die  Langeweile

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈlaŋəˌvaɪ̯lə/

🧐 What Exactly is Langeweile?

Die Langeweile is the German word for boredom. It describes an unpleasant emotional state of feeling unfulfilled, arising from a lack of stimulation, interest, or activity. It's the feeling when time seems to pass agonizingly slowly, and one doesn't know what meaningful or interesting thing to do.

One feels an inner emptiness, disinterest, and often slight irritability. Langeweile can be caused by external circumstances (e.g., warten - waiting, eintönige Aufgaben - monotonous tasks) as well as internal states (e.g., mangelnde Motivation - lack of motivation, Ideenlosigkeit - lack of ideas).

🚨 Attention: Although a plural form theoretically exists ("die Langeweilen"), it is extremely rarely used, as Langeweile is usually understood as an uncountable concept.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar of die Langeweile in Detail

The word "Langeweile" is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is die. It is mostly used in the singular.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural "die Langeweilen" is very uncommon and hardly ever used in everyday language. If it is used (e.g., in a literary context to express different kinds of boredom), the declension is as follows:

Usage Examples

• Nominative: Die Langeweile machte sich im Wartezimmer breit.
  (Boredom spread in the waiting room.)
• Genitive: Trotz der Langeweile versuchte er, sich zu beschäftigen.
  (Despite the boredom, he tried to keep himself busy.)
• Dative: Aus reiner Langeweile begann sie, die Decke anzustarren.
  (Out of sheer boredom, she started staring at the ceiling.)
• Accusative: Er hasste die Langeweile am Sonntagnachmittag.
  (He hated the boredom on Sunday afternoons.)
• Idiomatic: Ich habe Langeweile.
  (I am bored. - Literally: I have boredom. Note the accusative use without an article.)

🗣️ How to Use Langeweile?

"Langeweile" is used to describe the feeling of tedium or disinterest.

• Typical Expressions:
  • Langeweile haben: "Die Kinder haben Langeweile, weil es regnet." (The children are bored because it's raining. - Very common)
  • aus Langeweile: "Er hat aus Langeweile angefangen zu zeichnen." (He started drawing out of boredom. - Indicates the reason)
  • vor Langeweile sterben/umkommen: "Ich sterbe fast vor Langeweile bei diesem Vortrag!" (I'm almost dying of boredom during this lecture! - Hyperbole)
  • etwas gegen die Langeweile tun: "Lass uns etwas gegen die Langeweile tun und ins Kino gehen." (Let's do something about the boredom and go to the cinema.)
• Context: Often used in situations lacking stimulation or activity, e.g., while waiting, during monotonous work, or during leisure time without plans.
• Distinction: Unlike Faulheit (laziness - lack of will to be active), Langeweile describes a lack of interesting activity or stimulation. One might want to be active but not know what to do.

💡 Mnemonics for Langeweile

Article Mnemonic: Remember: Die Langeweile is like a lange Weile (a long while) that drags on. "Weile" is feminine (die Weile), so it's die Lange-weile.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine how a lange Zeit (long time, lange Weile) passes without anything exciting happening. That's exactly the feeling of Langeweile (boredom).

🔄 Opposites and Similar Terms

⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse Langeweile (boredom) with Langmut (patience, forbearance) or Langlebigkeit (longevity).

😄 A Little Joke

Kellner: "Hatten Sie Langeweile beim Warten?"
Gast: "Nein, aber meine Uhr schon!"

Translation:
Waiter: "Were you bored while waiting?"
Guest: "No, but my watch was!"

📜 Poem about Langeweile

Die Zeit, sie schleicht, will nicht vergeh'n,
Kein Reiz, kein Ziel ist hier zu seh'n.
Der Geist ist träge, leer der Sinn,
Die Langeweile tief drin.

Ein Gähnen hier, ein Seufzer dort,
Man wünscht sich fort, an einen and'ren Ort.
Wo Leben pulst und Freude lacht,
Und nicht die Ödnis über Nacht.

Translation:
Time creeps, it doesn't want to pass,
No stimulus, no goal is here to be seen, alas.
The mind is sluggish, empty the sense,
Boredom deep within, intense.

A yawn here, a sigh over there,
One wishes to be away, somewhere.
Where life pulses and joy laughs bright,
And not the dreariness overnight.

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich komme, wenn nichts dich erfreut,
Und dehne endlos lang die Zeit.
Ich bin kein Schmerz, doch unbeliebt,
Ein Zustand, den man gern verschiebt.

Wer bin ich? (Auflösung: Die Langeweile)

Translation:
I come when nothing brings you joy,
And stretch time endlessly, oh boy.
I am not pain, yet disliked indeed,
A state one gladly tries to supersede.

What am I?
(Answer: Boredom / Die Langeweile)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition: The word "Langeweile" is a compound noun formed from the adjective lang (long) and the noun die Weile (a while, a period of time). So, it literally means a "long while" that is perceived as empty or uninteresting.

Cultural Aspects: The perception of and attitude towards boredom can vary culturally. In some cultures, it's seen as negative and something to be avoided, while in others, it can also be viewed as a necessary state for creativity or self-reflection.