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 explain this emotion, this feeling, this unique word that has no direct translation in French or English.
A rich and nuanced emotion.
Saudade is a deep feeling, often described as a melancholy, a nostalgic longing for something or someone that is absent.
Often associated with sadness, it is in fact a far more complex emotion. It also carries a touch of sweetness, of affectionate memory, and sometimes even a wave of hope for a possible return or reconciliation with the past.
There is beauty in the evocation of Saudade. Portuguese poets and artists express this bittersweet emotion – an attachment whose memory makes one both sad and happy.
Almeida Júnior – Saudade (1899) Pinacoteca de São Paulo
Some of the associated emotions include: missing a loved one or something meaningful, the almost painful pleasure of a memory, nostalgia for childhood, regret for a time gone by, the longing for an unreachable ideal, or the hope for a future that feels distant.
The origins of Saudade
The word comes from the Latin "solitatas", meaning solitude. Saudade appears in Portuguese literature as early as the 15th century, during the Age of Discoveries.
Closely tied to Portugal’s maritime history, it was used to express the feeling of distance experienced by sailors who departed with no certainty of return.
Portugal’s history, deeply rooted in these great explorations, shaped this feeling of absence and longing for a loved one gone to sea or a home and family left behind on land.
The ocean became a vast barrier, symbolising separation and uncertainty. Saudade emerged as a response to this collective experience of distance.
Vasco da Gama’s Armada
Thus, saudade was born and took root in the heart of Portuguese history. Since then, this complex feeling and word have become ingrained in Portuguese culture, particularly expressed through music.
Fado: The Voice of Saudade.
Fado, born in Lisbon’s working-class neighbourhoods in the 19th century, is often considered the ultimate musical expression of Saudade.
This music, so deeply tied to Portuguese identity and culture, is recognised by its haunting melodies, melancholic harmonies and passionate voices.
Fadistas (fado singers) convey a sense of nostalgia, heartbreak, regret and deep yearning, so closely related to the paradoxical feeling of Saudade.
Though bittersweet and hard to define, fado allows one to feel saudade intensely. The lyrics often explore themes linked to Saudade: lost love, homesickness, the passage of time, and inescapable fate.
Listening to fado is to physically experience the emotion of Saudade.
Amália Rodrigues – Fadista
Notice the blend of nostalgia and love, sadness and joy in this song by Amália Rodrigues, titled 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 cries through me, and that I adore") – É por ti que eu canto ("It is for you that I sing") – É por ti que eu canto e que eu choro ("It is for you that I sing and cry").
Saudade in daily life.
Saudade is a universal feeling that can be felt every day – and one the Portuguese have managed to name. As such, they may be more attuned to it, recognising it in conversation, in art, in literature, and even in food.
Teixeira de Pascoaes – Portuguese poet
Portuguese bookshops are filled with works that explore themes of memory, loss and nostalgia. Poems and novels that evoke saudade resonate deeply with readers, as they put words to a feeling they know well.
This feeling is notably found in the works of Portuguese poets such as Teixeira de Pascoaes and Fernando Pessoa.
Fernando Pessoa – Portuguese poet
In photography, old landscapes, frozen moments in time or paintings in soft, nostalgic tones can all evoke this feeling.
Family meals are also meaningful moments in Portugal. Gathering around the table to share traditional dishes is a deeply rooted way of connecting to the past and feeling a sense of Saudade.
Family meal in Portugal
For example, the taste of a dish prepared by a grandmother may evoke a sense of longing, as well as the memory of a happy childhood.
Caldo Verde da avó
This feeling is intensely tied to Portuguese culture – so much so that it is also part of the Portuguese personality. A Portuguese person may openly express their saudade, sharing their memories and feelings of longing without hesitation.
It is accepted, even valued, as a sign of emotional depth and sensitivity.
Monsanto – Portugal
The Portuguese language offers many expressions that reflect this feeling:
- 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 saudade behind.)
- "Que saudade boa!" (Such a lovely saudade!)
The paradox of this feeling is clear in this bittersweet expression, where saudade brings a pleasant memory tinged with a sense of longing.
Saudade – Iara Venanzi – B
Saudade is a feeling that can only truly be understood once it is personally experienced. One must look for it in small gestures, attentiveness, and the everyday moments of life. For the Portuguese, it is an integral part of their identity, of their way of living and relating to others.
But saudade is not exclusively Portuguese – it is universal, and anyone can recognise it.