# schadenfreude

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʃɑː.dənˌfɹɔɪ.də/ · frequency rank #57,701

## Definitions
1. Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune.

## Etymology
An unadapted borrowing from German Schadenfreude (“joy in the misfortune of others”), from Schaden (“damage, misfortune”) + Freude (“joy”). The word gained popularity in English in the late 20th c. and likely entered mainstream usage through an episode of The Simpsons (more in citations).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/schadenfreude