Weird Words

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"Schadenfreude"

When: Lookups spiked on July 9, 2014. Why: The defeat of Brazil by Germany in the World Cup semi–finals was a shock to soccer fans around the world. The disappointed hopes and shattered pride of an entire country became the subject of news coverage and commentary, and the word schadenfreude was used by many to describe the emotions felt by Brazil's rivals—a choice made obvious because of the word's German origin. Schadenfreude means "enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others." It comes from the German words for "damage" and "joy." Some coverage noted that the reaction of the German team and coach to the victory was restrained and mature, and specifically noted that they demonstrated no schadenfreude.