Definition
Deeply sad or anxious because you love someone who doesn't love you back or is far away.
Etymology
From 'love' plus 'sick' (meaning suffering or weak); used since the 1500s. The compound treats love as a disease, reflecting the idea that love involves physical and emotional suffering.
Kelly Says
Medieval and Renaissance doctors actually classified 'lovesickness' as a medical condition requiring treatment—usually bloodletting. It wasn't until the 1800s that psychology separated 'heartbreak' from actual illness.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ፍቅር ላይ እንደ ሰው
fikir lay en-de sew
ARالعربية
مريضٌ بالحب
maridhun bil-hub
BNবাংলা
প্রেমে আক্রান্ত
prem-e ak-ran-to
CACatalà
enamorat
e-na-mo-rat
CSČeština
zamilovaný
za-mi-lo-va-ny
DADansk
forelsket
for-el-sket
DEDeutsch
verliebt
fer-libt
ELΕλληνικά
ερωτευμένος
e-ro-te-v-men-os
ESEspañol
enfermo de amor
en-fer-moh deh a-mor
FAفارسی
دلباخته
del-ba-ke
FISuomi
rakastunut
ra-ka-stu-nut
FRFrançais
amoureux fou
muh-rew-oo fū
GUGU
પ્રેમમાં મગન
prem-ma-n ma-gan
HAHA
aurenciya
au-ren-ci-ya
HIहिन्दी
प्रेम में पागल
prem mein paagal
HUMagyar
szerelmes
ser-el-mes
IDBahasa Indonesia
sakit hati
sa-kit ha-tee
IGIG
nwụrụrụ ụtọ
nwu-ru-ru u-to
ITItaliano
innamorato
in-na-mo-ra-toh
KKKK
сүйінуші
su-i-nu-shi
KO한국어
사랑에 앓고 있다
sarang-e al-go it-da
MRMR
प्रेमात भासलेले
prema-at bha-sa-le-le
MSBahasa Melayu
tergila
ter-gi-la
MYမြန်မာ
လျှောက်လျောက်
lyaw-k-lyaw-k
NLNederlands
verliefd
ver-liefd
NONorsk
forelsket
for-el-sket
PLPolski
zakochany
za-ko-cha-ny
PTPortuguês
doente de amor
doh-en-teh deh a-mor
RORomână
îndrăgostit
in-dra-gos-tit
RUРусский
влюблённый
vlyublyonnyy
SVSvenska
förälskad
för-äls-kad
SWKiswahili
kupendwa
ku-pen-d-wa
TAதமிழ்
அன்பில் திளைத்தல்
an-bil thi-lai-thal
TEతెలుగు
ప్రేమలో పడిపోవడం
prema-lo padi-po-va-dam
TLTL
nasaktan
na-sa-k-tan
UKУкраїнська
закоханий
za-ko-ha-niy
URاردو
محبت میں مبتلا
mohabbat mein mub-tallah
VITiếng Việt
say mê
say may
YOYO
ni wọ́n ń fẹ́
ni won n fe
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically romanticized as feminine affliction; male lovesickness was rare in literature and social expectation. Emotional vulnerability was coded as women's experience.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'emotionally distressed by romantic loss' or similar when describing across genders; avoid assuming gender aligns with emotional openness.
Inclusive Alternatives
["emotionally distressed by romantic absence","preoccupied with romantic longing","experiencing romantic grief"]