Skip to main content

FEMAschämen 

That feeling you get when your Federal Government colleague says something so dumb in a meeting that you feel embarrassed for them.

Derived from Femdschämen (German); the feeling of secondhand embarrassment.
Origin: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, but broadly applicable throughout Federal, State, and Local government as well as the government contracting community.
"Jesus. I experienced intense FEMAschämen when S*** asked what the difference between a gigabyte and a megabyte was. I didn't know what to say. It was almost as bad as when G****** emailed us some data, but asked if we could send the spreadsheet back when we were finished because it was their only copy, or when A**** told us that "I have an idea...in my mind'", etc.
FEMAschämen by FEMAMAMA November 10, 2022
FEMAschämen mug front
Get the FEMAschämen mug.
See more merch

Fremdschämen 

A German term which describes the process of being vicariously embarrassed by someone else. For example when somebody's concept for a great party gag goes terrible wrong and you watch him fail in the middle of all of his friends.
Tom was completely wasted while he held the speech on Mike's wedding party. Fremdschämen in perfection.
Fremdschämen by Klawiklawaklawong September 14, 2009
Related Words

Fremdschämen 

Vicarious embarrassment. Feeling embarrassed on somebody else's behalf.
Mick made a pyar dick of himself when he tagged all his friends into a Facebook argument they weren’t interested in. Proper Fremdschämen.
Fremdschämen by Da Brudder August 26, 2022

Fremdschämen 

When an act is committed by a third-party that leaves you utterly embarrassed.
My feeling after Trump's election was Fremdschämen.
well known from south park
rednecks get angrry that future folk took there jobs so they yell
They took ouare jerbs!
Them future folk took ouare jerbs!
jerb by Jimberley Kim April 7, 2005
Word of the Day on May 22, 2026
An Irish phrase meaning shit, derived from ass
(Not to be confused with the literal description of one's buttocks)
"Did you hear the song Aylek$ dropped?"
"Hardly. Her music is absolute cheeks."

"My boyfriend say LaFlame is cheeks."
"Tell your boyfriend I said it's his mixtape that's cheeks."
Cheeks by thecartisan April 26, 2020
Word of the Day on May 21, 2026

sans sheriff 

Lawless use of fonts or typography, with no regard to aesthetics or legibility
I'm putting this CV straight in the bin. Written totally sans sheriff.
sans sheriff by Jamarley July 3, 2019
Word of the Day on May 20, 2026