Learn more about this word
Der Galgenhumor
Der Galgenhumor is joking about your own dire situation, literally humour from the gallows. It is only Galgenhumor if the speaker is the one affected. Someone else joking about your misfortune is Zynismus or Spott.
Examples in context
Im Krankenhaus half ihm nur noch der Galgenhumor.
In hospital only gallows humour helped him.
Das war Galgenhumor, kein echter Zynismus.
That was gallows humour, not real cynicism.
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