Ennui
- “what does ennui mean”
- “is ennui the same as boredom”
- “french word for world weariness”
- “nothing feels worth doing”
:: COMPARE ::
EnnuivsBoredom
The short answer
Boredom is situational and an event cures it. Ennui is dispositional and survives the event — it is glossed as a listlessness CAUSED BY boredom, which makes boredom the cause and ennui the residue.
Side by side
| Aspect | Ennui | Boredom |
|---|---|---|
| Cured by an event | No | Yes |
| About | Everything | This afternoon |
| Root feeling | Loathing | Restlessness |
| Register | Literary | Plain |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Ennui rather than Boredom are usually searching for phrases like “what does ennui mean”, “is ennui the same as boredom”, “french word for world weariness”.
Where the confusion comes from
“Ennui is just a fancy French word for boredom.”
Its root is Latin IN ODIO, 'in hatred' — the same root that produced English ANNOY. Etymologically it names weary DISGUST rather than under-stimulation. Boredom wants something to do; ennui has been offered things to do and found them wanting.
Read either one in full