On Deutsch

German gets a bad rap for being an ugly language, particularly when compared to the refined sound of French or the romanticism of Italian. Over the years though, I've found that German is quite adept at describing concepts with words that have no English-language equivalent. I suppose this can be true of every language, but I've come across neat words with greatest frequency in German. Anyway, I threw together a compilation of some of my favorites. Many of these have become loanwords in English, and I encourage you to put the others in mainstream use.

• Schadenfreude: As the Avenue Q song puts it, this is happiness at the misfortune of others. ("Straight-A students getting B's, exes getting STDs!")
  
• Zeitgeist: the spirit of the age, used to describe cultural attitudes and moods
  
• Gestalt: the unified whole, something more than the summation of its parts
  
• Funktionlust: the pleasure taken from doing what one does best, loving your drive
  
• Lebenskünstler: "life-artist," or someone who has mastered the art of living, generally through unorthodox means, eschewing the usual rules to make ends meet and happy with their line of work
  
• Ohrwurm: when a song gets stuck in your head
  
• Ansatz: a trial solution that is later verified by its results, oft used in physics and mathematics