Jealousy is the painful feeling of wanting what another person has or fearing the loss of a loved one's affection.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Feeling unhappy because someone else has something you want.
- Fear of losing a partner to someone else.
- Often stems from personal insecurity.
Overview
Jealousy is a complex human emotion that stems from a sense of insecurity or a perceived lack of fairness. While often associated with romantic relationships, it can also manifest in professional or social settings when someone feels they are being overlooked in favor of another person's achievements or possessions.
Usage Patterns
In English, 'jealous' is an adjective, though it is frequently confused with the noun 'jealousy.' It is most commonly used with the preposition 'of.' For example, one says, 'He is jealous of her success.' It can also be used to describe a protective attitude, as in 'He is very jealous of his privacy,' though this usage is slightly different from the core definition of envy.
Common Contexts
You will often hear this word in personal conversations regarding relationships or friendships. It appears frequently in literature and film as a source of conflict. In a professional context, it might arise when a colleague receives a promotion, leading to feelings of resentment or professional jealousy.
Similar Words Comparison: 'Jealous' and 'envious' are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference. Envy is generally directed at what someone else has (like a car or a job), whereas jealousy is often about protecting what you already have or fear losing (like a relationship). Understanding this nuance helps in choosing the right word to express your specific feelings.
Examples
I am jealous of your beautiful garden.
everydayEstoy celoso de tu hermoso jardín.
The company culture was plagued by professional jealousy.
formalLa cultura de la empresa estaba plagada de celos profesionales.
Don't be so jealous, he's just a friend!
informalNo seas tan celoso, ¡solo es un amigo!
The protagonist's actions were driven by deep-seated jealousy.
academicLas acciones del protagonista fueron impulsadas por celos profundos.
Synonyms
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
green with envy
verde de envidia
jealous type
tipo celoso
out of jealousy
por celos
Often Confused With
Envious is specifically about wanting what someone else has. Jealousy can also imply a fear of losing someone you love.
Jealousy is the noun form of the emotion. Jealous is the adjective used to describe a person or their feelings.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
Jealous is an adjective used to describe a person's state of mind or behavior. It is neutral in register but carries a negative connotation regarding the person feeling it. Ensure you always use the preposition 'of' when stating what the person is jealous about.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is omitting the preposition 'of' after the word. Another error is using the noun 'jealousy' in place of the adjective 'jealous.' Finally, some learners use 'jealous' to mean 'protective' in a way that sounds unnatural to native speakers.
Tips
Use the preposition of correctly
Always follow the word jealous with the preposition of. Saying 'I am jealous my friend' is grammatically incorrect; always say 'I am jealous of my friend.'
Avoid confusing with noun forms
Remember that jealous is an adjective describing a state of being. Do not say 'I have jealous,' as that is incorrect; say 'I feel jealous' or 'I am feeling jealousy.'
The 'Green-Eyed Monster'
In English culture, jealousy is often personified as the 'green-eyed monster.' This famous phrase comes from Shakespeare's play Othello.
Word Origin
The word comes from the Old French 'jalous,' which traces back to the Medieval Latin 'zelosus.' It is ultimately derived from the Greek word 'zelos,' meaning zeal or ardor.
Cultural Context
Jealousy is often viewed as a destructive emotion in Western culture, frequently linked to insecurity. It is a major theme in literature, particularly in Shakespearean works where it often leads to tragic outcomes.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'J' in Jealous as standing for 'Just wanting what others have.' Remember that you are always 'jealous OF' something.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsJealous is an adjective. The corresponding noun form is jealousy.
Sometimes people use it jokingly to mean they admire someone, such as 'I am so jealous of your vacation!' However, this is informal and technically refers to envy.
Jealousy usually involves a third party or the fear of losing something you possess. Envy is strictly about wanting something that someone else has.
You can use the structure 'subject + be verb + jealous + of + object.' For example: 'She is jealous of my new bag.'
Test Yourself
He was very ___ of his brother's new car.
Since we need an adjective to describe 'he,' the correct word is 'jealous'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
The adjective 'jealous' must be followed by the preposition 'of'.
of / she / her / is / job / jealous
The standard English word order is Subject + Verb + Adjective + Preposition + Object.
Score: /3
Summary
Jealousy is the painful feeling of wanting what another person has or fearing the loss of a loved one's affection.
- Feeling unhappy because someone else has something you want.
- Fear of losing a partner to someone else.
- Often stems from personal insecurity.
Use the preposition of correctly
Always follow the word jealous with the preposition of. Saying 'I am jealous my friend' is grammatically incorrect; always say 'I am jealous of my friend.'
Avoid confusing with noun forms
Remember that jealous is an adjective describing a state of being. Do not say 'I have jealous,' as that is incorrect; say 'I feel jealous' or 'I am feeling jealousy.'
The 'Green-Eyed Monster'
In English culture, jealousy is often personified as the 'green-eyed monster.' This famous phrase comes from Shakespeare's play Othello.
Examples
4 of 4I am jealous of your beautiful garden.
Estoy celoso de tu hermoso jardín.
The company culture was plagued by professional jealousy.
La cultura de la empresa estaba plagada de celos profesionales.
Don't be so jealous, he's just a friend!
No seas tan celoso, ¡solo es un amigo!
The protagonist's actions were driven by deep-seated jealousy.
Las acciones del protagonista fueron impulsadas por celos profundos.
Quick Quiz
She was very jealous ____ her friend's successful career.
Correct!
The correct answer is: of
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