See also: Schadenfreude

English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

Borrowed 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.[1] and likely entered mainstream usage through an episode of The Simpsons[2] (more in citations).

Pronunciation [ edit ]

IPA (key) : /ˈʃɑːdənfɹɔɪdə/ enPR: SH äʹdənfroidə

: enPR: Audio (US)

Rhymes: -ɔɪdə

Noun [ edit ]

schadenfreude (uncountable)

Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune. 1897, Arthur Schopenhauer, Thomas Bailey Saunders (translator), "Human Nature", The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer, But it is Schadenfreude, a mischievous delight in the misfortunes of others, which remains the worst trait in human nature.

Quotations [ edit ]

For more quotations using this term, see Citations:schadenfreude

Synonyms [ edit ]

epicaricacy ( rare )

Derived terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ]

See also [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

^ schadenfreude at Google Ngram Viewer ^ Merriam Webster ‎[1], accessed “Words at play: schadenfreude”, in, accessed