German word

Elend

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈeːlɛnt/

Meaning

  • neuter nounmisery

Example

Er kann das Elend nicht ertragen.

He cannot bear the misery.

Illustration for Elend (misery)

More examples

Viele Menschen wurden durch die Krise ins Elend gestürzt.

Many people were plunged into misery by the crisis.

Core concept

Severe suffering and deprivation pressing down on a person's whole life.

Common phrases

  • ins Elend stürzen

    plunge into misery

  • aus dem Elend herauskommen

    emerge from misery

  • unter dem Elend leiden

    suffer from misery

Similar words

Leid: Intense physical or emotional suffering that causes deep distress.
Not: Urgent hardship caused by lacking necessities such as food, shelter, or money.
Armut: Long-term hardship caused by lacking enough money and material resources.
Kummer: Emotional pain caused by worry, grief, or other heavy concerns.

Definition in German

Elend bezeichnet einen Zustand großen Unglücks oder starker Not, der sowohl inneres Leiden als auch materielle Armut umfassen kann.

Word origin

Elend descends from Middle High German elende, originally referring to being in a foreign land or exile, a condition that developed into misery and destitution.

Usage tips

  • Elend is neuter, so the noun takes das; it is often used as a mass noun, while ein Elend can mean a particular deplorable situation.

Other meanings

  • povertynoun
  • destitutionnoun
  • plightnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • elendigmiserableadjective

Word lists with this word