Word of the Month: Index
Vorfreude combines the prefix vor (similar to the English prefix "pre") and Freude (joy, pleasure). The term denotes a form of anticipation that imagines future pleasures ahead of time. When we were kids, for example, we experienced an intense Vorfreude in the weeks before Christmas. Right now, I have similar feelings when I think about the soccer World Cup that will start in S. Africa in mid-June.
Note on pronunciation: Vor is pronounced like English "for"—i.e. the "v" sounds like English "f", not like English "v"; the diphthong "eu" is pronounced like the "oy" in "joy"; and the ending "e" forms a full third syllable with the preceding "d". Try do say "FOR • froy • dah"!
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Hi Ulrich, As always, I'm impressed by the way the Germans have specific words for shades of feeling that often go unexpressed in English. We would say to "anticipate something with pleasure," but I can't think of a one word replacement for that kind of colorless phrase, at least not in English. Like we have adopted Weltanschaung, I think we need to adopt "Vorfreude." I just love these words of the month. Thank you for making the effort to bring them to our attention.
Marlene: Thank you. One of my points was also to show that Germans know of other kinds of Freude besides Schadenfreude.
Hi Ulrich, Schadenfreud was the subject of a New York Times piece about Toyota last weekend. The point was that Toyota was hailed for a long time as the model of good car-making, so much so that some people are kind of happy to see them under fire.
But what interested me most was the writer's reference to the need for a German compound word to express the public's mixed feelings. This is the second time I have seen a writer refer to the Germans' ability to combine words and create one precise compound that identifies a subtle shade of emotion.
Your blog has really highlighted for me that Teutonic gift. I think there must be similar compounds in other languages but not as many I'll bet. I look forward to the next word and the next drawing, hint. hint.
@Marlene: Yes, I noticed the allusion in the same article--and to top things off, it's to Schadenfreude as mentioned in my last comment!
I definitely will take your hint--a new animal with emotions is in the works!
Hi Ulrich und Marlene,
I can't help it, but the English word that comes to mind is "foreplay"....
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