Тоска

Even though it is a Russian word (pronounced “Toska”) it is by far my favorite word. It comes in many degrees, and no English word can quite grasp it. At it’s strongest it is spiritual anguish (usually without a known cause), at lesser degrees it can mean a dull soul ache, a longing with nothing to long for, a sick pining, vague restlessness, ennui, mental throes. It can occasionally be for something specific, love sickness, etc.

Very often I find myself feeling “Toska”, a feeling I was once unable to identify, other than just saying I felt off.

Most of my definition was a paraphrase of how Vladimir Nabokov described it, which is how I learned of this wonderful word.

Brendan McDermott
Kent