German word

Laune

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈlaʊ̯nə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounmood

Example

Er ist heute in guter Laune.

He is in a good mood today.

Illustration for Laune (mood)

More examples

Die schlechten Nachrichten haben ihm gleich die Laune verdorben.

The bad news immediately ruined his mood.

Core concept

A temporary emotional atmosphere that can brighten, darken, or change direction without warning.

Common phrases

  • sich die Laune verderben

    ruin one's mood

  • in schlechter Laune sein

    be in a bad mood

  • aus Laune handeln

    act on a whim

Similar words

Stimmung: A general mood that can spread among people or fill a place.
Gefühl: A feeling experienced within the mind or heart.

Definition in German

Die vorübergehende Stimmung oder Gefühlsverfassung einer Person; oft plötzlich wechselnd und in Wendungen wie 'in guter Laune sein' gebräuchlich.

Word origin

Laune traces back to Middle High German lûne and ultimately to Latin luna, 'moon', as changing moods were compared with the moon's phases.

Usage tips

  • In guter Laune uses the dative form guter after in for a state, while gute Laune haben uses the accusative form gute.

Other meanings

  • tempernoun
  • whimnoun

Opposites

  • Ausgeglichenheitequanimitynoun

Related words

  • Launenhaftigkeitmoodinessnoun
  • launischmoodyadjective

Word lists with this word