# translation: schadenfruende (sp?)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-schadenfruende-sp/221926>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 31, 2003, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-schadenfruende-sp/221926 "2003-12-31T11:39:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-schadenfruende-sp/221926/1 "2003-12-31T11:39:44Z")

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Seen it a few times, and I can say I’m ashamed that I know German but just can’t remember what it translates to. though I do know the basic meaning of the word. (looking for the literal translation.)

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-schadenfruende-sp/221926/2 "2003-12-31T11:56:41Z")

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The original German words are _schaden_ which means damage and _freude_ which means joy.

It’s usually translated as: malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others.

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-schadenfruende-sp/221926/3 "2003-12-31T11:58:19Z")

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Sorry. For spelling stick the 2 German words together.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-schadenfruende-sp/221926/4 "2003-12-31T12:12:47Z")

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thanks don’t ask, that’s what I thought.

Mod, please delete the thread to free up space. Got what I needed.