How to Pronounce “schadenfreude”

American (US)

/ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/

British (UK)

/ˈʃædənfrɔɪdə/

noun — Pleasure taken in another person's misfortune.

Example: There was a touch of schadenfreude in the coverage.

A loanword from German. German “Schaden” (harm) plus “Freude” (joy). German sch is /ʃ/, eu is /ɔɪ/ as in “boy”, and the final e is pronounced: “SHAH-dun-froy-duh”.

Where the stress falls. “schadenfreude” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "schadenfreude" mean?

schadenfreude (noun): Pleasure taken in another person's misfortune. For example — There was a touch of schadenfreude in the coverage.

How do you pronounce "schadenfreude" in American vs British English?

American English: /ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/. British English: /ˈʃædənfrɔɪdə/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "schadenfreude"?

/ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/ in American English, /ˈʃædənfrɔɪdə/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "schadenfreude"?

“schadenfreude” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.