Doldrums
- “where does the word doldrums come from”
- “what are the doldrums at sea”
- “why is it always plural”
- “feeling stuck and flat”
:: COMPARE ::
DoldrumsvsEnnui
The short answer
Ennui is boredom with a philosophy attached — a French word carrying a whole literature about meaninglessness. Doldrums is boredom with no wind: flatter, less articulate, and considerably more nautical by accident.
Side by side
| Aspect | Doldrums | Ennui |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Colloquial | Literary |
| Implies | No movement | No meaning |
| Origin | English slang | French |
| Has a location | Acquired one | No |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Doldrums rather than Ennui are usually searching for phrases like “where does the word doldrums come from”, “what are the doldrums at sea”, “why is it always plural”.
Ennui
- “what does ennui mean”
- “is ennui the same as boredom”
- “french word for world weariness”
- “nothing feels worth doing”
Which came first
Ennui. 1660s — Earliest recorded English use — etymonline has it '1660s as a French word in English', not yet naturalised.
- 1660sEnnuiEarliest recorded English use — etymonline has it '1660s as a French word in English', not yet naturalised.
- 1803DoldrumsFIRST sense: 'low spirits, the blues, the dumps' — colloquial, probably from 'dulled', with an ending patterned on tantrum.
Read either one in full