Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude

(SHAAD-n-froi-duh) noun, Pleasure derived from others' misfortunes.

[From German Schadenfreude, from Schaden (damage, harm) + Freude

(joy).]



The American English Language, as expected, is probably the most dominant force amongst all languages. I like the British English better, probably because I can imagine that unmistakable, (and so adorable) British accent that goes with it and I can hear those Shakespearean actors reciting Much Ado About Nothing with fervor. Filipino is closest to my heart for I can express myself fully with it, and I can understand, even the weirdest humor derived from the language.



But it's interesting to know words from other languages that fits a human emotion, or relationship so perfectly. We Filipinos have no word for the above, but when I received this from my daily word vocabulary subscription, I was amazed that the Germans, perceived to be cold and calculating, have words to describe this particular human emotion. (If I'm not mistaken, angst, another favorite word of mine, is also derived from German...I have to check that out!)



And it's human. One cannot put oneself above this emotion for we all feel this and we all deny it afterwards. That's only human too. Pretending we all live in a world where people are perfect. Pretending we are all good little boys and girls who don't feel that little wave of pleasure when someone, particularly one we don't like, or even hate, had misfortune.



The hardest to admit is when we feel a little bit glad, that our friends, who we like, love or cherish, may have a bit of misfortune (not too much, for we already have to rethink if they are really our friends if we clapped our hands at their misfortune) because as we all say, misery loves company. And we are all competitive, in every way, even with people we like.



Well, the next time I feel a little bit glad that one of my girlfriends who is older than me, still don't have a boyfriend, I can't chalk it up to misery loves company bit anymore. When I feel like dancing when I win Scrabble or Boggle or other games against my friends, who all lost horribly, I now have the word for it.



It's schadenfreude.



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*I wonder how many people out there will admit that they felt this way before? That we're only human...hmmm...