is a German term meaning "pleasure taken from someone else's misfortune". It is sometimes used as a Loanword in English and other languages. The German pronunciation of the word is ( IPA ).
It comes from ''Schaden'' (damage, harm) and ''Freude'' (joy). ''Schaden'' comes 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'').
''Schadenfreude'' is usually believed to not have a direct English equivalent. For example, ''Harper Collins German-English Dictionary'' translates schadenfreude as "malicious glee or gloating." An apparent English equivalent is '', 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 compounding of ''epi'' (upon), ''chara'' (joy), and ''kakon'' (evil).
In Buddhism , the concept of '' Mudita '', "sympathetic joy" or "happiness in another's good fortune", is often explained as "the opposite of schadenfreude".
In English , the word schadenfreude is sometimes Capitalized because of the German Grammatical Convention of capitalizing all Common Noun s in addition to Proper Noun s. However, as a loanword in English it usually follows English Grammar and is not capitalized.
- ''Schadenfreude ist die schönste Freude (denn sie kommt von Herzen)'': "''Schadenfreude'' is the most superb kind of joy (since it comes directly from the heart)." ( Proverb )
- ''Neid zu fühlen ist menschlich, Schadenfreude zu genießen teuflisch'': "To feel envy is human, to enjoy ''schadenfreude'' is devilish." ( Arthur Schopenhauer )
- ''Das Wort Schadenfreude kennt man nur im Deutschen'': "The word ''schadenfreude'' is only known in German." (unknown author)
The last statement is false, as there are equivalent terms in other languages:
- Dutch : ''leedvermaak'' (''leed'', suffering or sorrow, and ''vermaak'', entertainment)
- Hungarian : ''káröröm'' (''kár'', loss or damage, ''öröm'', joy)
- Swedish : ''skadeglädje'' (''skada'', damage, ''glädje'', joy or happiness)
- Danish and Norwegian : ''skadefryd'' (''skade'', pain or suffering, ''fryd'', glee).
- Estonian : ''kahjurõõm'' (''kahju'', damage or harm and ''rõõm'', joy)
- Finnish : ''vahingonilo'' (''vahinko'', damage, ''ilo'', joy or happiness)
- Russian : ''злорадство'' (''зло'', evil or harm, ''радость'', joy)
- Scots Gaelic : ''aighear-truaighe'' (''aighear'', delight or joy, ''truaighe'', misery or wretchedness)
- Serbo-Croatian : (''zlu'', evil, ''radost'', joy)
- Slovak : ''škodoradosť'' (''škoda'', damage, harm, or loss, ''radosť'', joy)
In Swedish and Norwegian, there is also a saying that ''skadeglädjen/fryd är den enda sanna glädjen/fryd'' ("schadenfreude is the only true joy"). A variant in Finnish is ''vahingonilo on aidointa iloa'' ("schadenfreude is the purest joy"). Another variant in Slovak is ''škodoradosť je najväčšia radosť'' ("schadenfreude is the greatest joy"), similar in meaning to the Hungarian variant ''legszebb öröm a káröröm''. In Danish, the saying ''Egen lykke er at foretrække men andres ulykke er dog ikke at foragte'' translates to "(One's) own happiness should be preferred, but the misfortune of others should not be scorned."
In Thai , the phrase สมน้ำหน้า, ''som nam na'', can be interpreted as "you got what you deserved," "serves you right" or "I'm laughing at your bad luck."
In Korean , the phrase 고소하다, ''go so ha da'', literally translated means "to smell sesame oil". Because the smell of sesame oil is regarded as very pleasant in Korea, this phrase is also used when one is pleased about a particular event. It is especially used when one is pleased about an event involving the misfortune of another.
In Chinese , the phrase 幸灾乐祸 () is an old idiom that directly translates to "enjoying (other's) calamity (and) laughing at (other's) misfortune".
In Japanese , the phrase 他人の不幸は蜜の味, ''tajin no fukou wa mitsu no aji'', translates literally as "others' misfortune tastes of honey".
- In his memoirs, '' Inside The Third Reich '', Albert Speer described Adolf Hitler's sense of humor to be almost entirely based on schadenfreude. Some examples Speer gave were mean jokes played on such ministers as Joachim Von Ribbentrop , many of which Hitler or his friends initiated.
- ''Schadenfreude'' is referenced in ''."
- ''Schadenfreude'' is referenced in the '' Malcolm In The Middle '' (TV series) episode ''High School Play'' (2000) by the Krelboyne Lloyd (portrayed by Evan Matthew Cohen). Malcolm (portrayed by Frankie Muniz) abandons the Krelboynes to play the role of Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream and has forgotten all of his lines. Lloyd comments, "Normally I would enjoy the schadenfreude, but this is just sad."
- "Schadenfreude" is the title of a song in the 2004 Tony Award -winning Musical '' Avenue Q ,'' sung by characters Gary Coleman and Nicky. The song features the line: "Happiness at the misfortune of others? That ''is'' German!"
- ''Schadenfreude'' is also referenced in the '' Simpsons '' episode " When Flanders Failed ." Lisa accuses Homer of feeling ''schadenfreude'' when Homer gloats about Ned Flanders being on the verge of Bankruptcy . Lisa asks Homer, "Dad, do you know what Schadenfreude is?" To which Homer replies in a sarcastic tone, "No, I do not know what Schadenfreude is. Please tell me because I'm dying to know." Lisa then explains "It's a German term for shameful joy, taking pleasure in the suffering of others." Homer responds with "Oh, come on, Lisa. I'm just glad to see him fall flat on his butt! He's usually all happy and comfortable, and surrounded by loved ones, and it makes me feel... what's the opposite of that shameful joy thing of yours?" " Sour Grapes ." "Boy, those Germans have a word for everything."
- ''Schadenfreude'' is referenced in ''Cantor's Dilemma'' (ISBN 0140143599), a 1991 Novel by Carl Djerassi , inventor of the Birth Control Pill . The lead character, Professor I. C. Cantor, has a lengthy discussion with his romantic interest, Ms. Paula Curry, about the word in the context of the joy that competing scientists feel when the other has been discredited in public. The novel is intended as a semi-realistic account of the politics and ethics behind major scientific discoveries.
- "Schadenfreude" is the title of a '' Boston Legal '' episode in which character Alan Shore ( James Spader ) uses the term to explain why defendants are convicted of an unrelated criminal offense after having been engaged in culturally unacceptable or possibly illegal activities.
- "Schadenfreude" is the title of a second season episode of '' Cold Case ''.
- ''Schadenfreude'' is referenced in the book Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut , as a character ( Dr. Schadenfreude ) in a short story written by Kilgore Trout .
- On '' The Colbert Report '' with Steven Colbert explaining how "only" Germans would have a term for that.
- Comedienne Sarah Silverman talked about Schadenfreude during one of her stand-up routines about Hurricane Katrina , saying that it translated into "Look, that Jew fell down."
- Comedy group by the name of Schadenfreude works and performs in Chicago. Recently they had a show on Chicago Public Radio . Their website can be found here
- The word "Schadenfreude" makes a small appearance in the 2000 Ion Storm release " Deus Ex " within an ingame memo. It is an alternate password for Gunther Hermann, a disfigured character.
- Schadenfreude makes an appearance in the Xbox Arcade Game, " Marble Blast Ultra ". It is the name of the final and most difficult level.
- Schadenfreude is mentioned in the 2004 film '''' after about 67-1/2 minutes, when the announcer states "Let the schadenfreude commence!"
- Ben Affleck famously cited Schadenfreude as a contributing factor for the scathing critical response to the film '' Gigli '', in which he starred alongside then-fiancée Jennifer Lopez .
- Maynard James Keenan has said in press meetings that the first song, Vicarious from the 2006 album by Tool, " 10,000 Days, " is inspired by Schadenfreude.
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