WANDERlust vs. WONDERlust

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿?

I’vw often seen both these words used interchangeably. Which brings the question… 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭?

Both words use the suffix 𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭, indicating a strong need or desire of something. But what’s being desired?

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭?

🗺 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭:

The term “wanderlust” was first penned in 1902 by Robert Louis Stevenson in his book “Travels with a Donkey”, where he describes his desire for travel...

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move”.

We get wanderlust from the prefix word #wander which in its current form, comes from the Old English word: wandrian (to wander, roam, fly around, hover; change; stray). The modern simplified definition of wander is “to proceed in an irregular course or path, or to lose ones direction”

Making wanderlust: “a strong desire to wander or travel and explore the world”

🗺 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭:

On the other side we have the slang term wonderlust. Deriving from the word #wonder, which current form is from the old English word wundor (wonder, miracle, marvel). Ms. Webster defines wonder as “The sense or emotion which can be inspired by something curious or unknown; surprise; astonishment, often with awe or reverence”

Making the term wonderlust: the strong passion or desire to be in a constant state of wonder”

🗺 It’s easy to see how these 2 words can often be interchanged. As for how they relate to me personally and my desires. I would say...

“𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁.”