Signification
Being very jealous
Contexte culturel
In Croatia, it is common to downplay one's success to avoid making others 'zeleni od zavisti'. This is part of a broader Balkan cultural trait of avoiding 'urok' (the evil eye). On Croatian social media, 'zelen od zavisti' is often used ironically with emojis like 💚 or 🐍 to tease friends. The phrase links Croatia to the broader European linguistic heritage, showing how ancient Greek medical theories influenced the entire continent's way of speaking about emotions. In classic Croatian literature, envy is often portrayed as a destructive force that ruins families, frequently using this color metaphor.
Gender Check
Always check if you are talking about a man (zelen) or a woman (zelena). This is the most common mistake for beginners.
Don't use 'sa'
Even though English says 'with', Croatian never uses 'sa' here. It's always 'od'.
Signification
Being very jealous
Gender Check
Always check if you are talking about a man (zelen) or a woman (zelena). This is the most common mistake for beginners.
Don't use 'sa'
Even though English says 'with', Croatian never uses 'sa' here. It's always 'od'.
Use the verb
To sound more native, use the verb 'pozelenjeti' for a sudden reaction: 'Pozelenio je!'
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the adjective 'zelen'.
Marija je ______ od zavisti.
Marija is a feminine singular subject, so the adjective must be 'zelena'.
Which preposition is correct in this idiom?
On je zelen ___ zavisti.
The idiom 'zelen od zavisti' always uses the preposition 'od'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: Jesi li vidio Markov novi stan? B: Jesam, prekrasan je. Marko kaže da su svi njegovi prijatelji ______.
In the context of a beautiful new apartment, 'green with envy' is the most logical reaction for friends.
Match the situation to the feeling.
Tvoj kolega je dobio povišicu, a ti misliš da si ti to zaslužio.
Feeling resentful about someone else's success is the definition of being green with envy.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Color Idioms in Croatian
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesMarija je ______ od zavisti.
Marija is a feminine singular subject, so the adjective must be 'zelena'.
On je zelen ___ zavisti.
The idiom 'zelen od zavisti' always uses the preposition 'od'.
A: Jesi li vidio Markov novi stan? B: Jesam, prekrasan je. Marko kaže da su svi njegovi prijatelji ______.
In the context of a beautiful new apartment, 'green with envy' is the most logical reaction for friends.
Tvoj kolega je dobio povišicu, a ti misliš da si ti to zaslužio.
Feeling resentful about someone else's success is the definition of being green with envy.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsYes, it is understood and used, but 'zelen od zavisti' is the more traditional and common idiom.
It's not a swear word, but it is an accusation of a negative emotion. Use it carefully.
It comes from the idea of green bile making a person look sickly when they are bitter.
Yes, it must always be in the genitive form 'zavisti' because of the preposition 'od'.
Expressions liées
Pucati od ljubomore
similarTo be bursting with jealousy
Gledati poprijeko
relatedTo look at someone sideways/with disapproval
Zavidan pogled
specialized formAn envious look
Žuta minuta
contrastA moment of temporary madness/anger
