freudenfreude

English

Etymology

Coined in English from German Freude (“joy”), based on schadenfreude.

Noun

freudenfreude (plural not attested)

1. (uncommon) Synonym of confelicity (“pleasure in another's happiness”)
   • 2021, Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience, Random House, →ISBN, page 36:

     To end on a positive note, let's talk a little about freudenfreude, which is the opposite of schadenfreude—it's the enjoyment of another's success. It's also a subset of empathy.

   • 2022 November 25, Juli Fraga, “The Opposite of Schadenfreude Is Freudenfreude. Here’s How to Cultivate It.”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     Finding pleasure in another person’s good fortune is what social scientists call “freudenfreude,” a term (inspired by the German word for “joy”) that describes the bliss we feel when someone else succeeds, even if it doesn’t directly involve us. Freudenfreude is like social glue, said Catherine Chambliss, a professor of psychology at Ursinus College. It makes relationships “more intimate and enjoyable.”