Querencia

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kɛˈɹɛnsɪə/

Definitions

1. A place where someone feels safe, secure, and deeply connected to their identity
2. An environment or location that provides a strong sense of comfort, belonging, and personal refuge
3. A special spot or area where an individual feels protected, calm, and truly at peace

Etymology: Bullfighting gave English this word, though the Spanish sense is older than the ring. In Spanish, "querencia" comes from "querer", "to want" or "to love", and describes the spot in the arena where a bull instinctively returns to regain its courage and bearings. Matadors learned to watch for it, because a bull that finds its querencia is much harder to control. English borrowed the term unchanged, keeping its Spanish spelling and sound, and it has stayed a borrowing rather than being absorbed into everyday speech. It came into English through writing about bullfighting and Spanish life, and its meaning widened from that literal arena spot to any place where a person feels safest and most at home.

Synonyms: sanctuary, refuge, haven, retreat, safe place

Antonyms: danger, threat, hazard, peril, risk