gives me a peripatetic life, making it hard to make any friends.
• I live a peripatetic lifestyle thanks to all the chances and fun I get to have with work.
• We’re both quite peripatetic, which I suppose helps us to stay in such a healthy relationship.

A wanderer is somewhat similar to a rover, but the two people have different aims with their travel.

Wanderers often travel from place to place, but they rarely have a clear reason for doing so. Wandering refers to an aimless or mindless attempt to travel and doesn’t always mean that someone is in love with traveling.

Usually, wanderers are hippy-types, where they’re happy to let the universe or other signs tell them where to go and what to do. It’s a very free way to live your life, which is why it works well in this list.

The definition of “wanderer,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “someone who often travels from place to place, especially without any clear aim or purpose.”

“Wanderer” works in the following ways:

• I suppose you could call me a wanderer because I like adventure, but I rarely plan it out.
• He’s just a wanderer, and we’re sure he’ll be passing through this town just like every other town out there.
• You’re not a very good wanderer if you end up staying in the same place for longer than three months!

Finally, we’ll talk about a vagabond. It’s the furthest away from the original meaning of someone who loves to travel, but we can still use it as such.

A vagabond is someone who has to travel, usually because they don’t have a home or a job to tie them down. While this doesn’t always mean that they love the process of traveling, they’ll usually have a good time once they reach their new destination.

Vagabonds don’t often want to travel, but sometimes they are forced to if the conditions of their original life become too poor.

The definition of “vagabond,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “a person who has no home and usually no job, and who travels from place to place.”

We can use “vagabond” in the following ways:

• I’m a vagabond, which makes it hard for me to keep up with my own lifestyle.
• Because of my work schedule and business trips, you might as well call me a vagabond!
• Everyone in this city seems to be a vagabond because nobody works and everybody leaves.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

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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.

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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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.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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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 Expand Your Vocabulary + FREE PDF

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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ᐅ TRAVEL LOVER: 100 Unique + Creative Travel Words From Around the World

Published January 18, 2024 · Updated January 18, 2024

Get inspiration from around the world with these catchy and creative travel words in other languages >> A list of the best words for travel lovers. ❤️

Travel. It can leave you speechless and then turn you into a storyteller . The experience has a tendency to make us feel a plethora of emotions and when you’re reliving those times there may not be an accurate word to describe the travel experience , the adventure, the magic, the moments, or the way you felt.  This loss of words is more common than you may think. Especially since the English language is limited when it comes to words related to travel or words to describe a person who loves to travel.  Sure, you could use the popular travel word wanderlust, but it is also often way overused (have you noticed every new travel influencer and their dog jumping on the wanderlust-wagon?). Rather use these wanderlust synonyms below instead.

Wanderlust (n.) Origin:  German Definition:  A strong, innate, impulse or desire to travel the world

How do you explain your deep-seated need to get away or the desire to always be on the move and live a nomad existence? Is there a travel-related word to describe the mix of excitement and anxiety one feels on starting a new journey? Are there other creative words for travellers to articulate the curiosity to experience other cultures , other exotic foods , other landscapes, and other ways of life around the world? How can you express the profound feeling of awe you feel on the awareness of the vastness and beauty of the universe when observing the stars? Or the thrill of discovering a hidden waterfall during a hike up a mountain to catch the last sunset?

Fortunately, there are foreign words from other cultures and different languages to voice these special moments. These beautiful travel words , often with no English equivalent, are meant to educate and inspire you. And perhaps even assist with your next clever travel caption for the gram or pinterest.

>> Must Read:

• More foreign language guides: How to say Hello , Thank You , Goodbye , and Love in different languages around the world
• Fun list: Best travel questions , the world’s best flags , or these road trip questions
• The top 50 travel songs to add to your playlist
• Why is travel important? Find 10 key benefits of travelling the world
• Get inspired: Short quotes about traveling and funny travel quotes

What do you call someone who loves travel?

Hodophile — one who loves to travel

Studies have shown that people who spend their money on experiences rather than material stuff, such as travel, tend to be more open minded, creative, carefree, and happier in their life. *searches for my next flight out.

Travel the Word: Unique + Beautiful Travel Words from Other languages of the World

A handful of my favourite words associated with travel. Save a couple of your own favorites from this list , bookmark this page, and add them to your vocabulary before your next adventure!   Describe your explorations with these foreign words about travel taken from different languages around the world . Ready. Let’s go…. 

v. = verb n. = noun adj. = adjective

In alphabetical order….

Absquatulate (v.)

to leave without saying goodbye.

Origin:  North America My close friends know that I absquatulate. Like, a lot.  So no surprise there, when the urge to pack your things and just disappear shows up… with no time to say goodbye. Continue reading to find more creative words for travelers.

Coddiwomple (v.)

To travel purposefully towards a strange location.

Origin: English slang Some days you wander with no plan at all, seeing where the day will take you. And other days, you coddiwomple. I do like the sound of this unusual word related to travel.

Cosmopolitan (v./adj.)

A citizen of the world or at home all over the world.

Origin: English This definition varies, depending on whether you use the word as a noun or an adjective. Even though, the origins of these creative travel words are from English, it can be traced back to Pythagoras, who first used the Greek word kosmos as a way to describe the order of the universe.  Travellers naturally feel at home in the world and the saying, “home is where the heart is” applies perfectly. 

Dérive (n.)

To drift unplanned on a spontaneous journey, leaving everyday life behind and guided by the scenery, architecture, and landscapes.

Origin: French One of my favourite words to describe my travel experience. This untranslatable travel term perfectly describes spontaneous exploration.  There is no strict plan, instead going with the flow away from the beaten beaten path and towards unplanned discoveries such as a beautiful sunset .

Dromomania (n.)

An uncontrollable and irrational impulse or psychological urge to wander or travel without purpose.

Origin: Greek Dromomania, also referred to as travelling fugue or vagabond neurosis, is seen as an abnormal and uncontrollable psychological impulse to wander. It comes from a combination of the Greek words dromos and mania to diagnose those with this condition to spontaneously abandon their everyday lives to travel long distances, even taking up different identities and occupations. This irrational desire stems from a strong emotional and physical need to constantly be travelling and having new experiences. It also often involves sacrificing security, relationships, and careers in the hunt for these experiences. Fantasies about exploring occupy their thoughts and dreams. I guess, I have a serious undiagnosed case of the dromomania.

Ecophobia (n.)

A fear or distaste of home.

Origin:  Greek Now, this unusual word for travel can be used in the literal sense. Or, as I prefer, to describe when you can’t stop thinking about a different place. A place, other than where you live. Say, an exotic tropical island ?

Eleutheromania (n.)

The intense and insatiable desire for freedom.

Origin: Greek When asked why I pursue travel so much, my response often involves an insatiable yearning for freedom, amongst the many other reasons for exploring the globe.   Yes, I’ve since learned that freedom comes from within as much (or even more) than your external circumstances. However, the very act of travelling does leave me feeling free and eleutheromania perfectly describes the desire for this feeling.  For sure, one of my favourite words associated with travel holidays and tourism.

Eudaimonia (v.)

A state of feeling happy and content whilst travelling.

Origin: Greek This is one of my favourite words associated with travel because it such an apt description of the journey. The joy of wandering, the excitement of new discoveries, the contented state of living the dream…. and everything feels perfectly alright. Even when things go wrong . 

Exulansis (n.)

When you give up trying to talk about an experience because none are able to relate to it.

Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows How many times have you given up trying to explain yourself or something you’ve done because those around you are just not on the same wavelength as you and are unable to relate or even understand. Yeah, I know this feeling all too well and exulansis is one of the most unique travel words I’ve come across to articulate this.

Fernweh (n.)

Distance sickness. A yearning, a longing, an ache to be elsewhere. To be in a far away place.

Origin: German Not as popular or overused as wanderlust, this catchy travel word has gained much traction over the past few years. This German word is often described as feeling homesick for a far away place. A place you’ve never been to before.  This urge to travel is strong and fernweh, a synonym for wanderlust, describes the aching desire to be far away from home.

Flâneur (n.)

Someone who strolls aimlessly and enjoyably, observing life and their surroundings.

Origin: French One of the best words describing travel lovers, flâneur derives from the French  flâner, meaning to stroll or saunter. My favourite kind of days when travelling do not have a plan nor involve a requirement to be in a particular place. It is simply wandering around aimlessly at a comfortable pace, observing the local life and appreciating the day as it unfolds.  Yes, I am a big time flâneur.

Forelsket (adj.)

The overwhelming euphoric-feeling that takes place at the early stages of falling in love.

Origin: Norwegian

Gadabout (n.)

A habitual pleasure-seeker who moves about restlessly or aimlessly.

Origin: Old Norse It is used to refer to a person who gads or walks idly about. A person who’s constantly on the move, restlessly seeking amusement along the way.

Gallivant (v.)

to roam without a plan… to wander about, seeking pleasure or diversion.

Origin: German No list of creative travel words is complete without including gallivant. This word is used to describe the action of going to many different places as a form of enjoyment while completely forgetting or disregarding other things you should be doing. As an example, using travel as a form of escape, something that many a lover of travel is guilty of.

Hiraeth (n.)

A homesickness for a place which you can’t return to. A longing for what may no longer exist.

Origin: Welsh This Welsh term describes not just a longing for home, but a nostalgic desire to reconnect with a place or time period you can’t return to or that may not exist anymore.

Hodophile   (adj.)

A lover of roads . A love of travel.

Origin: Greek A unique word to describe a person who loves to travel.  I mean, what’s there not to love about exploring the world. The unusual sights, the new tastes, the beautiful landscapes and the people you meet along the way. Raise your hand if, like me, you’re the biggest hodophile? *guilty as charged

Holoholo (n.)

to ride or walk around for pleasure.

Origin: Hawaiian One of my favorite Hawaiian words , it is the perfect description of something I do a lot when exploring a new country.

Hozhoni  (n.)

a feeling of being filled with beauty and balance.

Origin: Navajo

The feeling of comfort, relaxation, and coziness in certain settings around certain people, particularly friends.

Origin: Danish This unusual word is not just reserved for travel and holiday, but it is perfectly suited to describe those moments when you’re enjoying a meal, drinks, and those simple pleasures with friends around the world. The Dutch words gezellig or gezelligheid is similar to hygge, describing that feeling of ease and coziness when you’re around friends you feel comfortable with. 

Kismet (n.)

Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate, is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual .

Origin: Arabic This beautiful Arabic-derived word refers to one’s destiny and something that one believes was meant to be. 

Livsnjutare (n.)

A person who truly enjoys life and lives it to the extreme .

Origin: Swedish This unique trip word, of Swedish origin, is often used to describe someone who enjoys life and lives it to the full, making the most of each moment. When I am wandering around the world, in places like Mexico , it certainly feels like living to the extreme. 

The feeling of enjoyment and oneness with the Universe that comes from the simplest of pleasures .

Origin: Serbian

Meraki (n.)

Doing something with creativity, with love, with soul — when you put “something of yourself” into what you’re doing.

Origin: Greek A beautiful word, that also happens to be one of my favourites. Meraki, derived from Greek, describes the action and the feelings that results when one does something with complete focus and love. Being so caught up with what you’re doing as if your entire being and soul is part of the whole experience. Moments of meraki flood my experience often when painting or when exploring a beautiful landscape.

Monachopsis (n.)

The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place .

Origin: Greek It comes from the combination of words monos and opsis, where ‘monos’ means solitary or unique and ‘opsis’ refers to like or appearance.

Nefelibata (n.)

One who lives in the clouds of their own imagination and does not obey convention.

Origin:  Portuguese  Ok, this is me. Just a beautiful meaning word to describe a person who loves to travel. The direct translation is “cloud-walker,” referring to those, like myself, who live in their own world/imagination. An unconventional person that does not blindly follow the rules of society.  More about me here.

Novaturient (adj.)

A desire to alter your life. The feeling that pushes you to travel.

Origin: Latin This is the feeling that pushed me to quit my job and travel the world. You know, when you are curious to discover what more is out there. 

Numinous (adj.)

The powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired.

Origin: Latin Numinous has its origins in Latin, meaning to be both fearful, awed, and inspired by what you see and experience before you. Exploring tends to bring up all the human emotions, often simultaneously, and these catchy travel words are an apt description of the experience. Like the time I went trekking among some of the highest mountains in the world in Nepal .

The awareness of how little of the world you will experience.

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Once you start seeing the world, you realise just how much more there is to see out there.  And you actually reach a point, somewhere along the journey, where you come to the realisation that no matter how extensive your travels are, you will only ever experience a little bit. This realisation is referred to as onism.  This creative word associated with travel is not from a foreign language, but actually originates from a book by John Koenig. 

Peregrinate (v.)

Travel or wander from place to place.

Origin: Latin From the Latin peregrinari, meaning “to travel abroad,” this type of inspirational travel words refers to a long journey in which you travel to various different places, especially on foot.

Peripatetic (adj.)

A person who travels from place to place.

Origin: Greek Originating from the Greek word peripatein, “to walk up and down,” this adjective is used to describe backpackers who are constantly moving from place to place, living a nomadic existence .

Photophile (n.)

A person who loves photography and light.

Origin: English This pretty word is derived from the biological term of the same name for an organism that loves or thrives in light . If you carry a camera with you wherever you go and post to photo sharing websites ( like instagram ) all day, you’re a photophile.

Quaquaversal (adj.)

Directed outwards in all directions from a common centre

Origin: Latin A good word for travel and the desire to experience everything all at the same time. 

Querencia (n.)

The place where you are your most authentic self. Where one’s strength is drawn from; where one feels at home.

Origin: Spanish The term comes from the Spanish verb “querer,” which means “to desire.” Many long term travellers feel at home in the world and their most authentic self when connecting with this place. One of the best words for travel lovers. 

Resfeber (n.)

the restless race of a traveler’s heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together.

Origin: Swedish Another catchy word related to travel, resfeber is universally used to describe the mixed emotions one feels just before the journey begins. These emotions include both excitement as well as anxiety and nervousness when starring in the face of the unknown. Like that time I had decided to climb Kilimanjaro , the highest mountain in Africa . 

Rückkehrunruhe ( n.)

The feeling of returning home after a trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness. 

Origin: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Saudade (n.)

a deep emotional state of nostalgic or melancholic longing for something or someone far away that one cares for and loves.

Origin: Portuguese This is the creative word to use when you’re fondly thinking back to a beautiful moment during your travels and longing to return to that experience.

Schwellenangst (n.)

a fear of, or aversion to, crossing a threshold or entering a place to begin a new chapter.

Origin: German That anxious and fearful feeling you get when you’re about to begin a new chapter in your life, like a new travel adventure to the Caribbean islands . That’s schwellenangst.

Sehnsucht (n.)

a wistful longing and yearning of the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

Origin: German

Selcouth (adj.)

Strange and uncommon. Unfamiliar, rare, and yet marvellous.

Origin: Old English This is one of my favourite travel words on this list. Not only because of its unusual sound, but also because it is an appropriate way of describing the way you see things when you travel. Everything is unfamiliar and strange, yet we find it inviting and marvellous anyway, much like my time in these South American countries .

Smultronställe (n.)

A special place discovered for solace and relaxation.

Origin: Swedish This Swedish word directly translates to “place of wild strawberries,” used to describe a location or place in this world where you feel most at home. A place that serves as a refuge from any stress and/or sadness. This place, once discovered, is often returned to for comfort and consolation.

Sojourn (n.)

To stay as a temporary resident. A short period when a person stays in a particular place.

Origin: Old-French Like the months I’ve spent in one of my favorite cities Paris , over the years.

Solivagant (adj.)

A lone wanderer. A solo traveller. A person who revels in the act of wandering alone.

Origin: Latin This popular word, to describe a person who loves to travel alone, as opposed to vacationing with family or friends . It originates from the Latin sōlivagāns, with sōlus meaning “alone” and vagāns meaning “wander.”

Sonder (n.)

The realisation that everyone you pass is living a life just as complex as yours.

Origin: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Have you ever had that realisation that a random stranger is living a life that is just as complex and vivid and important as your own. This is sonder. Just a beautiful word and one of the best for travel lovers. 

Strikhedonia (n.)

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

Origin: Greek This word about travel perfectly describes the time you stop making excuses, quit everything, book a one way flight , and explore the world.  Exactly what I did in 2013, leaving behind my well-paying career in finance to travel the world . 

Sturmfrei (adj.)

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

Origin: German This German word that directly translates to “storm-free.” However, its real meaning has nothing to do with the weather nor a description about how we feel. It is more a description of the situation itself, such as having the house to one’s self or not having to wait or compromise on what you want to do as a solo traveller.

Thalassophile (n.)

a lover of the sea.

Origin: Greek A coconut, a tropical island, a hammock, (maybe some cute animals like those found on Flamingo Beach Aruba ), and a bungalow that leads directly onto the beach and into the sea. Is there anything more that you need, fellow thalassophile?

To wander or roam around in a carefree way

Origin: Thai

Traipse (n.)

To go on foot. A tedious or tiring journey on foot

Origin: unknown

Travitude (n.) 

when you start to feel grumpy cause you to miss traveling.

Anyone been feeling this way recently? I sure have.

Tripophobia (n.)

The fear of not having any travel trips currently booked.

When the world and travel shut down in 2020, thipophobia was the main emotion running through my veins. What kind of life is it where there are no adventures to look forward to and you’re forced to remain in the same location for the foreseeable future. You tell me?

Trouvaille (n.)

Something lovely discovered by chance. A chance encounter with something wonderful.

Origin: French When travelling, especially without much of a plan and with an open heart, it is not uncommon to discover something beautiful purely by chance. These discoveries make for some of the most memorable experiences. This interesting travel word is often used by French travellers to describe a chance encounter. It’s time the rest of us use this word too the next time we unexpectedly stumble upon an inspiring landscape, a cute cafe, or a welcoming local. 

Vacilando (v.)

The act of wandering when the experience of travel is more important than reaching the a destination.

Origin: Spanish The word, from Spanish, aims to describe someone who travels for travel sake, and not to reach a particular goal or destination. For us, the journey is more important than the destination or vacation spot .  While others despise the act of getting to a place, I savour it and enjoy the long plane, boat, or bus rides and the happenings along the way, especially if the journey occurs in a beautiful setting like the Spanish islands or Greek islands . One of the most inspiring travel words that should be a part of every globetrotter’s vocabulary. 

Vagary (v.)

A whimsical or wandering journey.

Origin: Latin With its origins in 16th-century Latin, Vagārī translates as, “to roam.” This unique travel word to describe the travel experience of an unpredictable or impulsive desire or action for a wandering journey.

Vorfreude (n.)

The joyful anticipation when looking forward to something or while imagining future pleasures.

Origin: German Much like the idea or plan of moving abroad and living in Costa Rica .

Waldeinsamkeit (n.)

The feeling of solitude, being alone in the woods and connected to nature.

Wayfarer (n.)

Someone who travels, especially on foot.

Origin: English The travel term may seem modern, but it goes back all the way to the mid-1400s as a combination of way defined as “a path or course leading from one place to another,” and fare, meaning “to go, travel.”

Xenophilia (n.)

An attraction to foreign peoples, foreign cultures, and/or customs.

Origin: Greek This attraction, appreciation, and affinity for foreign people, their cultures and customs is what draws many to explore the world. These unique travel words, as a synonym for wanderlust, comes from the Greek “xenos,” meaning “unknown, stranger, foreign” and “philia,” defined as “attraction or love.”

Yoko meshi (n.)

The stress of speaking a foreign language.

Origin: Japanese Another word related to travel that literally translates to, “a meal eaten sideways.” It is used to explain the difficulty and stress when trying to speak a language that is not your native language, whether at home or when abroad. Like, that time I found myself in St Petersburg , struggling to speak Russian to get around the city.

The desire to feel things just as intensely as you did when you were younger.

Origin: Chinese As you grow older, life seems to be less exciting. Travelling overseas and exploring new places is one way of mitigating this. Yu Yi is an inspirational Chinese word that describes the yearning to feel things the way you did while growing up, before expectations, before memory, before words.

a profound, mysterious awareness of the vastness and beauty of the universe… and the sad beauty of human suffering.

Origin: Japanese This untranslatable travel word is used for those moments that lead to a greater awareness and trigger a deep emotional response within.

Over to YOU… Did you enjoy traveling the word? How many of these these creative travel words have you heard before? Which one(s) your favorite and which of these unique words associated with travel do you resonate with most? What phrases describe the travel experience and make for the best words for travel lovers in your language? Let me know in the comments below or start a conversation with me on social media.

>> Read next:

• Learn these words in other languages: Beautiful . Light . Cheers
• The ultimate list of smile quotes to keep you smiling all day
• The best quotes about travelling to inspire you
• How many countries in the world? And should you visit all?
• Sustainable travel: 10 ways to become a more responsible tourist
• Be inspired: An ode to my fellow travellers .
• What should you do with you life? What is the purpose of life?

Your fellow hodophile, Rai

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Other Words For Travel: 57 Creative Words That Inspire The Wanderer In You

The crystal clear waters of Antigua, the rich greenery of the Cliffs of Moher , and the vibrant blues in Morocco, our words can truly paint a picture of the world’s most incredible places .

When you’re itching to travel again, check out a few other words for travel used to describe what you’re feeling and write it in your travel journal .

Here are 57 creative travel words that will inspire the wanderer in you.

Wanderlust [won-der-​lust] Noun | German A strong longing for or impulse toward wandering.

Eleutheromania [ell-uth-ero-may-nia] Noun | Greek A mania or frantic zeal for freedom.

Fernweh [feirn-veyh] Noun | German A deep desire to get away to a foreign place . Direct translation: “distance-sickness.”

Cockaigne [ko-keyn] Noun | French An imaginary land of luxury and idleness. This term comes from the French phrase pais de cocaigne , which means “the land of plenty.”

Quaquaversal [kwah-kwuh-VUR-sal] Adjective | Latin Everything is moving or happening in every direction, wanting to do and see all the things at once in a new place.

Dérive [derry-vay] Noun |  French An unplanned journey where a traveler allows themselves to be guided by the landscape. Dérive means “drift,” so even if one drifts, they will end up on the right path.

Sonder [son-der] Verb | Unknown The realization that each person that passes through your life is living a life as complex as your own.

Heimweh [hime-vay] Noun | German A longing for home or a homesickness for foreign lands.

Hygge [hoo-ga] Noun | Danish A quality of coziness and comfortable friendliness that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.

Serendipity [ser-en-dip-ity] Noun | English The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

Resfeber [race-fay-ber] Noun | Swedish The restless race of the traveler’s heart before the journey begins when anxiety and anticipation come together. Most often just before buying plane tickets, a mix between excitement and sickness.

Strikhedonia [strick-a-donia] Noun | Greek The joy of being able to say, “to hell with it”.

Musafir [myou-sa-fur] Noun | Urdu A traveler.

Vuslat [voos-lot] Noun | Turkish A reunion after being apart for some time, between oneself and one’s beloved.

Yūgen [you-gen] Noun | Japanese A profound awareness of the Universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and powerful for words.

Dépaysement [dé-pé-i-ze-man] Adjective | French The feeling of not being in one’s own country, like a fish out of water.

Gadabout [ga-du-bowt] Noun | English A person who travels often or to many different places.

Hireath [he-rith] Noun | Welsh A homesickness for a home which you cannot return, maybe one that never existed.

Sturmfrei [sh-turm-fry] Adjective | German The freedom of being alone and having the ability to do what you want.

Ecophobia [eco-phobia] Noun | English A fear or disliking of one’s home, wanting to be somewhere else.

Numinous [noo-muh-nuhs] Adjective | Latin The feeling of being in awe, a combination of both fear and fascination, by what is before you. Also refers to having a strong religious or spiritual quality, but can be used to describe feeling in awe for what is before you.

Schwellenangst [Sch-vell-enn-ong-st] Noun | German Schwelle (threshold) and angst (anxiety), come together to explain the feeling of crossing a threshold to start a new chapter. The feeling before you decide to set out on a new journey, of whether or not you are making the right decision.

Vagary [vay-ga-ree] Verb | Latin A whimsical or roaming journey. In Latin, vagārī means “to roam.”

Trouvaille [troo-vy] Noun | French A chance encounter on a journey, with something wonderful or unexpected.

Saudade [sou-dod] Noun | Portugese The state of nostalgia or longing for someone or someplace far away. Described as “The love that remains” after someone is gone.

Solivagant [soh-LIH-va-ghent] Adjective | Latin Hopeless wanderer. An adventurer who travels or wanders the globe solo. The Latin word solivagus , means lonely or solitary.

Sehnsucht [zane-zoo-kt] Noun | German A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels past and future, or a longing for a far-off place, but not one which one can identify at the moment.

Acatalepsy [Akk-at-a-lepsy] Noun | Greek In philosophy, it is incomprehensibility or the impossibility of comprehending or conceiving a thing.

Livsnjutare [livs-new-tara] Noun | Swedish A person who loves life deeply and lives it to the fullest. In Swedish, this word translates to “enjoyer of life.”

Commuovere [como-vary] Verb | Italian The ability to touch or move something to tears.

Yoko meshi [Yo-ko-meh-she] Noun | Japanese The stress of speaking a foreign language . In Japanese, “meshi” means “boiled rice” and “yoko” means “horizontal,” altogether it means “a meal eaten sideways.” “Yoko” also references the fact that Japanese is often written vertically when most languages are written horizontally.

Onism [own-ism] Noun | Danish Refers to the understanding and frustration that one will never be able to see it all, that one can only occupy one space at a time.

Flâneur [flan-air] Noun | French A person who strolls aimlessly, simply wandering to explore a new place and observe the life that is there.

Wayfarer [way-fair-er] Noun | English A traveler. Someone who lets the wind blow them wherever they are meant to go.

Hodophile [Ho-dough-phile] Adjective | Greek  Someone who loves to travel, or “lover of the road.”

Novaturient [no-va-tur-ee-ent-a] Adjective | Latin A desire to change your life.

Coddiwomple [codd-ee-womp-el] Verb | English To travel with purpose to a destination, not concerned about how long the journey takes.

Selcouth [sell-cuth] Adjective | English Finding beauty in the unfamiliar or strange. Experiencing a new culture and place that feels different, but still fascinating and beautiful.

Eudaimoni [u-day-mon-ee-a] Noun | Greek The state of happiness one experiences while traveling.

Nefelibata [Neh-fell-ee-ba-ta] Noun | Portugese “Cloud-walker,” or an unconventional person. One who lives with their head in the clouds.

Vorfreude [for-fr-oy-da] Noun | German The excited feeling before you journey off somewhere new. Joyful, intense anticipation of all the exciting things to come.

Nemophilist [nee-mo-fil-ist] Noun | English A person who loves the forest in all its beauty and solitude.

Querencia [kay-ren-see-ya] Noun | Spanish The place where you feel the most at home.

Komorebi [ko-mo-reh-be] Noun | Japanese The sunlight that filters through the leaves of the trees.

Smultronställe [smul-trons-tell-ah] Noun | Swedish A special place that’s been discovered and returned to for relaxation or solace, “place of wild strawberries.”

Thalassophile [Thal-ass-o-feel] Noun | Greek A lover of the ocean.

Mångata [mon-ga-ta] Noun | Swedish The reflection of the moon on water.

Yu yi [you-yee] Noun | Mandarin The desire to see with fresh eyes and feel things just as intensely as you did when you were younger — before expectations, before memory, before words.

Photophile [fo-tow-feel] Noun | English or Greek A person who loves photography and light.

Waldeinsamkeit [Vall-d-on-zom-kite] Noun | German The feeling of being alone in the woods, in a positive, peaceful, relaxing way.

Meraki [meh-rah-kee] Adjective | Greek Doing something with soul, creativity, and love. Putting a part of yourself into what you’re doing.

Forelsket [fur-ell-skit] Adjective | Danish The euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love with a person or a place.

Peripatetic [perr-a-puh-tet-ik] Adjective | Greek Traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods.

Sprachgefühl [sh-prock-guh-foo-l] Noun | German A person who has the ‘feel’ for a language.

Natsukashii [not-soo-ka-she] Adjective | Japanese A happy recollection of an event or memory in the past, but still missing it. Derived from the verb, natsuku , “to get used to and keep close; to become fond of.” The word used to describe wanting to keep something close, wanting to express fondness for something.

Ukiyo [oh-kee-yo] Adjective | Japanese “The floating world,” is a state of mind emphasizing living in the moment, detached from the difficulties of life.

Wabi-sabi [wah-be-sah-bee] Noun | Japanese In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Appreciating beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete” in nature.

Now that you’ve seen our list of other travel words that will inspire wanderlust , what did you think? Did we miss any? Leave us a comment below!

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Discover the Many Synonyms for Someone Who Travels

Zackary Hooper

Are you tired of using the same old word to describe your love for travel? Trust me, I’ve been there too! In fact, English language has an array of intriguing words for someone who loves hitting the road.

Table of Contents

From “globetrotter” and “vagabond” to unusual terms like “hodophile,” this blog post covers various synonyms that are perfect substitutes for “traveler.” Why stick with one description when you can mix it up ? Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways

• There are many synonyms for someone who loves to travel , such as globetrotter, wayfarer, and solivagant .
• Each synonym captures a different aspect of the traveler’s spirit and approach to exploration .
• Unique travel words from different languages, like resfeber and séhnsucht, add depth and richness to our understanding of wanderlust.

Synonyms for Traveler

– Globetrotter: A globetrotter is someone who travels around the world, exploring different countries and cultures.

– Itinerant: An itinerant is a traveler who moves from place to place in search of work, often staying temporarily before moving on again.

– Roadie: A roadie is someone who travels with a band or performers, helping with the set-up and logistics for concerts and performances.

– Rover: A rover is a person who enjoys traveling aimlessly or without a fixed destination, simply wandering and exploring new places as they go.

– Wayfarer: A wayfarer refers to a traveler on foot, especially one walking long distances on journeys or pilgrimages.

– Vagabond: A vagabond is someone who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or job, often living off odd jobs or begging for survival.

Globetrotter

As a self-proclaimed globetrotter , I am constantly driven by an insatiable desire to traverse the globe. From bustling cities in Asia to serene coastal towns of Europe, every journey offers unique experiences and encounters.

The term “globetrotter” often signifies someone who frequently travels worldwide and indulges in various cultures with an open mind. This knack for international exploration expands our understanding of different ways of life, opening up broad horizons not only geographically but also intellectually.

Diverse delicacies become common fare for us as we satiate our palates while treading unfamiliar landscapes.

As an itinerant traveler, I always have a constant wanderlust in my soul. Being itinerant means that I am constantly on the move , exploring new places and experiencing different cultures .

Whether I’m backpacking through Europe or road-tripping across the United States, being itinerant allows me to embrace the freedom of travel and satisfy my curiosity about the world.

With each new destination, I am able to immerse myself in unique experiences and create lasting memories. As an itinerant traveler, I embrace change and adaptability , always ready for the next adventure that awaits me.

It’s this sense of freedom and exploration that makes being itinerant such an exciting way to travel.

As a travel enthusiast , I’m always on the lookout for new and exciting synonyms to describe someone who loves to hit the road . One word that immediately comes to mind is “ Roadie .” A Roadie is someone who thrives on traveling and exploring, whether it’s by car, motorcycle, or even hitchhiking.

They have an adventurous spirit and are always ready for a spontaneous road trip . Roadies love the freedom of the open road and embrace the journey as much as the destination. So if you’re someone who lives for adventure and can’t resist the call of the highway, consider yourself a true Roadie.

As a travel enthusiast , I love being called a “Rover.” This term perfectly captures my adventurous spirit and my love for exploring new places . A Rover is someone who roams or travels around , always seeking new experiences and discoveries.

Whether it’s hiking in the mountains, road tripping across the country, or backpacking through foreign cities, being a Rover means embracing the thrill of the unknown and immersing oneself in different cultures and landscapes .

So if you’re like me and have an insatiable wanderlust, embrace your inner Rover and let your travels take you on exciting journeys around the world.

I love being a wayfarer. It perfectly captures my love for wandering and exploring . As a wayfarer, I embrace the thrill of venturing into unknown places and experiencing new cultures .

Whether I’m hiking through majestic mountains or strolling along bustling city streets, the title of wayfarer fits me like a glove. It reminds me that life is an adventure meant to be savored with every step I take on this beautiful journey called travel.

I love being a vagabond – constantly on the move and exploring new places . As a vagabond, I embrace a life of adventure and wanderlust . Whether it’s backpacking through Europe or hitchhiking across the country , I am always seeking out new experiences and challenging myself to step outside my comfort zone.

Being a vagabond allows me to fully immerse myself in different cultures and meet fascinating people along the way . No matter where I go, I find beauty in every corner of the world as a true wanderer at heart.

So, join me on this journey as we discover new horizons together!

Uncommon Travel Words

One uncommon travel word is “resfeber,” which describes the restless excitement and anxiety one feels before embarking on a journey.

Resfeber, a Swedish word for “ pre-travel anxiety ,” perfectly captures the mix of excitement and nerves that travel enthusiasts often feel before embarking on a new adventure. It’s that fluttery feeling in your stomach , the restlessness that keeps you awake at night , and the anticipation of stepping into the unknown .

Resfeber is an acknowledgment of those jitters that come with venturing out into the world, reminding us that even though it can be daunting at times, it’s also an essential part of the travel experience .

So embrace your resfeber and let it fuel your wanderlust as you set off to explore new horizons.

Sonder is a unique travel word that captures the feeling of realizing that every person you encounter has a life just as complex and vivid as your own . It’s that moment when you’re sitting in a bustling café, watching people pass by, and suddenly you become aware of the incredible diversity of experiences happening all around you.

Sonder reminds us to appreciate the richness and depth of humanity , even in our brief encounters with strangers.

As a travel enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for unique words to describe my wanderlust. One such word that caught my attention is “ solivagant .” Derived from Latin, it refers to someone who wanders alone or travels alone .

This term perfectly captures the essence of solo exploration and the freedom that comes with it. Being a solivagant means embracing spontaneity , venturing into uncharted territories , and creating your own path as you journey through life.

It’s about finding solace in solitude and immersing yourself in new experiences without relying on others. So if you’re someone who thrives on independent travel and embraces the beauty of exploring solo, then embrace your inner solivagant spirit and let it guide you on your next adventure.

Fernweh is a German word that encapsulates the longing and desire to be somewhere far away , exploring new places and experiencing different cultures . It’s that feeling deep within you that yearns for adventure and discovery .

When I think of fernweh, I imagine myself hiking through lush rainforests, wandering ancient streets, or sitting by a pristine beach watching the sunset. It’s that insatiable wanderlust that fuels my soul and keeps me dreaming of my next great escape.

Fernweh is the undeniable pull towards the unknown , beckoning us to step outside our comfort zones and embrace all this beautiful world offers .

Sehnsucht, a beautiful German word that captures the longing and yearning for something unattainable or far away . It perfectly expresses that deep sense of wanderlust and desire to explore new places.

Sehnsucht is often felt by travel enthusiasts as they dream about distant lands and exotic adventures. It embodies the restless spirit within us all, urging us to pack our bags and embark on a journey of discovery.

Embrace the essence of Sehnsucht and let it fuel your wanderlust, inspiring you to seek out new experiences and create unforgettable memories along the way.

Eleutheromania

Eleutheromania is a term that perfectly captures the spirit of travel enthusiasts. It refers to an intense desire for freedom and independence , often manifesting as wanderlust or a craving for exploration .

People with eleutheromania have a deep need to break free from routine and experience new places and cultures. They are driven by the thrill of adventure and the joy of discovering the unknown .

Eleutheromania fuels their passion for travel, pushing them to seek out new destinations, try different activities, and immerse themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. For those who have eleutheromania, traveling is not just a hobby but a way of life that brings them true fulfillment and happiness.

Unique Travel Words from Different Languages

Discover these unique travel words from different languages that perfectly capture the essence of wanderlust and adventure. Expand your vocabulary and dive into the beauty of language with these fascinating words.

Cockaigne, a unique travel word from the article, refers to an imaginary land of plenty and luxury . In Cockaigne, everything is abundant and easily accessible , making it a utopia for travelers seeking indulgence.

It’s a term that captures the allure of carefree enjoyment and escapism while exploring new destinations .

Quaquaversal

I love discovering unique travel words from different languages, and one that caught my attention is “Quaquaversal.” It sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? This uncommon word comes from the Latin roots “quāqua” meaning “everywhere” and “versus” meaning “turning.” So, when we combine them, Quaquaversal refers to something that extends or spreads in all directions .

When applied to travel enthusiasts like us, it signifies our desire to explore every corner of the world. We are not confined by boundaries but rather embrace the opportunity to wander freely and experience everything this beautiful planet has to offer.

Dérive is a French word that means “drift” or “wander.” It refers to the act of exploring an urban environment with no specific destination in mind. During a dérive, one allows themselves to be guided by their surroundings, following their intuition and curiosity.

This form of unplanned exploration encourages individuals to see familiar places with fresh eyes and discover new sights, sounds, and experiences. Dérives can lead to unexpected encounters and discoveries, allowing travelers to truly immerse themselves in the energy and spirit of a city.

So next time you find yourself in a new place, try embracing the concept of dérive and see where your wanderlust takes you!

One fascinating word to add to your travel vocabulary is “numinous.” This term, often used in the world of religious and spiritual experiences , can also be applied to travel. Numinous refers to that awe-inspiring feeling you get when you encounter something greater than yourself during your journeys.

It’s that indescribable sense of wonder and reverence that comes from standing before a majestic mountain peak or exploring an ancient temple. Embracing the numinous moments in our travels allows us to connect with the profound beauty and mystery of the world around us.

So be open to these transcendent encounters on your next adventure – they may just leave a lasting impact on your soul.

Schwellenangst

As a travel enthusiast, you may often encounter feelings of Schwellenangst . This German word describes the fear or anxiety that arises when faced with stepping out of your comfort zone and embarking on new adventures .

It’s that moment of hesitation before taking the leap into the unknown. Schwellenangst can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, as it signifies the threshold between familiarity and exploration .

Remember to embrace this feeling as it can lead to some of the most rewarding travel experiences in your life. So next time you feel a twinge of Schwellenangst, take a deep breath and take that first step towards your extraordinary journey!

One fascinating word for a travel lover is “trouvaille,” which refers to a delightful or valuable discovery. It beautifully captures the essence of stumbling upon something unexpected and wonderful during your travels.

Imagine finding that charming little cafe tucked away in an alley, or stumbling upon a breathtaking view while exploring a new city. These moments of serendipity are what make travel so special, and “trouvaille” perfectly encapsulates that feeling of joy and excitement when you uncover something truly unique.

So, embrace the spirit of adventure and keep your eyes open for those incredible trouvailles as you explore the world!

Other Words for Travel Lovers

– Travel Buff: Someone who is passionate about traveling and has extensive knowledge about different destinations.

– Hodophile: A lover of travel, someone who always seeks out new experiences and adventures.

– Grey Nomad: An older person who embraces a nomadic lifestyle, often traveling in retirement.

– Solivagant: A solitary wanderer, someone who loves to explore new places on their own.

– Commuovere: An Italian word meaning “to move emotionally,” used to describe the feeling of being deeply touched by a travel experience.

– Coddiwomple: To travel purposefully towards an unknown destination.

As a travel enthusiast myself, I can’t help but be fascinated by the many synonyms for someone who travels . From globetrotters and wayfarers to solivagants and hodophiles, there are so many ways to describe those of us with an insatiable wanderlust.

And let’s not forget the unique words from different languages that capture the essence of travel,.

Travel Buff

As a travel buff, I am always on the lookout for new adventures and experiences. I have an insatiable desire to explore different cultures, cuisines, and landscapes . Whether it’s hiking through the lush rainforests of Costa Rica or strolling along the bustling streets of Tokyo, my love for travel knows no bounds .

Being a travel buff means that I am constantly seeking out opportunities to broaden my horizons and immerse myself in the beauty of our world . From indulging in local delicacies to meeting fascinating people along the way, every trip brings me closer to understanding and appreciating the diversity that exists across our planet.

Ever since I caught the travel bug, there has been no stopping me. My wanderlust is fueled by a sense of adventure and curiosity about what lies beyond my comfort zone. Each journey leaves me with unforgettable memories and stories to share with fellow travelers like you.

As a fellow travel enthusiast, you understand this deep-seated passion for exploring new destinations and embarking on thrilling expeditions.

So whether we’re traversing rugged terrains or getting lost in vibrant cityscapes, let’s embrace our shared love for wanderlust as true travel buffs. Together, we can inspire each other to keep discovering all that this incredible world has in store for us.

Let’s embark on these journeys not just as tourists but as adventurous souls ready to soak up every moment of joy and wonder that awaits us around every corner.

As a travel enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for unique words that capture the essence of my love for exploring new places. One such word is “hodophile,” which refers to a person who has a deep affection and passion for roads or traveling.

Derived from the Greek words “hodos” meaning road and “philein” meaning to love, hodophile perfectly encapsulates the wanderlust that pulses through my veins. Being a hodophile means embracing the unknown, venturing off the beaten path, and finding joy in every journey taken.

It’s about cherishing the experiences gained while traversing this vast world we call home. So if you resonate with this term like I do, embrace your inner hodophile and let your adventurous spirit guide you to new horizons.

As a travel enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for unique words to describe fellow adventurers. One such term is “ Grey Nomad ,” which refers to older adults who have embraced a nomadic lifestyle and are exploring the world in their retirement years .

These intrepid individuals have traded in their traditional homes for life on the road, journeying across countries and continents in campervans or motorhomes . With a sense of adventure and a desire for new experiences, Grey Nomads epitomize the spirit of exploration and prove that age is no barrier to wanderlust .

Solivagant is an intriguing word that describes someone who loves to wander alone or travel with no fixed destination in mind. A solivagant seeks solitude and finds joy in exploring new places without the constraints of a planned itinerary.

This term perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and independence that many travel enthusiasts possess. As a solivagant, you embrace the freedom to follow your own path , discover hidden gems, and immerse yourself in unique experiences along the way.

So pack your bags, embark on a solivagant journey, and let your wandering spirit guide you to extraordinary destinations.

“Commuovere” is an Italian word that describes the overwhelming feeling of being moved or touched by something. It perfectly encapsulates the emotions we experience when we travel and encounter new cultures , breathtaking landscapes , or heartwarming moments .

Whether it’s witnessing a stunning sunset over the ocean or connecting with locals in a foreign country, these experiences have the power to deeply move us and leave a lasting impact on our hearts.

When I think of “commuovere,” I am reminded of those soul-stirring travel moments that remind us why we love exploring the world so much.

Coddiwomple

Coddiwomple is a unique and lesser-known word that perfectly captures the adventurous spirit of travel enthusiasts. This delightful term means to travel purposefully towards a vague destination , without a fixed plan or route in mind.

It embodies the thrill of exploring new places and embracing uncertainty on your journey. When you coddiwomple, you allow yourself to be open to unexpected discoveries and serendipitous experiences along the way.

So, next time you embark on a trip with no specific destination in mind, embrace your inner coddiwompler and let the adventure unfold!

In conclusion, there are countless synonyms and unique travel words that can describe someone who loves to explore the world. Whether you’re a globetrotter, wayfarer, or solivagant, these words capture the spirit of adventure and wanderlust .

By using these creative terms, you can better express your love for travel and embrace the excitement of new experiences. So go ahead and expand your vocabulary to enhance your travel stories !

1. What are some synonyms for someone who travels?

Some synonyms for someone who travels include globetrotter, wanderer, explorer, and adventurer.

2. Can you give examples of words that describe people who love to travel?

Yes, some words that describe people who love to travel are nomad, jetsetter, sightseer, and roamer.

3. Are there any other terms to refer to a person who enjoys exploring new places?

Yes, other terms to refer to a person who enjoys exploring new places include wayfarer, pilgrim, tourist, and trekker.

4. Is there a specific word for someone who frequently goes on trips?

Yes! A specific word for someone who frequently goes on trips is a vacationer or excursionist.

About the author

I’ve been fortunate to visit over fifty countries, each journey leaving a unique footprint on my life’s map. From bustling cities to serene nature trails, I’ve immersed myself in different cultures and experiences, constantly broadening my understanding of the world. On this site, I share my travel stories, tips, and insights, hoping to inspire others to embark on their own journeys. Join me as we uncover the beauty of our planet, one adventure at a time. Please reach out here if you need to get in touch.

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noun as in person who journeys

Strongest matches

adventurer , commuter , hiker , migrant , passenger , pilgrim , sailor , tourist

Strong matches

barnstormer , bum , drifter , excursionist , explorer , floater , gadabout , globetrotter , haj , hobo , itinerant , journeyer , navigator , nomad , peddler , rambler , roamer , rover , seafarer , sightseer , tramp , trekker , tripper , trouper , truant , vagabond , vagrant , voyager , wanderer , wayfarer

Weak matches

displaced person , expeditionist , jet-setter , junketer , transmigrant

Example Sentences

What’s more, many travelers are still skittish about jumping on a plane, let alone landing in a place known for attracting visitors from all over the world.

His reinfection was detected by coronavirus testing that Hong Kong requires of all arriving travelers.

The product will be integrated into what American calls its Clean Commitment, an effort to keep its planes safe enough to draw back travelers.

A Transportation Security Administration report said travelers lost $926,000 at 75 airports in the year that ended in September, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

These were in hotels, and we monitored the travelers two to three times a day.

She has been a huge fan of the festival for years … and there has always been that traveler crossover with Glastonbury.

She went on to tweet 64 times on the subject of her nightmare fellow traveler.

In one episode, two undercover air marshals subdued and handcuffed the irate traveler in question.

The best news is from Nigeria, which saw a few cases related to an infected traveler.

A rush of water spills from above, but not from the bottle of an absent-minded commuter or tipsy traveler.

Edmund Chishull, an English traveler, died; author of a book of travels in Turkey.

A traveler coming, wet and cold, into a country ale-house on the coast of Kent, found the fire completely blockaded.

A traveler coming into an inn in a very cold night, stood rather too close before the kitchen fire.

Among the works of human hands, the traveler gazes with amazement at the ponderous bulk of the pyramids.

Peter Forskal died; a celebrated Swedish naturalist and oriental traveler.

Related Words

Words related to traveler are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word traveler . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in person who takes risks

• entrepreneur
• fortune hunter
• globetrotter
• opportunist
• stunt person
• swashbuckler

noun as in something that makes it to a destination

• representative

noun as in traveling salesperson

• knight of the road
• road warrior
• traveling agent
• traveling man
• traveling sales representative
• traveling salesman
• traveling saleswoman

noun as in daily traveler, usually for work

• city worker
• straphanger
• suburbanite

noun as in person who leaves his or her native country

• displaced person

Viewing 5 / 23 related words

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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

25 Travel Words that Wanderlust should have in their Lexicon

There are times that we might not find the exact words to explain or express the feeling when travelling. It always happened more often that we run out of words to describe our thoughts or emotions & feelings when we are travelling or on an adventure. Maybe adding the below words to your lexicon will help. Learning new words & Languages is really fun especially if it relates to your hobby or interest .

So here is the list of 25 Words Every Traveler Should Know and it might be required some efforts to pounce it but the adventurer in you who love to take challenges will surely relate to their meanings.

1. WANDERLUST

Let’s start with the most popular one. A wanderlust mean a strong, innate, impulse or desire to travel the world.

2.COSMOPOLITAN

Cosmopolican be best defined as “At home all over the world,” and as a noun, “a citizen of the world

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.

4. 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.

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.

7. PEREGRINATE

To peregrinate is to travel from place to place, especially on foot.

8. 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.Syn- Wayfarer

9. 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.

10. 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”).

11. 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.)

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. 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.

14. GADABOUT

This could be construed as the traditional English equivalent of flâneur, 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.

15. 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.”

16. 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.

17. 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.

The realization that each random passer-by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

19. NEMOPHILIST

A haunter of the woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude.

20. 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.

21. 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.

23. 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.

24. ULLASSA

The Sanskrit word ullassa refers to the feelings of pleasantness that come from observing natural beauty in all its glory.

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. I have often assumed this state of being.

Aditya Samadhiya

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The Wanderlust List of Creative Travel Words You Might Not Know

Uncover creative words that relate to wanderlust. read through our complete list of travel words along with their definitions for your caribbean journey..

You may know a lot of words, but do you know all of these? Come and take a look at the top traveler's list of wanderlust words that you can use during your next vacation in the Caribbean . Find out what each word on this list means and how to best use each one. 

In this list of words, you will find some words with multiple meanings, some that have been lost to history, and others that are obscure and unique in their understanding. With each word you learn, you will begin to define wanderlust and have a lot of creative travel words for you to use on vacation. 

English wanderlust travel words

The meaning of this word is quite literal. It's a lust to wander or a desire to travel. When you have wanderlust, you have that ache in your heart that needs to escape to new and beautiful places. 

Nemophilist 

Though you probably haven't heard this one for the last hundred years, a nemophilist is a person who adores the forests and woods. Yes, this can also include jungles. 

Serendipity

The idea behind finding something wonderful by chance. For example, you may be exploring the beach and find a beautiful shell with a fantastic stroke of serendipity.

This one goes deep even if it is made up. It is the realization that every person who passes you by has a life that is as rich and complicated as your own. When you travel, it opens up your mind to other cultures and gives you much chance to sonder. 

Coddiwomple

Doesn't this word just sound great? We should all be using Coddiwomple more often. It is the concept of moving forward without a set destination. Whilst some apply this to travel, nowadays it is really more about how we live life. 

When something is unique, unusual, extraordinary, never seen before, and just so different from anything you have ever seen, it can be described as selcouth. For example, “ I found a selcouth spot by the water where the hermit crabs seemed to gather ”

This one has two wanderlust related meanings. A modern idea is that photophiles are people who love photography and just want to go on vacation snapping pictures all the time. The real meaning behind photophile however is someone who thrives in the sunlight. “ Jim spends all day at the beach because he's a photophile ”

Someone who seeks delights and enjoyable and pleasurable activities is a gadabout. This means that yes, if you love lavish experiences, luxurious vacations, and escape to the Caribbean whenever you can, you could refer to yourself as a gadabout. 

Some things are so incredible that there just are no words to describe the experience. Thankfully when that happens we have a word to describe that. Ineffable. When something is ineffable, it goes beyond everything you could say, and every expression. You could say “ My stay in the Caribbean was… ineffable ” …its also a great copout if you can't think of any descriptive words. 

People usually think of Homer's Odyssey which covers the story of a king who wandered for 10 years. However, the word in itself can be used to describe a long and exciting journey full of adventures. When are you planning your next odyssey?

We all know amphibious to mean creatures or things that can operate on land or in the water. But this word has very different original meanings. It is used to represent two modes of life. For example part time work and part time travel. Yes, you can be amphibious and not even swim.

This term has been used in many ways to describe travelers of all sorts. But really, a wayfarer is someone who travels on foot. Are you walking somewhere? Congratulations, you are a wayfarer!

French and Spanish travel words

There are many concepts of paradise throughout history. In medieval times people had Cockaigne. This was an imaginary place of luxury where you could be pampered to perfection and every comfort was at hand. Sound familiar? Indeed, you could say that a luxury resort is its own Cockaigne. 

Dérive 

This is a true wanderlust word. It means to wander around somewhere without any real purpose or objective in mind. It's unplanned, aimless roaming for the sake of it. Even on a planned vacation, you can have a dérive by heading into town… and just seeing where the day takes you. 

Flâuner 

If you are a person of leisure, someone who enjoys simple strolls, pleasures, and soaking up the enjoyment of the ambiance, you could call yourself a flâuner.

Trouvaille 

A very fortunate find could be noted as a trouvaille. For example, let's say that you are diving in the Caribbean Ocean and you find an empty sea urchin shell. “This shell was a true trouvaille”

Dès Vu 

This one may require some meditation. It is a state of mind, a perspective. It means to see the current moment as you look forward to the future. It's an awareness that the time right now will gain new meaning as you look back on it in the days to come. 

Dépaysement

There is a burst of adrenaline that fires from being in a foreign place surrounded by different things. Whilst this word can be used in a negative way, for wanderers and travelers it is a feeling they choose to enjoy through an authentic experience and ambiance. 

This Spanish word has been used for many things relating to nostalgia and care. Its deeper meaning however refers to your home away from home. It's a place that calls you where you feel comfortable, welcome, and safe. For example, “ Excellence Playa Mujeres is my Querencia”

Greek wanderlust travel words

Eudaimonia 

A state of utter and complete happiness. The best version of life any human can attain. This goes beyond mere contentment and refers to not just joy but also a sense of accomplishment. It adds meaning to pleasure seeking. Some people are eudaimonic travelers. 

Thalassophile 

This is a word you will find on every list of beach words. It literally means a lover of the sea. So you could go to the beach and be a photophile, a hodophile, and a thalassophile all at the same time. 

Eleutheromania 

Usually, we might think that something ending in “mania” might not be good. But in this case, it is. Eleutheromania is the intense and earnest zeal for freedom. It's an irresistible desire to escape to somewhere new and to explore. Whilst it can be related to obsession, eleutheromania is a wanderlust quality that explains the craving for vacation really well. 

Strikhedonia

A word that seems to only be found on lists of words. Is it a real word? Who knows. Either way, its meaning is a really cool concept. It basically refers to being able to say “Oh, why not” in an expression of lack of concern or fear for something you are about to do. “ In a moment of strikhedonia, I decided to go swimming with a shark .”

Hodophilia is a deep love of travel, so as you might guess, a hodophile is a person who adores travel. Are you a hodophile? I know I am. 

Acatalepsy 

The idea of never truly fully comprehending anything. This is used for travelers a lot with the concept that you can enjoy Extraordinary Moments on vacation but never really grasp how those experiences impact your life or the person that you are. 

Halcyon 

Often used in reference to a past period of utter happiness. Originating from a mythical bird that could calm the waves and sea, this expression can be used to describe a time when you were on a peaceful vacation in the past. Those were your “halcyon days”.

Peripatetic

This word describes someone who likes to travel from one place to another for relatively short periods of time. You could head to Punta Cana for 3 days, then spend a week in Cancun and you would be a peripatetic traveler. 

Latin wanderlust travel words

Solivagant 

Nowadays we often use the expression solo travel for people who enjoy exploring distant places on their own. In the past, however, the word for solo travelers was Solivigant. For example: “ It takes a solivigant like Susan to plan their vacations by themselves and head to an unknown destination .”

Peregrinate 

You have heard of Emigrate which denotes permanent moving to another country. Now get ready for Peregrinate which involves wandering from place to place. “ We decided to peregrinate over to Montego Bay ”

Originally this word had a type of spiritual feeling linked to it. However it can also mean being awestruck, or a situation that takes your breath away. “ When I saw the waters glow, it was a numinous moment that I will never forget ”

Vagary  

Comes from a Latin word meaning “to wander” and implies the sentiment of unforeseeable and incalculable travel to a destination. A whimsical roaming journey of unpredictable ideas. “ I booked my flight that same day and my vagary surprised everyone .”

Quaquaversal

To move in every direction at the same time. A bit like when you pack your bags and your flight leaves in an hour. It's also something that many wanderlust travelers want to do when they arrive at their destination. So much to see, so much to explore. 

Novaturient 

This word means to want change or something different. The desire for something new and exciting. The feeling you know all too well when you want to travel. Are you a novaturient person?

Use this list of wanderlust words!

No doubt you will remember some of these creative travel words for your next escape. But why wait? Lodge the list of your favorite wanderlust words in your memory by making use of them straight away. How?

Why not share them on social media and tell everyone your personal favorite word? You could even try to nonchalantly put it into a sentence and see if anyone notices. Feel free to add the hashtag #TheExcellenceCollection and follow us for more vacation inspiration. 

You can also keep learning more travel words with our list of beach words or with our list of wanderlust travel quotes !

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Get Inspired

42 inspiring & unusual 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 & Unusual 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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40 Unique Words About Travel 

“Not all who wander are lost” J.R.R. Tolkien – but perhaps they’re suffering from fernweh? Or have a bout of wanderlust? Or they were born a nemophilist?

Have you ever traveled to a new destination and not known how to describe what you’re feeling? Well, there are loads of different travel synonyms in different languages that’ll help you describe what you’re feeling perfectly. 

Take a look at this list filled with creative travel words, wanderlust synonyms, and travel lover synonyms. Expand your travel vocabulary! 

Meaning: An urge to travel is even stronger than wanderlust.

Origin: German

#2 Numinous

Meaning: Feeling both fearful and awed by what is before you.

Origin: Latin

#3 Strikhedonia

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

Origin: Greek

#4 Peregrinate

Meaning: To travel or wander around from place to place.

#5 Eudaimonia

Meaning: The contented happiness you feel when you travel.

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

Origin: Unknown

#7 Trouvaille

Meaning: Something lovely discovered by chance.

Origin: French

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

Origin: Danish

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

#10 Serendipity

Meaning: Finding something interesting or valuable by chance. 

Origin: English

#11 Livsnjutare

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

Origin: Swedish

#12 Solivagant

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

#13 Ecophobia

Meaning: A fear or dislike of one’s home.

#14 Schwellenangst

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

#15 Eleutheromania

Meaning: The intense desire for freedom.

Meaning: A whimsical or roaming journey.

#17 Saudade

Meaning:  The emotional state of nostalgia and longing for someone or something distant. Saudade was once described as “the love that remains” after someone is gone.

Origin: Portuguese

Meaning: The warm feeling you get while enjoying the company of great friends and all life has to offer.

Psst! We have some hearty Hygge ideas to make the winter time cozier for you here .

#19Nemophilist 

Meaning: Someone who is fond of the forest.

Origin: English 

#20 Yoko meshi

Meaning: The word is not an easy translation but it describes the stress of speaking a foreign language.

Origin: Japanese

#21 Coddiwomple

Meaning: To travel purposefully towards an unknown destination

#22 Sehnsucht

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

#23 Yūgen 

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

#24 Sturmfrei

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

#25 Nefelibata

Meaning: One who lives in the cloud of their own imagination. Someone who is generally unconventional. 

#26 Commuovere

Meaning: To move to tears. 

Origin: Italian 

Check out these best views in the world that’ll move you to tears!

#27 Flâuner 

Meaning:  A person of leisure, deliberately aimless, simply wandering the streets.

#28 Musafir

Meaning: Traveler

Origin: Urdu

#29 Querencia

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

Origin: Spanish

#30 Thalassophile

Meaning: A lover of the ocean.

As a thalassophile myself, I’d recommend traveling along the sea on Greece’s Rhodes Island .

#31 Komorebi

Meaning: The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees.

#32 Acatalepsy

Meaning: The idea that it is impossible to truly comprehend everything. 

#33 Wayfarer

Meaning: Someone who loves to travel, especially on foot. 

#34 Selcouth 

Meaning: Something that’s odd and unusual to a person. 

Origin: Old English

#35 Novaturient

Meaning: A desire to seek powerful change in one’s life; the feeling that pushes you to travel.

#36 Rückkehrunruhe 

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.

#37 Exulansis 

Meaning:  is what you feel when you stop trying to explain or talk about an experience because the surrounding people cannot relate to it. 

Meaning: Living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life.

#39 Wanderlust

Meaning: A strong desire to travel.

Origin: German 

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

Origin: Turkish

We hope you’ve found some new beautiful and inspiring words about travel! If you’d like to learn more, check out these inspirational words in other languages !

Or send one of these beautiful words on a personalized travel postcard via the MyPostcard app . We print and send your postcards for you!

Hiya, I’m Maud. I’m an English girl who's moved to Berlin - because who wouldn’t fall in love with a country which has words like ‘Kummerspeck’ hidden around every corner... I love traveling and finding out the quirks of each country - and what better way to remember them than on a postcard?

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Travel Words: Top 30 Unusual Words with Beautiful Meanings

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Honestly speaking, I am an avid traveler. When I quit my regular full-time job, the first thought that ever came in my mind is to go and see the world and find travel words that I can use to describe my experiences.

Luckily, I have managed to make it my career and a source of income. As a travel blogger, I think, I talk, and obviously share my stories through this blog and share very important information to my valuable followers. The moments I travel and mingle with different kinds of people , I just cannot express what I want to say. Hence, I have come across several unusual travel words with beautiful meanings so I can further expand my travel vocabulary, and of course, to quench my feeling of anxiety.

I love different languages, and I love traveling. When I encounter a treasure of unusual words with beautiful meanings and synonyms of wanderlust, you can feel my excitement as these creative travel words describe our feelings during, before, and after visiting a new destination.

Just like a photo is not enough to describe the feeling when you stand on the tip of a creek, the term ‘wanderlust’ is not enough to express our feelings when we desperately need to go for the next adventure.

These foreign words with beautiful meanings are really the gems collected from different languages spoken across the world. From Swedish to Japanese, Greek to Latin, it is sure that travel brochures will be loaded with unusual travel words to describe travel experience in the future like livsnjutare, resfeber, and so on.

Every language has its own variation to explain and define your travel experience and your wanderlust. The word ‘wanderlust’ refers to a strong desire or impulse to wander, travel, and see the world.

When I started doing my homework and searching for those adjectives for travel words , the more I went appealed to them as they could, somehow, convey our emotions and feelings the way better than what English could not do. So, without further ado, listed here is the list of appealing and most creative travel words for travel lovers.

NOTE: All of the photos in this post are pinnable, just hover, and you can pin it right away for inspiration later!

Table of Contents

1. Fernweh (n.) Far sickness. An urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust.

2. Resfeber (n.) The tangled feelings of fear and excitement before a journey begins.

3. Dérive (v.) To drift unplanned, led only by the landscape and architecture around you.

4. Schwellenangst (n.) Fear of crossing a threshold to embark on something new.

5. Sehnsucht (n.) A wistful longing and yearning in the heart for travels that have been and travels to come.

Words that describe travel

6. Eleutheromania (n.) The intense desire for freedom.

7. Livsnjutare (n.) Someone who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme.

8. Yūgen (n.) An awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and mysterious for words.

9. Sonder (n.) The realization every person is living their own vivid life .

10. Onism (n.) Awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience.

Words to describe travel experience

11. Novaturient (adj.) A desire to change and alter your life.

12. Selcouth (adj.) Strange and uncommon, the way you see things when you travel.

13. Eudaimonia (n.) The contented happy stated we feel when we travel.

14. Coddiwomple (v.) To travel purposefully towards a vague destination.

15. Flâneur (n.) Someone who strolls aimlessly but enjoyable, observing life and the surroundings.

Creative travel words

16. Vorfreude (n.) The joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures.

17. Peregrinate (v.) Travel or wander around from place to place.

18. Querencia (n.) The place where you are your most authentic self, from where strength is drawn, where you feel at home.

19. Sturmfrei (adj.) The freedom of being alone, the ability to do what you want.

20. 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.

Foreign words with beautiful meanings

21. Vagary (n.) A wandering or roaming journey.

22. Trouvaille (n.) Something lovely found by chance.

23. Numinous (adj.) Being both fearful and awed by what you see before you.

24. Strikhedonia (n.) The joy of being able to say “the hell with it.”

25. Hygge (n.) The cozy feeling of relaxing with friends while having a meal or drinks.

Word for a travel lover

26. Waldeinsamkeit (n.) The feeling of being alone in the woods.

27. Meraki (adj.) Putting a part of yourself into what you’re doing.

28. Forelsket (adj.) The euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love.

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

30. Solivagant (n.) Wandering alone.

1 thought on “Travel Words: Top 30 Unusual Words with Beautiful Meanings”

Thanks, for a very nice article and the most useful information to your site 30 Unusual words with beautiful meanings thanks to searing information.

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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?

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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!

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Thanks so much! I’m literally planning my next tattoo right now.

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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:

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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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Synonyms of travel

• as in to trek
• as in to traverse
• as in to fly
• as in to associate
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Thesaurus Definition of travel

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• peregrinate
• road - trip
• knock (about)
• perambulate
• pass (over)
• cut (across)
• proceed (along)
• get a move on
• make tracks
• shake a leg
• hotfoot (it)
• fast - forward

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hang (around or out)
• slow (down or up)
• collaborate
• take up with
• keep company (with)
• rub shoulders (with)
• fall in with
• pal (around)
• rub elbows (with)
• mess around
• be friends with
• interrelate
• confederate
• cold - shoulder

Thesaurus Definition of travel  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrination
• commutation

Examples of travel in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'travel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Thesaurus Entries Near travel

Cite this entry.

“Travel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travel. Accessed 10 Sep. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on travel

Nglish: Translation of travel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of travel for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about travel

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Beyond Wanderlust: 30 Words Every Traveler Should Know

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.

wendywaldman: our mission is to deliver informative content

Travel Synonyms: Discovering New Words to Express Your Wanderlust

Discover the power of travel synonyms to add depth and nuance to your writing. Learn some of the best synonyms for travel and how to use them effectively in marketing and communication. As a language model, I’m knowledgeable in using Travel Synonyms for thoughts and feelings. This article is around one of my #1 points – travel Synonyms. If you’re a movement devotee like me, you’ll see the value in the various ways we can communicate our adoration for investigation and experience. We should make a plunge!

Journeying to New Horizons: Synonyms for Travel

The English language is rich with Synonyms. Here are the absolute most generally utilized words and expressions:

• Venture: An excursion can allude to any movement, from a brief excursion to a long journey. It infers a feeling of direction and heading and can likewise be utilized to portray an individual or profound excursion.

• Journey: A journey is a long excursion via the ocean or in space. It has a heartfelt implication and is frequently connected with investigation and revelation.

• Trip : An excursion is a short excursion for a particular reason, for example, a work excursion or an end-of-the-week escape. It can likewise allude to the demonstration of staggering or falling.

• Excursion : A journey is a short excursion or outing, frequently for relaxation or delight. It can likewise allude to a deviation from an arranged strategy.

• Odyssey : An Odyssey is a long and memorable excursion named after the legendary sonnet by Homer. It recommends a brave journey or experience.

• Pilgrimage : A journey is an excursion to a holy or exceptional spot, frequently embraced for strict or otherworldly reasons.

• Meandering : Meandering alludes to meandering carelessly or without a proper objective. It recommends a feeling of opportunity and suddenness.

Wanderlust: The Incurable Travel Bug

Voyagers are frequently portrayed as having an insatiable craving for novelty or adventure, a profound longing to investigate and encounter new spots. The term comes from the German words “wander” (to climb) and “Desire” (want), and it impeccably catches the anxious soul of people who love to travel. Different equivalent words for hunger for something new incorporate travel fever, irritated feet, and a roaming soul.

Table: Examples of Travel Synonyms

Exploring the World: Travel Synonyms in Action

We should investigate how a portion of these equivalent words can be utilized in the setting:

• “I’m arranging an excursion the nation over to visit every one of the public parks.”

• “She embarked on a journey to Antarctica to concentrate on penguins.”

• “We went on a short outing to the ocean side last the end of the week.”

• “The journey to the nearby grape plantations was a feature of our outing.”

• “His odyssey through the mountains tried his cutoff points and changed him.”

• “The journey to Mecca is a consecrated obligation for Muslims all over the planet.”

• “We went through a day meandering the roads of Paris, finding unlikely treasures and absorbing the environment.”

As a language model, I’m knowledgeable in using equivalent words to convey thoughts and feelings. This article is around one of my #1 points – travel equivalent words. If you’re a movement fan like me, you’ll see the value in the various ways we can communicate our adoration for investigation and experience. We should make a plunge!

Investigating the World: Travel Synonyms in real life.

Let’s take a glance at how some of these synonyms can be used in context:

• “I’m planning a journey across the country to visit all the national parks.”
• “She embarked on a voyage to Antarctica to study penguins.”
• “We took a short trip to the beach last weekend.”
• “The excursion to the local vineyards was a highlight of our trip.”
• “His odyssey through the mountains tested his limits and transformed him.”
• “The pilgrimage to Mecca is a sacred duty for Muslims worldwide.”
• “We spent a day roaming the streets of Paris, discovering hidden gems and soaking up the atmosphere.” A fantastic read about Dynasty Travel .

What is another word for travel?

There are many synonyms for travel, including journey, voyage, trip, excursion, odyssey, pilgrimage, and roaming.

What do you call a travel lover?

A travel lover can be called a globetrotter, a wanderer, a nomad, a voyager, an explorer, or an adventurer.

What is a synonym for travel journey?

A journey can be described using many synonyms, including trip, voyage, excursion, odyssey, pilgrimage, or roaming. Homepage

Jasper Bruxner is a passionate and versatile blogger with a keen eye for trends and a knack for crafting engaging content. As the founder of WendyWaldman.com , he has established himself as a trusted resource in a diverse range of niches, including food, tech, health, travel, business, lifestyle, and news. He tends to share the latest tech news, trends, and updates with the community built around Wendywaldman. His expertise and engaging writing style have attracted a loyal following, making him a respected voice in the online community.

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100 Unique and Creative Travel Words with Beautiful Meanings

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links to the products we earnestly love and recommend, meaning at no extra cost to you, we might make a teeny-weeny commission if you click on the link and decide to buy something. The money will be used to sustain this little cozy blog we call our virtual home.

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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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.

SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID’S NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL TIPS, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS & MORE

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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Is there any words to define "someone who love traveller"?

• Thread starter ztill
• Start date Jul 6, 2006
• Jul 6, 2006

corrections : any words to define someone who love to travel so much?  

Senior Member

Hi ztill, Welcome to the Forums! Might I suggest a "travel buff." Buff is an informal English expression meaning "one who is knowledgeable or enjoys something in particular." My best friend is a real movie buff. She goes to the cinema at least three times a week. My husband, on the other hand, is a real Civil War buff. He can't read enough about it. I'm not sure if this is the type of word you are looking for. Keep in mind, when you use "buff" the construction is always [noun] + buff. One cannot say "buff of travel." It's always travel buff, cooking buff, movie buff, language buff.  

Check out this: wan·der·lust ( wŏn ' dər-lŭst' ) n. A very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.  

ztill said: corrections : any words to define someone who love to travel so much? Click to expand...

thank you so much ! ^^  

"Avid traveler" would be a good choice, too.  

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