Gaudium

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin gaudium (“quiet, inner joy”), first only as part of Studentensprache, in which the semantic development happened. Attested since the 17th century in German texts, first with Latin inflection. Commonly known with the current meaning by the 18th century.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɡaʊ̯di̯ʊm/
Hyphenation: Gau‧di‧um

Noun

Gaudium n (strong, genitive Gaudiums, no plural)

(dated) fun, amusement
- 1943, Stefan Zweig, Schachnovelle [The Royal Game]‎^[1]:
  Ungeschickt und geradezu schamlos plump suchte er zum Gaudium und zum Ärger seiner Fachkollegen aus seiner Begabung und seinem Ruhm mit einer kleinlichen und sogar oft ordinären Habgier herauszuholen, was an Geld herauszuholen war.
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

Formerly a higher register term, its contemporary usage is chiefly informal, regional or humorous.

Declension

Declension of Gaudium [sg-only, neuter, strong]

	singular
	indef.	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Gaudium
genitive	eines	des	Gaudiums
dative	einem	dem	Gaudium
accusative	ein	das	Gaudium

Derived terms

Gaudi