Fernando Pessoa, a Portuguese poet from the early 20th century, wrote: "A saudade é isto: a presença da ausência." – Saudade is this: the presence of absence.
This quote captures the paradoxical essence of saudade. Only a Portuguese poet could express this emotion, this feeling, this unique word with no direct translation in either French or English.
A rich and nuanced emotion.
Saudade is a deep emotion, often described as a type of melancholy — a nostalgic longing for someone or something that’s no longer present.
While often linked with sadness, it’s actually a far more layered feeling. It carries a hint of sweetness, warm memories, and sometimes even a glimmer of hope for return or reconciliation with the past.
There’s beauty in the feeling of Saudade. Portuguese poets and artists express this bittersweet emotion — a form of attachment whose memory brings both sadness and happiness.
Almeida Júnior – Saudade (1899)
Pinacoteca de São Paulo
Associated emotions include: missing someone dear, the aching pleasure of a memory, childhood nostalgia, regret for a time gone by, longing for an unreachable ideal, or hope for a future that still feels far away.
The origins of Saudade
The word comes from the Latin "solitatas," related to solitude. Saudade first appears in Portuguese literature in the 15th century, during the Age of Discovery.
Closely tied to Portugal’s maritime history, it described the emotional distance felt by sailors leaving home with no guarantee of return.
Portugal’s past, shaped by exploration and departure, gave rise to this unique form of longing — for loved ones at sea or a home left behind.
The ocean became a vast barrier, a symbol of separation and uncertainty. Saudade emerged as a shared emotional response to this experience of absence.
Vasco da Gama’s Armada
In this way, saudade was born and took root in the heart of Portuguese history. Since then, this complex emotion has become central to Portuguese culture — especially in its music.
Fado: The Voice of Saudade.
Fado, which emerged in Lisbon’s working-class neighborhoods in the 19th century, is often seen as the ultimate musical expression of Saudade.
This genre, deeply woven into Portuguese identity and culture, is known for its haunting melodies, mournful harmonies, and emotionally charged vocals.
Fadistas (fado singers) convey a sense of longing, heartbreak, sorrow, and yearning — all at the heart of what Saudade represents.
Though hard to explain, this bittersweet emotion is made deeply tangible through fado. The lyrics often deal with themes of Saudade: lost love, longing for one’s homeland, the passage of time, and fate beyond control.
To listen to fado is to feel Saudade in your bones.
Amália Rodrigues – Fadista
You can hear that mix of nostalgia and love, sorrow and joy in this song by Amália Rodrigues, called Fado da Saudade:
Oh, meu amor ("Oh, my love") – Que és a dor que me chora e que eu adoro ("You are the pain that weeps inside me and that I adore") – É por ti que eu canto ("It’s for you that I sing") – É por ti que eu canto e que eu choro ("It’s for you that I sing and that I cry").
Saudade in everyday life.
Saudade is a universal emotion — one that shows up in daily life. But the Portuguese have a word for it. That may be why they’re especially attuned to it, recognizing it in conversation, in art, in books… even in food.
Teixeira de Pascoaes – Portuguese poet
Portuguese bookstores are full of works exploring memory, loss, and longing. Poems and novels about saudade strike a deep chord with readers — putting words to a feeling they know well.
You’ll find it in the writing of poets like Teixeira de Pascoaes or Fernando Pessoa.
Fernando Pessoa – Portuguese poet
In photography, it appears in old landscapes, frozen moments in time, or nostalgic, pastel-colored scenes.
Family meals are also moments full of meaning in Portugal. Gathering around the table and sharing traditional dishes is a powerful way to reconnect with the past — and feel Saudade.
Family meal in Portugal
For instance, the taste of a dish made by your grandmother may stir a sense of loss — but also bring back warm memories of a happy childhood.
Grandma’s Caldo Verde
This emotion is deeply embedded in Portuguese culture — and part of what shapes Portuguese identity. It’s normal for someone to talk openly about their saudade, sharing memories and feelings of longing without shame.
It’s accepted — even admired — as a sign of emotional depth and sensitivity.
Monsanto – Portugal
In Portuguese, you’ll find expressions like:
- Tenho saudades da minha terra. (I miss my homeland.)
- Tenho saudades dos meus amigos. (I miss my friends.)
- Tenho saudades daquele tempo. (I miss that time.)
- "Deixa saudades." – (It leaves a feeling of saudade.)
- "Esta viagem deixa saudades". (This trip leaves behind saudade.)
- "Que saudade boa!" (What a beautiful saudade!)
This bittersweet paradox is clear in that last expression — a lovely memory, tinged with the ache of longing.
Saudade – Iara Venanzi – B
Saudade is a feeling you can only truly understand once you’ve experienced it yourself. You’ll find it in everyday moments, small gestures, and emotional details. For the Portuguese, it’s part of who they are — part of how they live and relate to others.
But Saudade isn’t just Portuguese — it’s universal. Anyone can feel it.