Funny Coincidences

I do love a coincidence, don’t you ?

So, yesterday (Sunday) I was watching  historian Tiffany Watt Smith talking about her book “SCHADENFREUDE” on Sunday Brunch on Channel 4

You pronounce it SHAH:dən:froy:də

A few comments on the pronunciation

1. In German 'sch' sounds like the English 'sh' in 'shop';
2. The 'a' sounds most like the 'a' in 'father';
3. the first and last 'e's are neutral vowels, so more of an 'uh' sound like in 'the';
4. the 'eu' in German rhymes with 'boy'

The first coincidence came this morning while I was reading my library book, when blow me down with a feather the very word appeared in it.

But what does it mean, I hear you ask.  It’s when we laugh at someone else’s misfortune.  For example when someone trips up or spills something down their jumper or makes a mistake.  Do you get the picture.

The second coincidence was the fact that my sister is a real one for giggling when someone has a little misfortune.  Not in a nasty way, she just gets tickled very easily.

But not only that she is an avid reader of Alexander McAll Smith’s books.   So I guess that’s her Christmas presents sorted.

Factoid - SCHADENFREUDE is a German word and doesn’t translate into another language