Schadenfreude
/ˈʃaːdn̩ˌfʁɔʏ̯də/
der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)
Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.
Forms
- genitive
- der Schadenfreude
Meaning
-
pleasure taken in someone else's misfortune
A compound of Schaden (harm) and Freude (joy). English borrowed the word wholesale rather than coining its own.
Practice
1 What does Schadenfreude mean?
pleasure taken in someone else's misfortune
2 Fill the gap: Er konnte seine ___ kaum verbergen.
Full sentence: Er konnte seine Schadenfreude kaum verbergen. (He could barely hide his glee at their misfortune.)
3 Which fingerprint chart matches Schadenfreude?
Schadenfreude: neutral register, academic frequency, general domain, neutral connotation.
Synonyms
- Häme
Opposites
- Mitgefühl
- Mitleid
Usage notes
There is a German proverb that goes Schadenfreude ist die schönste Freude — "schadenfreude is the finest joy" — said with heavy irony.
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