Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid

Meaning: Talking about a trouble with someone makes it easier to bear.

Literally: Shared sorrow is half the sorrow

Example: “Erzähl mir, was los ist – geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid.” — Tell me what's wrong: a problem shared is a problem halved.

Equivalents in English and Italian

Origin: It usually travels with its twin, geteilte Freude ist doppelte Freude: shared joy is double joy.

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

Drachenfutter A peace-offering gift brought home to a partner after staying out too late or doing somet…
Verschlimmbessern To make something worse in a well-intentioned attempt to improve it.
Sturmfrei The liberating feeling of having the house entirely to yourself — when parents or a partn…

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