Etymology Edit

Coined in 2012 by John Koenig, whose project, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, aims to come up with new words for emotions that currently lack words.[1][2] Inspired by German sonder- (“special”) and French sonder (“to probe”).[3]

Pronunciation Edit

Noun Edit

sonder (uncountable)

( neologism ) The profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passed in the street, has a life as complex as one's own, which they are constantly living despite one's personal lack of awareness of it. 2012 , John Buysse, "On 2nd thought, we do have linked lives", The Daily Illini (University of Illinois), Volume 142, Issue 68, 5 December 2012, page 4A: I had a sonder , a realization that the random girl sitting next to me inside of Starbucks might have a fantastic life or she might be dealing with a very ill family member.

, John Buysse, "On 2nd thought, we do have linked lives", (University of Illinois), Volume 142, Issue 68, 5 December 2012, page 4A: 2013 , Annie Cohen, "A Deeper Understanding", Panorama (Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis, Missouri), Volume 62, Issue 3, 14 October 2013, page 14: We need to have a " sonder " moment, where we realize that we aren't the only ones with feelings, dreams, regrets and hopes.

, Annie Cohen, "A Deeper Understanding", (Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis, Missouri), Volume 62, Issue 3, 14 October 2013, page 14: 2015 , Emily Neiman, Sonder: Clara's Story , iUniverse (2015), →ISBN, unnumbered page: I knew the feeling of sonder my whole life. [ … ] Every time I stopped what I was doing and just watched people, this feeling of breathlessness would wash over me.

, Emily Neiman, , iUniverse (2015), →ISBN, unnumbered page: For more quotations using this term, see Citations:sonder

References Edit