What does “Heimweh” mean in German?

Heimweh is the homesick feeling — missing home and the people you love. Otto, a wilderness survivalist, admits on camera that the feeling hitting him hardest is: “Tatsächlich bei mir immer Heimweh” (Actually, for me, always homesickness). The word comes from “Heim” (home) and “Weh” (pain or ache), so it means “home-pain.” When German speakers miss home, this is the word they use.

In the clip Otto says: “Tatsächlich bei mir immer Heimweh.” — “For me, honestly, it’s always homesickness.” He then explains: “Zu Hause ist einfach der Ort, in dem ich [mit] allen Liebsten bin, und ich vermisse meine Liebsten und mein Zuhause.” — “Home is simply the place where I’m with all my loved ones, and I miss my loved ones and my home.” (His phrasing is relaxed, natural speech.) You usually pair it with the verb “haben”: “Ich habe Heimweh.” = “I’m homesick.” For the opposite feeling — a strong wish to travel and see the world — Germans say “Fernweh” (“far-ache”), built the same way but pointing away from home. More examples: “Das Kind hatte im Ferienlager Heimweh.” = “The child was homesick at summer camp.” “Nach drei Monaten im Ausland bekam sie Heimweh.” = “After three months abroad she started feeling homesick.” Note: it is one word, no plural, and it carries real emotion — hearing it from a tough survivalist makes it hit harder.