modernemotionalphilosophical
Sonder
SON-der
noun
The profound realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness.
Etymology
A neologism coined by John Koenig for his project "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows." Possibly derived from German *sonder* meaning "special" or "particular," and influenced by the French *sonder* meaning "to probe" or "to sound the depths."
Usage Examples
- —“Sitting in the airport, she felt a wave of sonder wash over her as she watched thousands of strangers rushing to their gates.”
- —“The city lights at night always gave him a sense of sonder, each window representing a different story.”
- —“Reading old letters at the antique shop triggered an unexpected moment of sonder.”
Fun Fact
While "sonder" isn't in traditional dictionaries, it has become widely popular online and represents a growing movement to create words for complex emotions that previously had no name. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows has coined over 600 such words!