Doldrums
- “where does the word doldrums come from”
- “what are the doldrums at sea”
- “why is it always plural”
- “feeling stuck and flat”
01 · Side by side
Side by side
Comparison sheet
| Aspect | Doldrums | Ennui |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Colloquial | Literary |
| Implies | No movement | No meaning |
| Origin | English slang | French |
| Has a location | Acquired one | No |
02 · Which one you meant
Which one did you mean?
In shortReaders 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”
03 · Which came first
Which came first
In shortEnnui. 1660s — Earliest recorded English use — etymonline has it '1660s as a French word in English', not yet naturalised.
- 1660s
Ennui. Earliest recorded English use — etymonline has it '1660s as a French word in English', not yet naturalised.
- 1803
Doldrums. FIRST sense: 'low spirits, the blues, the dumps' — colloquial, probably from 'dulled', with an ending patterned on tantrum.
04 · Read either one