ellende

Ellende is a Dutch noun meaning severe misery, wretchedness, distress, or calamity. It refers to conditions of substantial hardship experienced by individuals or communities—such as poverty, illness, natural disaster, or existential distress—and is often used to emphasize the need for relief or reform rather than to describe everyday pain.

In Dutch literature, journalism and policy discourse, ellende is employed to describe enduring or structural hardship as well as acute personal misfortune. The term can carry moral or normative overtones, signaling critique of social arrangements or calls for aid and solidarity with those in distress.

Etymology and related terms: The word has historical roots in Old and Middle Dutch and belongs to the Germanic family of words for misfortune. It is distinct from lijden (to suffer) and leed (suffering or sorrow), though they are related in meaning. In various contexts ellende can frame misery as a condition that affects individuals and communities alike.

See also and usage: In religious writing ellende can denote human fallibility or bondage, while in modern discourse it often appears in discussions of poverty, displacement, or social policy aimed at reducing misery. The term remains a common way to describe deep or systemic hardship in Dutch public and literary discourse.