Heimat

middle high German: heimuote
old high German: heimuoti, heimoti
middle low German: hemode

The suffix -oti is also used in German words like Einöde (-öde) (= desert, solitude) and Armut (-ut) (= poverty)

The word stems from the Germanic and old high German word "heim", which meant house, place of living, residence, whereabouts.
It has the same roots as the English word "home" or the Swedish "hem".
It's connate to the Indo-European "kome", which meant "village". The Indo-Eur. root is "kei-", which meant "to lie (down)" - thus a place where you lie down to rest or a camp.
The Russian "semja" (Family) is also related to it.

Other connate German words are "Heirat" (marriage) and "geheuer" (familiar).

The best explanation of the term "Heimat" I've ever heard was from an (now) american jewish man, wo fled from the Nazis to New York (but he have still "heimatliche" feelings to Germany) and said literally:

"Heimat ist kein Ort; Heimat ist ein Gefühl!"
(Home/Homeland is not a place, it's a feeling!)

Eichendorff has written the wonderful poem "Die Heimat". I will not try to translate it, cause I know that I would fail! But if you ever could understand the meaning of the lines and the wonderful sound of the choosen words - you would understand the meaning and the deep feeling of the Germans when they hear and talk about "Heimat".

Die Heimat
(by Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff)

An meinen Bruder

Denkst du des Schlosses noch auf stiller Höh'?
Das Horn lockt nächtlich dort, als ob's dich riefe,
Am Abgrund grast das Reh,
Es rauscht der Wald verwirrend aus der Tiefe -
O stille, wecke nicht, es war, als schliefe
Da drunten ein unnennbar Weh.

Kennst du den Garten? - Wenn sich Lenz erneut,
Geht dort ein Mädchen auf den kühlen Gängen
Still durch die Einsamkeit
Und weckt den leisen Strom von Zauberklängen,
Als ob die Blumen und die Bäume sängen
Rings von der alten schönen Zeit.

Ihr Wipfel und ihr Bronnen, rauscht nur zu!
Wohin du auch in wilder Lust magst dringen,
Du findest nirgends Ruh,
Erreichen wird dich das geheime Singen -
Ach, dieses Bannes zauberischen Ringen
Entfliehn wir nimmer, ich und du!

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The lyrics of the former "Vorbehaltslied", "Heimat deine Sterne", can express a good feeling of "Heimat". Especially when you hear the Melody. You'll easily find the song in www.youtube.com.

Heimat deine Sterne,

Heimat deine Sterne,
sie strahlen mir auch am fernen Ort.
Was sie sagen, deute ich ja so gerne,
als der Liebe zärtliches Losungswort.

Schöne Abendstunde,
der Himmel ist wie ein Diamant.
Tausend Sterne stehen in weiter Runde,
von der Liebsten freundlich mir zugesand.

Berge und Buchten vom Nordlicht umglänzt,
Golfe des Südens von Reben begrenzt.
Ost und West hab ich durchmessen,
doch die Heimat nicht vergessen.
Hörst du mein Lied in der Ferne.

Heimat.

Heimat deine Sterne,
sie strahlen mir auch an fernen Ort.
Was sie sagen, deute ich ja so gerne,
als der Liebe zärtliches Losungswort.

Schöne Abendstunde,
der Himmel ist wie ein Diamant.
Tausend Sterne stehen in weiter Runde,
von der Liebsten freundlich mir zugesand.
In der Ferne träum ich vom Heimatland.

Greetings from Mainz,Germany (my Heimat!)

The translation of the German word "Heimat" doesn't really exist, because with this you can suggest a strong positive feeling of an inner connection to your homeplace

If you want to talk about the place you've grown up and not the feeling, Germans would use the word "zu Hause" or "Heimatland" which means homeplace or native country, so I think, the word Heimat is much stronger than just the word home which is maybe used in the same way.

The german word "Heimat" has divers meanings. The most people who say e.g.: "Cologne is my Heimat.", means that they originally from Cologne. But many people in germany say "my heimat is where my heart is", so they mean that their heimat is there where they think it is.

But germans also use "zu Hause" to say where they come from and "Heimatland" the native country, like Richie says. And like Germanist says "Heimat" must not be a country or city it can also be a part of germany or sometimes where the family lives.

The translation of the German word "Heimat" doesn't really exist, because with this you can suggest a strong positive feeling of an inner connection to your homeplace (and maybe a little bit of homesickness or nostalgic feelings) which only describes the place where you've been grown up.

If you want to talk about the place you've grown up and not the feeling, Germans would use the word "zu Hause" or "Heimatland" which means homeplace or native country, so I think, the word Heimat is much stronger than just the word home which is maybe used in the same way.