What is the English word for Schadenfreude?
Joseph Russell
Updated on May 25, 2026
Schadenfreude is a combination of the German nouns Schaden, meaning "damage" or "harm," and Freude, meaning "joy." So it makes sense that schadenfreude means joy over some harm or misfortune suffered by another.
What is the English equivalent to Schadenfreude?
But there is a one-word English equivalent. It is “epicaricacy” which means rejoicing at, taking fun in, or getting pleasure from the misfortune of others. The word is derived from the ancient Greek “epi” (meaning upon); “kharis” (meaning joy) and “kakos” (meaning evil).Can you use Schadenfreude in English?
The German loanword schadenfreude is a recent addition to the English language, but its meaning is so simple and its concept so universal that it's probably going to stay. Plus, there is no corresponding English word. Simply defined, schadenfreude is pleasure derived from others' misfortune.What do you call someone who takes pleasure in others pain?
A sadist is someone who enjoys inflicting pain on others, sometimes in a sexual sense. Sadists like seeing other people hurt. A sadist is the opposite of a masochist, who enjoys being in pain. A sadist is all about hurting others, usually to get off sexually.What do you call a person who likes to be alone?
loner. noun. someone who likes to be alone and has few friends.Are there benefits to schadenfreude? - 6 Minute English
What's the opposite of schadenfreude?
Actually, the opposite of Schadenfreude would be the sadness about the harm of someone else. Thus, Mitgefühl*/*compassion, as aaamos mentioned, is the closest word that come to my mind.Is gloating the same as schadenfreude?
Whereas gloating is an experience and expression of superiority over others, the muted pleasure of schadenfreude is based in passivity and concerns about inferiority and powerlessness.What is Gluckschmerz?
Gluckschmerz: When “Good News” StrikesGluckschmerz is also a compound term of two German words: Gluck, meaning luck, and Schmerz, meaning pain. It represents being displeased by an event presumed to be desirable for someone else.
What does the German word weltschmerz mean?
A combining of the German words for "world" (Welt) and "pain" (Schmerz), weltschmerz aptly captures the melancholy and pessimism that often characterized the artistic expressions of the era.What is Freudenschade?
Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. [German : Schaden, damage (from Middle High German schade, from Old High German scado) + Freude, joy (from Middle High German vreude, from Old High German frewida, from frō, happy).]Is epicaricacy a real word?
Epicaricacy definition(rare) Rejoicing at or derivation of pleasure from the misfortunes of others.