Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude is a German word meaning ‘pleasure taken from someone else’s misfortune.’ It has been borrowed by the English language[1] and is sometimes also used as a loanword by other languages. It derives from Schaden (damage, harm) and Freude (joy); Schaden derives from the Middle High German schade, from the Old High German scado, and freude comes from the Middle High German vreude, from the Old High German frewida, from frō, (happy). In German, the word always carries a negative connotation. A distinction exists between “secret schadenfreude” (a private feeling) and “open schadenfreude” (Hohn).
Usually, it is believed that Schadenfreude has no direct English equivalent. For example, Harper Collins German-English Dictionary translates schadenfreude as “malicious glee or gloating.” An apparent English equivalent is epicaricacy, derived from the Greek word επιχαιρεκακία, epichaerecacia. This word does not appear in most modern dictionaries, but does appear in Nathaniel Bailey‘s Universal Etymological English Dictionary (1727) under a slightly different spelling (epicharikaky), which gives its etymology as a compound of epi (upon), chara (joy), and kakon (evil).

(Sourced from Wikipedia)

8 thoughts on “Schadenfreude”

  1. i can only assume you are posting this so we know what the word is for your joy at Judd’s suspension?

  2. 🙂

    I don’t wish him any ill will, I, like many others, suspect he is a decent hard working humble guy.
    Unfortunately he does wear a canary jumper, and for that, in typical tribal fashion, I am not that dissapointed he got cited. But I think he will get off this afternoon.

    Its not his fault he plays for the Weagles, and I suspect he may not be playing for them next year.

  3. Are you going all highbrow on us-using fancy foreign words.
    Just because you’re a Bible College lecturer you have to use big words hey?

  4. Gaz, who told you that?? I’ve been trying to keep it a secret, if a mutual net quaitance of ours finds out, all …. will break loose 🙂

    and Roo, the Cats leadership would not put up with the rubbish the Weagles have, so maybe it would be a good fit, didn’t his dad play for Geelong?

  5. spot on. i think it would be the best way to go for ben and the eagles, but probably wont happen, they love him too much. i will happily take chris instead….imagine a midfield of bartel,corey,judd,ablett…..we would never lose a clearance…

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