What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ostalgia
Example
The film captures the ostalgia of East Germans who miss their old way of life. [ostalgia: noun]
Example
He experienced a wave of ostalgia when he visited his hometown in the former East Germany. [ostalgia: noun]
nostalgia
Example
She felt a pang of nostalgia when she heard her favorite song from high school. [nostalgia: noun]
Example
The museum exhibit evoked a sense of nostalgia for the 1950s. [nostalgia: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nostalgia is a more commonly used term than ostalgia, as it has a broader scope and is recognized in many cultures and languages.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ostalgia and nostalgia?
Both ostalgia and nostalgia can be used in formal and informal contexts, but ostalgia may be more specialized and less commonly used in everyday language outside of German-speaking communities.
