German word, original translation loosely comes out as 'malicious joy'. In English, it's thought of 'malicious enjoyment from the suffering of another'. As there is no succinct English version of the word, English-speaking peoples have approximated this word and use it whenever they see people like corrupt CEOs get dragged off to jail.
Did you see that look on Fastow's face as he was told he couldn't take soap-on-a-rope to the lockup? Man, I felt a warm, comforting sense of schadenfreude in my gut when I saw it...
by Paul Wartenberg May 18, 2003
although "schadenfreude" seems widely known I've never heard it being used in casual conversation.
Probably it's more the problem of not knowing how to pronounce it. I've heard "skäidenfruhd," for instance :)
Probably it's more the problem of not knowing how to pronounce it. I've heard "skäidenfruhd," for instance :)
by lingualtreasure June 3, 2009
The joy one feels when bad things happen to other people.
or
The act of deriving pleasure from someone else's misfortune.
Orgin = 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 fr, happy).
or
The act of deriving pleasure from someone else's misfortune.
Orgin = 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 fr, happy).
An sense of schadenfreude came over me as I watched a Chevy Suburban with a "W" bumpersticker pull into a gas station advertising $3.89 per gallon.
by Stevo B May 4, 2006
shrink to a patient:
-what did you feel when you found out that your successful brother had lost all his money in the stock market?
patient:
-schadenfreude
-what did you feel when you found out that your successful brother had lost all his money in the stock market?
patient:
-schadenfreude
by ana von hindenburg February 7, 2011
Remember the enormous pleasure you got watching dad get kicked in the nuts on AFHV in the 80s, or ogling any fat asshole in the world dancing in bikini briefs or redneck on a crotch rocket who smashes his face in on the old log next to the "swimmin' hole" near his dilapidated shack on YouTube? That's schadenfreude... It's what makes you human... Or a very bad person.
by Vice Morris July 29, 2009
German for "happiness at the misfortune of others"
Clapping when a waitress falls and drops a tray of glasses
Watching figure skaters falling on their asses
Watching people out in the rain
Watching a vegetarian being told she just ate chicken
Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his dick in
Being on an elevator when somebody shouts "Hold the door!"
Straight A students getting Bs
Exes getting STDs
Waking doormen from their naps
Watching tourists reading maps
Football players getting tackled
CEOs getting shackled
Watching actors never reach the ending of their Oscar speech
Clapping when a waitress falls and drops a tray of glasses
Watching figure skaters falling on their asses
Watching people out in the rain
Watching a vegetarian being told she just ate chicken
Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his dick in
Being on an elevator when somebody shouts "Hold the door!"
Straight A students getting Bs
Exes getting STDs
Waking doormen from their naps
Watching tourists reading maps
Football players getting tackled
CEOs getting shackled
Watching actors never reach the ending of their Oscar speech
by Janet Weiss July 30, 2005
The joy one feels when bad things happen to other people.
or
The act of deriving pleasure from someone else's misfortune.
Orgin = 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 fr, happy).
or
The act of deriving pleasure from someone else's misfortune.
Orgin = 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 fr, happy).
An sense of schadenfreude came over me as I watched a Chevy Suburban with a "W" bumpersticker pull into a gas station advertising $3.89 per gallon.
by Stevo B May 4, 2006