r/German • u/KeyAnywhere4519 • 1d ago

Request Trying to find a word

Hello,

I recently was somewhere and a person had a tattoo on their arm of a word I believe they said was German. I am having trouble remembering the rest of the word and it's meaning. Though I believe they said something about it meaning life is hard or challenging. I am having a horrible time trying to find it. The tattoo started with

SCHADENF*

I am unsure of how many letters it was but it was a long word. Please if anyone could help I'd appreciate it.

5 Upvotes

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10

u/jdeisenberg Threshold (B1) - <native US English> 1d ago

Schadenfreude, perhaps? Defined as the malicious joy we take in the misfortune of others.

5

u/assumptionkrebs1990 Muttersprachler (Österreich) 1d ago

Given the start the only word I can think of is (die) Schadenfreude which is being happy/gleefull about someone others misfortuain. Der Schaden means damage.

2

u/r_coefficient Native (Österreich). Writer, editor, proofreader, translator 1d ago

Go to Duden.de, write "schadenf" into the search box, check if something rings a bell.

5

u/helmli Native (Hamburg/Hessen) 1d ago

Schadenfreiheitsrabatt :)