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Where does the word "schadenfreude" come from? It comes from German Schaden, passing through German before entering English (1900s).
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Where does the word "schadenfreude" come from? It comes from German Schaden, passing through German before entering English (1900s).
Schadenfreude’s story begins in German: Schaden meant “harm, damage.” Meaning "harm" or "damage". Within German, it grew into Schadenfreude by 1800s. Combining "Schaden" with "Freude" (joy). It reached English by 1900s as schadenfreude. German 'harm joy'; Richard Trench deplored it in 1852 as un-English. Today, schadenfreude means a feeling of pleasure derived from someone else's misfortune.
- Stage 1 · German · medieval Schaden "harm, damage", meaning "harm" or "damage".
- Stage 2 · German · 1800s Schadenfreude "pleasure derived from another's misfortune", combining "Schaden" with "Freude" (joy).
- Stage 3 · English · 1900s schadenfreude "pleasure derived from another person's misfortune", German 'harm joy'; Richard Trench deplored it in 1852 as un-English.