der Weltschmerz
world-weariness, existential pain about the state of the world
Pronunciation
/ˈvɛlt.ʃmɛʁts/
Cultural Note
Coined by the German author Jean Paul in 1827, Weltschmerz describes the pain one feels when confronting the gap between the ideal and the real world. It was a defining emotion of German Romanticism and remains a recognized concept in German intellectual life.
📝 Example Sentences
In seiner Jugend litt er unter großem Weltschmerz.
In his youth, he suffered from great Weltschmerz.
Dieser Weltschmerz spiegelt sich in seinen Gedichten wider.
This world-weariness is reflected in his poems.
Related Articles
German Love Letter Writing: Romantic Phrases for Your Partner
communicationLearn beautiful German phrases for writing love letters to your partner. Master sincere, heartfelt romantic expression in German.
German Date Night: 38+ Romantic Words
vocabularySay Ich liebe dich with confidence! Practice with AI voice, save to Love Log, gift words to your Schatz.