You know that feeling when you’re bored, but you want to describe it in a philosophically complex kind of way?
It’s like you’re too jaded to be entertained but too alive to be asleep.
It’s not quite boredom — you’ve got things to do — but none of them feel worth doing.
That feeling has a name, and it’s called “ennui.”
Here’s everything to know about “ennui” and why it may be more common than you think.
What is the definition of ‘ennui?’
The word “ennui” means a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.
It is a noun and it is a feeling often compared with boredom.
However, the term has a more literary and profound sense of listlessness and general dissatisfaction with one’s circumstances.
How is the word ‘ennui’ pronounced?
The wo