The word “nostalgia” is a noun “nostalgic” is its adjective form.
Most importantly, learn the difference between “nostalgia” and “nostalgic” and how to use them in your texts. If you are using the word “nostalgia” far too many times in your texts, you could replace it with any of these words to not come across as redundant. There are quite a few alternative words for nostalgia – which include longing, wistfulness, yearning, homesickness, and schmaltz. The sentences that incorporate the term should communicate a bittersweet feeling, with the happy emotion overpowering sadness. At the same time, complete excitement isn’t nostalgia either. A feeling of remorse or grief is not nostalgia. Using the word “nostalgia” correctly in a sentence is all about getting the emotion of the word right. How to Properly Use “Nostalgia” in a Sentence That said, reminiscing about people, events, and things could lead to nostalgia. Reminiscing is a more voluntary act nostalgia is a feeling that hits people based on external stimuli. Nostalgia, however, deals with “feelings”. Similarly, “nostalgia” is also not the same as “reminiscence”. Also, unlike “nostalgia” which pertains to time, “homesickness” is pensiveness attached to a tangible structure or the feeling of comfort and warmth a house creates. The word “homesickness”, on the contrary, doesn’t evoke pleasant feelings. The critics feel the two words do not mean identical things.Īccording to them, nostalgia feels nice (predominantly). The notion that “nostalgia” means or has something to do with “homesickness” is not widely accepted. Difference Between Nostalgia and Reminiscence Although the trigger for nostalgia is usually a negative feeling, the outcome of it all could be an increase in one’s mood and heightened positive emotions. Nostalgia has also been linked with memory consolidation and learning. A general feeling of life or existence.ĭifferent nostalgic reflections serve varied functions and seem to benefit people in general who experience them.Unlike centuries ago, occasional bouts of nostalgia are now linked with multiple functions, which include: The sensations “touch” and “smell” are considered strong nostalgia evokers due to the stimuli they create passing via the amygdala, the brain’s emotion center. The science on nostalgia usually indicates or studies the feelings toward one’s personal life and the effects on the individual. What Does Modern Science Say About “Nostalgia”? In the modern world, nostalgia is considered as an independent and also positive emotion many individuals experience often. A “warm childhood” or the “good old days” are phrases used in nostalgic tones, for instance.įor centuries, nostalgia was believed to be a debilitating and at times fatal medical disorder representing severe homesickness. The recollections from the past are typically related to people loved and cared about, places where one would have lived or traveled to, and important events. It usually feels bittersweet – predominantly happy and comforting however, with a modicum of melancholy. It is an emotional feeling that’s warm and fuzzy. The term has roots in Greek and is roughly translated to “homecoming” and “pain”.Ĭontrary to general perception, nostalgia is beyond mere reminiscing. It’s usually felt like some blend of pleasure and sadness when one thinks of or gets reminded of past events. The word “nostalgia” denotes a personal association with a place or time. Keep reading to learn the meaning of the word in greater detail and how to effectively use it in sentences, how not to confuse the term with similar words, peruse a fairly long list of sentences using the word, and lots more. Senior proms, first kisses, college road trips, etc. Since nostalgia deals with cherished times and the people you love, use the word in sentences that focus on recollecting memories of weddings, graduations, childhood, birthdays, family reunions, vacations, holiday dinners, etc. For instance, the phrase “historical nostalgia” denotes a longing for something that one hasn’t experienced first-hand – which is not what “nostalgia” actually means. And when you team it with another word, the meaning could change a bit or completely. If you are a budding writer or even an expert, using the term “nostalgia” in your writing could at times lead to some confusion.