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)

  1. (dated) fun, amusement
    • 1943, Stefan Zweig, Schachnovelle [The Royal Game]‎:
      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

Further reading
  • “Gaudium” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • “Gaudium” in Duden online
  • “Gaudium” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
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