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Herzeleid
/ˈhɛʁt͡sˌlaɪ̯t/
heartache
Nach der Trennung litt er unter großem Herzeleid.
After the breakup, he suffered from great heartache.
literary
Deep emotional pain or sorrow, often associated with love or loss.
Ihr Herzeleid war so groß, dass sie wochenlang das Haus nicht verließ.
Her heartache was so intense that she didn’t leave the house for weeks.
Die Trennung brachte viel Herzeleid mit sich.
The separation brought a lot of heartache.
Commonly used in poetic or literary contexts to describe profound emotional suffering.
Collocations
großes Herzeleidgreat heartacheunter Herzeleid leidento suffer from heartache
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid literal translation
Do not translate 'Herzeleid' as 'heart pain' in English, as it sounds unnatural. Use 'heartache' instead.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 'Herzeleid' in contexts involving deep emotional suffering, especially in love or loss. It is not used for physical pain.
Word Origin
Compound of 'Herz' (heart) and 'Leid' (pain, sorrow), first attested in Middle High German (12th–14th century). Reflects the medieval concept of heart as the seat of emotions.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in literary, poetic, or elevated language. In everyday speech, 'Herzschmerz' or 'seelischer Schmerz' are more common. The term carries a strong emotional and sometimes romantic connotation.
Word Breakdown
Herz
heart (as the seat of emotions)
rootLeid
pain, sorrow
rootDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch