Schadenfreude : Understanding Pleasure at the misfortune of others. It means pleasure caused by the misfortune of others - is attenuated by our perception of how much that person deserved. Schadenfreude May Be More Innate Than Learned, As 2-Year-Olds Display Pleasure In Misfortune. There is no label for it in English that of course does not exist. We all experience schadenfreude, or joy in the Daily Celebrity, NY Times, Daily Mirror.