In this episode of Lost Words: The Forgotten Language of Humanity, we explore “Sonder,” a modern word coined by writer John Koenig in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. It describes the sudden realization that every stranger around us lives a life as vivid, complex, and emotional as our own — filled with memories, dreams, fears, and quiet struggles we will never know.
The episode begins by tracing the origins of the word, showing how it emerged not from ancient language but from a contemporary need to name a deeply human feeling. Through vivid imagery — city streets, cafés, crowded buses — the narrative captures that moment of awareness when we stop seeing people as background characters and recognize that each one is the main character of their own story.
Listeners are guided through the philosophical and emotional depth of sonder: it invites humility and empathy, reminding us that our joys and pains are not unique, and that we are part of a vast web of overlapping lives. Yet, it also carries a bittersweet truth — we can never fully know another person’s inner world, no matter how close we are.
The episode concludes with a reflection on the beauty of living among countless stories — the idea that even in our solitude, we are surrounded by invisible lives moving alongside ours. Sonder teaches us to look at others with wonder, patience, and respect, realizing that the world is full of unseen universes unfolding beside us.
