How to Say "wistfulness" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “wistfulness” is “melancolía” — B2 level.
Examples
Siento una profunda melancolía cuando escucho las canciones de mi infancia.
I feel a deep melancholy when I listen to the songs of my childhood.
La melancolía del otoño siempre me hace reflexionar sobre la vida.
The gloom of autumn always makes me reflect on life.
Sus ojos estaban llenos de melancolía al recordar su antiguo hogar.
Her eyes were full of wistfulness as she remembered her old home.
Using 'La' with Melancolía
Even though this word ends in '-ía,' it follows the general rule that words ending in 'a' are feminine. Always use 'la melancolía' or 'una melancolía'.
Noun vs. Adjective
Remember that 'melancolía' is the name of the feeling (a noun). If you want to describe a person, use the adjective 'melancólico' (for a man) or 'melancólica' (for a woman).
Don't use 'estar' with the noun
Mistake: “Estoy melancolía.”
Correction: Say 'Tengo melancolía' (I have melancholy) or 'Estoy melancólico' (I am melancholy/sad). In Spanish, you have the feeling, you aren't the feeling itself.
Related Translations
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