Schadenfreude
Schadenfreude is a German expression (from Schaden: damage, harm; and Freude: joy) meaning pleasure taken from someone else's misfortune or shameful joy. The word is often capitalized, however since all German nouns (proper or common) are capitalized it should be possible to spell it lower case in English.
It is usually believed to not have a direct English equivalent. For example, Harper Collins German-English Dictionary translates schadenfreude as malicious glee or gloating. An apparent English equivalent, derived from Greek, is epicaricacy. This word does not appear in most modern dictionaries but does appear in Nathaniel Bailey's Universal Etymological English Dictionary (1727) under a slightly different spelling (epicharikaky) and gives its etymology as epi (upon) + chara (joy) + kakon (evil).
Taken in a broader sense, it could apply to the feeling of being “blessed” because there are always people who are worse off than ourselves. Instead of compassion or pity for those less fortunate, we are thankful that it is they instead of us. However, it is never used in that sense in German, where it always carries a negative connotation. German actually draws a distinction between "secret schadenfreude" (a private feeling) and "open schadenfreude" (Hohn) which is outright public derision. Ultimately though, in the english language Schadenfreude is commonly characterized as "sick pleasure".
Some German quotes on Schadenfreude
- Schadenfreude ist die schönste Freude (denn sie kommt von Herzen). Schadenfreude is the most beautiful kind of joy (since it comes directly from the heart). (proverb)
- Neid zu fühlen ist menschlich, Schadenfreude zu genießen teuflisch. To feel envy is human, to enjoy Schadenfreude is devilish. (Arthur Schopenhauer)
- Das Wort Schadenfreude kennt man nur im Deutschen. The word "Schadenfreude" is only known in German. (unknown author)