A German neologism coined in English
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English speakers have taken to the German term schadenfreude like fish in water, but it seems that they're embarrassed at using a word that signifies taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune. Consequently, they invented the word freudenfreude, the positive feeling of joy or delight in another person's success or happiness.
Freudenfreude is apparently a recent coinage, stemming from a December, 2022 New York Times article by Juli Fraga. I haven't heard it in the wild yet, but I will start to use it, natürlich.
Yay, freudenfreude!
Selected reading
- "Schadenfreudeful" (4/20/19)
- "German lexicographic richness" (10/11/21)
Condign Harbinger said,
November 26, 2025 @ 10:10 am
A companion for Scheißenfreude?
Victor Mair said,
November 26, 2025 @ 10:20 am
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=schei%C3%9Fenfreude
Francois lang said,
November 26, 2025 @ 10:39 am
What a charming and heartwarming neologism, especially in this era of such turmoil.