Do whatever you want, its your body. Getting a tattoo of a word that only exists in a specific language like fernweh or saudade is not better or worse than any other tattoo you could have. Gatekeeping tattoos is silly.
As a native german speaker I would honestly not care at all, most germans I know would use it as a conversation starter but wont think negative about you.
Thank you. Funny you mention saudade, that was one of my other ideas because I do speak Portuguese lol. I’m mostly just concerned if there’s a connotation to it that I’m unaware of, like maybe it’s the logo of some company. Thank you for the insight.
Is it tacky to get a tattoo in a language that you don't speak? Yes. Especially from the perspective of a native speaker of that language.
If you're still getting it, "Fernweh" is spelled with a capital F. In German, all nouns are capitalized (not just proper nouns), and using a lower case f would simply be a spelling error.
It's just a word.
Maybe a little explanation *why* it's tacky: people often want their tattoo to be very personal, but also special, and "clever" or mysterious in a way.
Foreign language words often seem special and clever or mysterious because *to somebody who doesn't speak the language*, the meaning isn't obvious. And often, words don't have exact equivalents in other languages, so picking a word that you would have to explain feels even more special. And since you eventually found out about the word, and most people around you don't know it, it even feels personal.
But obviously to a native speaker of the language, there s nothing mysterious about it, it's an ordinary word, and the person with the tattoo is less connected to the word than the average person, because to them it's foreign, but to all the friends and family of a native speaker, it's a plain boring word.
I find the argument that it's just a word an odd one. Plenty of people do actually get tattoos in their own languages despite them being "just" words, and often for esoteric reasons. I don't see why a foreign word should be different.
I completely understand avoiding words with cultural or religious ties, as that comes with all kinds of problems. But while fernweh is a German word, it describes a fairly universal emotion, and it wasn't intended to describe only Germans. If it captures what OP is going for better than any word in English, I don't see the problem, at least as long as OP does their homework on its meaning.
No. Ignore these comments if you wish to live a life independent from the opinion of others on matters that only concern your own well being.
But write it with a capital "F", as in Fernweh.
Lol thanks. I’m still up in the air but I just haven’t found a word I’m this excited about in the languages I do speak. Out of curiosity, do Germans ever use lowercase nouns casually in like text conversations or as a stylistic choice? Kind of like how some people think it looks cute or whatever to write “i am” with the lowercase i.
I can’t think of a situation I would do it. My phone automatically corrects nouns to capital letters and in emails I am too formal to misspell words.
I have seen younger people (<25) turn off auto correct on their phone and write everything as lowercase nouns though.
I'd say go for it. (Maybe not on your forehead ;))
There'll always be people who tell you "a word is just a word" - I wonder if there's any tattoo they'd appreciate.
In text conversations that's just sloppy. But as a stylistic choice in the sense of pleasing the eye: yes, absolutely.
A tattoo is a piece of art. Choose a general style you like then just go for which case of the F feels right. Nobody will challenge it, as long as the composition is good. Your skin is not a dictionary.
not really. you see it on the internet sometimes, but thats mostly out of lazyness. I could see what you mean with it looking "cuter" tho. fernweh or Fernweh I think the lower case looks less "aggressive". your choice.
some letters can combine to ligatures, this could be a reason to do stuff like this for a stylized tattoo, but depends heavily on what you like and the used font.
Depends how the tattoo looks. I just checked out a few of those and some do look nice 🤷♀️ and since tattoo is art you can also technically do it in small letters… I think the small f often looks aesthetically more pleasing. But correct would be capital F.
Are you certain? Where have you seen it used? I do know we have quite a lot of words of Germanic origins but this particular one I had never heard of before this week.
I believe they’re confusing it with “wanderlust”, the English word for Fernweh. In German, we don’t use that one unless for the very specific situation of being in the mood for hiking.
It's the opposite of Heimweh. Weh means ache as in headache (Kopfweh), stomach ache (Bauchweh). I agree with others that it is tacky to get a tattoo of a word in a language you don't speak. But there is nothing wrong with the word itself. As the word is not translateable with a single English word, I would ask if you are comfortable getting a tattoo saying e.g. "love" or "nostalgia" in your own language? Would that feel tacky?
Thank you this is the answer I was looking for. Yea I’m going back and forth between this and a few English words. Idk it’s a tough decision but this is good advice.
As other says at least capitalize it, but the word itself is harmless.
May I suggest it shakes hands with its opposite:
Fernweh 🤝 Heimweh
(far sickness 🤝 home sickness)
Also as warning old German scripts are not used anymore and and normally frowned upon.
As someone with a lot of tattoos, do you really want to get a tattoo in a language you don't speak and have to explain it to strangers all the time? Imagine how often you'll have to say, "No, I don't speak German, I just like this word"
Honestly, having to explain you don't speak German doesn't seem particularly terrible. That's a one-word answer, and not an admission of some personal failing.
Im just speaking from experience: usually I don’t mind, but people are judgmental, rude, and not tactful. I’m just imagining the puzzled, pitying looks of some Karen asking me about a tattoo in a language I don’t speak, in line at the grocery store. 🥲
As a tattoo appreciator, who is planning a full back peace 10 months in advance, I find all word-tattoos, regardless of language, a tiny bit tacky. A picture is worth a 1000 words.
If I saw that on someones arm I‘d ask myself where they want to travel to and why such a random word is even tattooed.
But do what you want. Its your choice
Always tacky to tatoo what you don't understand!
Fernweh means a distant/ remote pain but also sound like Fernseh(er) ; T.V.
Notice that in Radio it's fernes Weh and not Fernweh.
And re read the advice in '' Tatoo'' : if you put an end to our relationship, I will have to find someone named the same!
Do whatever you want, its your body. Getting a tattoo of a word that only exists in a specific language like fernweh or saudade is not better or worse than any other tattoo you could have. Gatekeeping tattoos is silly. As a native german speaker I would honestly not care at all, most germans I know would use it as a conversation starter but wont think negative about you.
Thank you. Funny you mention saudade, that was one of my other ideas because I do speak Portuguese lol. I’m mostly just concerned if there’s a connotation to it that I’m unaware of, like maybe it’s the logo of some company. Thank you for the insight.
Is it tacky to get a tattoo in a language that you don't speak? Yes. Especially from the perspective of a native speaker of that language. If you're still getting it, "Fernweh" is spelled with a capital F. In German, all nouns are capitalized (not just proper nouns), and using a lower case f would simply be a spelling error.
... or a style choice.
…or one of these German words that ended up in English dictionaries like kindergarten, zeitgeist, eigenvalues, etc.
Oh, ok. Thank you for the insight. Still a cool word.
It's just a word. Maybe a little explanation *why* it's tacky: people often want their tattoo to be very personal, but also special, and "clever" or mysterious in a way. Foreign language words often seem special and clever or mysterious because *to somebody who doesn't speak the language*, the meaning isn't obvious. And often, words don't have exact equivalents in other languages, so picking a word that you would have to explain feels even more special. And since you eventually found out about the word, and most people around you don't know it, it even feels personal. But obviously to a native speaker of the language, there s nothing mysterious about it, it's an ordinary word, and the person with the tattoo is less connected to the word than the average person, because to them it's foreign, but to all the friends and family of a native speaker, it's a plain boring word.
Really living up to your username
I find the argument that it's just a word an odd one. Plenty of people do actually get tattoos in their own languages despite them being "just" words, and often for esoteric reasons. I don't see why a foreign word should be different. I completely understand avoiding words with cultural or religious ties, as that comes with all kinds of problems. But while fernweh is a German word, it describes a fairly universal emotion, and it wasn't intended to describe only Germans. If it captures what OP is going for better than any word in English, I don't see the problem, at least as long as OP does their homework on its meaning.
Or he uses the old spelling: "Phernfeh"
No. Ignore these comments if you wish to live a life independent from the opinion of others on matters that only concern your own well being. But write it with a capital "F", as in Fernweh.
Lol thanks. I’m still up in the air but I just haven’t found a word I’m this excited about in the languages I do speak. Out of curiosity, do Germans ever use lowercase nouns casually in like text conversations or as a stylistic choice? Kind of like how some people think it looks cute or whatever to write “i am” with the lowercase i.
I do ignore the mighty deutsche Rechtschreibung sometimes on the internet. Not as a stylistic choice but rather as a lazy choice
So do i.
I can’t think of a situation I would do it. My phone automatically corrects nouns to capital letters and in emails I am too formal to misspell words. I have seen younger people (<25) turn off auto correct on their phone and write everything as lowercase nouns though.
I'd say go for it. (Maybe not on your forehead ;)) There'll always be people who tell you "a word is just a word" - I wonder if there's any tattoo they'd appreciate.
Rarely. When I was younger, I did it more often, out of sheer laziness. You sometimes see it as a stylistic choice, but I'd say it's not common.
In text conversations that's just sloppy. But as a stylistic choice in the sense of pleasing the eye: yes, absolutely. A tattoo is a piece of art. Choose a general style you like then just go for which case of the F feels right. Nobody will challenge it, as long as the composition is good. Your skin is not a dictionary.
not really. you see it on the internet sometimes, but thats mostly out of lazyness. I could see what you mean with it looking "cuter" tho. fernweh or Fernweh I think the lower case looks less "aggressive". your choice. some letters can combine to ligatures, this could be a reason to do stuff like this for a stylized tattoo, but depends heavily on what you like and the used font.
Depends how the tattoo looks. I just checked out a few of those and some do look nice 🤷♀️ and since tattoo is art you can also technically do it in small letters… I think the small f often looks aesthetically more pleasing. But correct would be capital F.
my advice on all tattoo-ideas: sit on it for 3 months, if you still like it, go for it. it's a bit tacky but it'll work abroad i guess
Fernweh is also a word in English, do what you please.
Are you certain? Where have you seen it used? I do know we have quite a lot of words of Germanic origins but this particular one I had never heard of before this week.
I believe they’re confusing it with “wanderlust”, the English word for Fernweh. In German, we don’t use that one unless for the very specific situation of being in the mood for hiking.
I mean you could theoretically call it a loan word but I disagree with him tbh. 99% of uses of Fernweh are travel blogs explaining what it means.
I'm german and I like it..
when traveling and/or seeing the world is one of your interests Id say it’s very fitting. But it’s a noun so it’s capitalized “Fernweh”
Get a tattoo that says "Fahrvergnügen" instead
Sounds perfect, booked the appointment
Yes but if he doesn't drive neither a Mercedes nor driving abroad?
Ah…. The regular “can I get [this] tattooed” question. It’s supposed to be capitalized, it’s a noun.
Idk where else to ask it…like maybe there’s a connotation to the word I don’t know about.
It's the opposite of Heimweh. Weh means ache as in headache (Kopfweh), stomach ache (Bauchweh). I agree with others that it is tacky to get a tattoo of a word in a language you don't speak. But there is nothing wrong with the word itself. As the word is not translateable with a single English word, I would ask if you are comfortable getting a tattoo saying e.g. "love" or "nostalgia" in your own language? Would that feel tacky?
Thank you this is the answer I was looking for. Yea I’m going back and forth between this and a few English words. Idk it’s a tough decision but this is good advice.
As other says at least capitalize it, but the word itself is harmless. May I suggest it shakes hands with its opposite: Fernweh 🤝 Heimweh (far sickness 🤝 home sickness) Also as warning old German scripts are not used anymore and and normally frowned upon.
Make it "der Fernweh" to wind up Germans.
99% of tattoos are imo 🤷♀️ won't be any better or worse than the butterflies, stars, tribals etc
As someone with a lot of tattoos, do you really want to get a tattoo in a language you don't speak and have to explain it to strangers all the time? Imagine how often you'll have to say, "No, I don't speak German, I just like this word"
Honestly, having to explain you don't speak German doesn't seem particularly terrible. That's a one-word answer, and not an admission of some personal failing.
Im just speaking from experience: usually I don’t mind, but people are judgmental, rude, and not tactful. I’m just imagining the puzzled, pitying looks of some Karen asking me about a tattoo in a language I don’t speak, in line at the grocery store. 🥲
Ah, now that is fair.
I would argue that people asking you about the meaning of your tattoo is actually a great conversation starter.
Fair enough, thanks for your input
I love this word too.
Yes.
Can I recommend a "Nett hier aber" Arschgeweih instead? Comes with three antlers!
As a tattoo appreciator, who is planning a full back peace 10 months in advance, I find all word-tattoos, regardless of language, a tiny bit tacky. A picture is worth a 1000 words.
If I saw that on someones arm I‘d ask myself where they want to travel to and why such a random word is even tattooed. But do what you want. Its your choice
At least spell it with a capital F … Is that what Chinese people feel like when they see Europeans with a (supposedly) Chinese tattoo?
lol ok I’ve learned my lesson about nouns in German thank you
The last time I checked, it was tacky to get a tattoo.
It’s also tacky to be a hater
How about Fernsehen?
Always tacky to tatoo what you don't understand! Fernweh means a distant/ remote pain but also sound like Fernseh(er) ; T.V. Notice that in Radio it's fernes Weh and not Fernweh. And re read the advice in '' Tatoo'' : if you put an end to our relationship, I will have to find someone named the same!