Editor Hannah told blog writers to think about, write about, and embrace the “Wilderness.” Elizabeth searched the globe and found some of the most beautiful and unique nature/wilderness words from various languages.
By Elizabeth Shay
- Feuillemort– (n.) the color of a dying leaf
Deriving from the French term, feuille morte (dead leaf), this word refers to the brownish-oranges and reddish-yellows seen as trees shed their leaves in the fall.
- Petrichor- (n.) the smell of earth after rain
The word is Greek in origin. We don’t get much rain here in the desert, but, still, you can save this word for a rainy day. When it does rain here, the air is pungent with creosote and damp desert.
- Frondescence- (n.) the condition or period of unfolding of leaves; foliage
From the Latin frondescere (to become leafy), this word describes a phenomenon that is reminiscent of springtime plant growth.
- Weald- (n.) a wooded, uncultivated area; forest
This word was first used before the 12th century, in the days of Old English, as a general term for “forest.”
- Nemophilist- (n.) a person who loves the woods or forests; a haunter of the woods
This word is obscure and hasn’t really been used for over 100 years. Not to be confused with: Dendrophilous- (adj.) loving trees; living in or on trees.
- Psithurism- (n.) the sound of the wind through the trees and rustling leaves
This word is imitative, and ultimately comes from the Greek word psithuros which means “whispering.” Unfortunately this word is obsolete, but maybe we can help it make a comeback.
- Gökotta- (n.) the act of rising early in the morning to hear the birds sing at sunrise and appreciate nature (rendezvousmag.com)
This is a Swedish word that is unlike any word we have in English and describes a specific concept so perfectly.
- Komorebi- (n.) sunshine filtering through the leaves of trees (theculturetrip.com)
Social values, aesthetics, and culture are largely intertwined with the Japanese language. There is no English equivalent for this word which holds so much meaning in eight letters.
- Shinrin-yoku- (n.) a visit to the forest for relaxation and to improve one’s health
This is another word from the Japanese language and translates to “forest bath.” The Japanese people often practice forest bathing, opening their senses and connecting with the natural world.
- Waldeinsamkeit- (n.) the feeling of solitude in the woods
From Wald (woods/forest) and Einsamkeit (loneliness), this German word, much like the Japanese word above, is about creating a one-on-one relationship with nature and refers to a very specific feeling.
Hopefully you learned something new, and these words made you think about nature. Comment on this post, and then go outside!
Sources:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nemophilist
https://time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/
Wilderness Editor: Hannah Hall
“Love is life in search of words, and words are wings that lift us, break us, join us, melt us, like rain.”
― Barbara Lynn-Vannoy
While these words hail from another culture and language, they are universal. You can feel the power of nature in each description. Thank you for broadening my awareness of ways to express a person’s visceral
response to the world’s majestic forests and nature. Thank you, also, for expanding my appreciation of language.
I definitely went outside after this hoping to get that petrichor, but oh well.