01
das Elend
misery
A state of great suffering, extreme poverty, hardship, or grief.
example
Viele Menschen in den Kriegsgebieten leben in unvorstellbarem Elend.
Many people in the war zones live in unimaginable misery.
das Elend
misery
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word history
The word 'Elend' (misery) comes from the Old High German 'elilenti', which meant 'in a foreign land' or 'in exile'. Since living away from home was often associated with suffering and hardship, the word acquired its current meaning of 'great suffering'.
EXAMPLE
Die Flüchtlinge hoffen, dem Elend in ihrer Heimat zu entkommen.
The refugees hope to escape the misery in their homeland.
Usage pattern
In its main meaning, 'Elend' (misery) is an uncountable noun. It is used with 'viel' (a lot of), 'groß' (great), or without an article, but not with numbers or in the plural.
EXAMPLE
Der Krieg brachte großes Elend über das Land.
The war brought great misery upon the country.
Typical collocations
Common expressions are 'im Elend leben' (to live in misery), 'das Elend der Welt' (the misery of the world), or 'Elend lindern' (to alleviate misery). It often describes a state caused by poverty, war, or natural disasters.
EXAMPLE
Viele Hilfsorganisationen versuchen, das Elend in der Region zu lindern.
Many aid organizations are trying to alleviate the misery in the region.
Register
This use is strongly colloquial and expresses pity or contempt. It is often used with a demonstrative pronoun such as 'dieses' (this) or 'das' (that) to point to something or someone.
EXAMPLE
Zieh dir eine Jacke an, du Elend, sonst wirst du noch krank!
Put on a jacket, you poor thing, or you'll get sick!
Compare with
Elend vs Glück
happiness / luck
'das Glück' and 'das Elend' both describe a strong state in a person's life or feelings. 'Das Glück' means happiness, contentment, and a good feeling. 'Das Elend' is the opposite: it means great suffering, hardship, or deep sorrow. What matters here is not 'Glück' as luck or chance, but 'Glück' as a positive inner state. When talking about life situations, 'Glück' tends to stand for a good, fulfilled life, while 'Elend' stands for a very difficult and sad situation.
Elend
Nach dem Krieg lebten viele Familien in großem Elend.
After the war, many families lived in great misery.
Glück
Nach der Geburt ihres Kindes war ihr Glück kaum zu beschreiben.
After the birth of her child, her happiness was almost impossible to describe.
In real life
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