schadenfreude
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schadenfreude
- /ˈʃɑː.dənˌfɹɔɪ.də/ standard
- /ˈʃɑː.dənˌfɹɔɪd/ standard
Sounds like schadenfreuder (non-rhotic pronunciations)
Where it comes from
An unadapted borrowing from German Schadenfreude (“joy in the misfortune of others”), from Schaden (“damage, misfortune”) + Freude (“joy”). The word gained popularity in English in the late 20th c. and likely entered mainstream usage through an episode of The Simpsons (more in citations).
noun schadenfreudes
-
Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune; counterempathy.
But it is Schadenfreude, a mischievous delight in the misfortunes of others, which remains the worst trait in human nature.
Similar: epicaricacy, lulz · Opposite: confelicity, freudenfreude, naches, firgun
Translations
Every language
noun malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune
| Español | alegría maligna, gozo morboso m satisfacción malévola, gozamiento del mal ajeno, epicaricacía, regodeo, schadenfreude |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 쌤통 ssaemtong, 샤덴프로이데 syadenpeuroide, 고소하다 gosohada |
| 日本語 | シャーデンフロイデ shādenfuroide, 幸災楽禍 kōsairakuka, 他人の不幸は蜜の味 tanin no fukō wa mitsu no aji |
| 中文 | 幸災樂禍 /幸灾乐祸 xìngzāilèhuò |
| हिन्दी | शाडन्फ़्रॉएड śāḍanfrŏeḍ |
| Português | Schadenfreude, bem feito |
| Français | joie maligne, schadenfreude |
| Deutsch | Schadenfreude |
| Italiano | gioia maligna, aticofilia |
| Ελληνικά | χαιρεκακία chairekakía |
| Русский | злора́дство zlorádstvo |
| العربية | شَمَاتَة šamāta |
| עברית | שִׂמְחָה לְאֵיד |
Talk about this word "schadenfreude." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/schadenfreude. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. schadenfreude. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/schadenfreude "schadenfreude." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/schadenfreude.Cite this
@misc{schadenfreude_2026,
title = {schadenfreude},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/schadenfreude},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
