Definition
Suitcases and bags that contain a person's belongings for travel, or emotional weight from past experiences.
Etymology
From Old French 'bagace,' possibly from 'bague' (bundle); the literal meaning (luggage) dates to the 15th century, while the metaphorical meaning (emotional burden) developed much later in psychology and everyday speech.
Kelly Says
When we call emotional problems 'baggage,' we're using 500-year-old luggage terminology to describe the invisible weight we carry—language naturally expresses psychology through physical metaphors our brains understand!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
መ具有 (me-kitu)
me-kee-too
ARالعربية
ال सामान (al-samān)
al-sa-maan
BNবাংলা
সামগ্রী (samagri)
sa-ma-gri
CACatalà
bagatge
ba-ga-che
CSČeština
zavazadlo
za-va-zad-lo
DEDeutsch
Gepäck
gay-pack
ELΕλληνικά
πορτπαγιά (portpagia)
port-pa-gee-ah
ESEspañol
equipaje
e-kee-pa-heh
FISuomi
matkatavara
mat-ka-ta-va-ra
FRFrançais
bagages
ba-zahj
GUGU
સામાન (samaan)
sa-maan
HEעברית
koper (kopher)
ko-per
HIहिन्दी
बाड़ा (baṛā)
ba-ra
HUMagyar
csomagok
cho-ma-gok
IDBahasa Indonesia
bagasi
ba-ga-see
ITItaliano
bagaglio
ba-ga-glio
JA日本語
荷物 (ni-motu)
nee-moh-too
KKKK
көлік (kölik)
ko-leek
KMKM
ទំនិញ (tum-niy)
tum-nee
MRMR
प्रवास (pravās)
pra-vaas
MSBahasa Melayu
bagasi
ba-ga-see
NLNederlands
bagage
ba-ga-he
NONorsk
bagasje
ba-ga-she
PAPA
ਸਾમાਣ (saamaan)
sa-maan
PTPortuguês
bagagem
ba-ga-jem
RUРусский
багаж (bagazj)
ba-gazh
SVSvenska
bagage
ba-ga-he
SWKiswahili
bagage
ba-ga-he
TAதமிழ்
சாமான்கள் (saamaanangal)
sa-a-man-gal
TEతెలుగు
సామాగ్రి (saamaagri)
sa-a-ma-gri
THไทย
สัมภาระ (sam-pha-ra)
sam-pa-ra
UKУкраїнська
Bagaj (bagazj)
ba-gazh
URاردو
سامان (samaan)
sa-maan
VITiếng Việt
hành lý
hanh lee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Metaphorically applied to women's sexuality and reproductive role ('damaged goods'). Used historically to dismiss women's concerns or relationships as liabilities.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'baggage' for literal luggage or specific emotional burdens only. Avoid applying metaphorically to people or relationships without specificity.
Inclusive Alternatives
["emotional history","past experiences","unresolved issues"]