Explanation at your level:
You feel jealous when you want what a friend has. For example, if your friend has a cool bike, you might feel sad. It is a feeling inside you.
When someone has something good, like a new game or a nice house, you might feel jealous. You wish you had that thing too. It is a common feeling for everyone.
Being jealous means you are unhappy because you want someone else's success or possessions. It can also happen in relationships if you fear losing someone's love to another person.
The term jealous often implies a sense of resentment. It is frequently used in social contexts to describe the feeling of 'envy' when someone else achieves a goal you were striving for yourself.
While often used interchangeably with envy, jealousy specifically carries a nuance of possessiveness. It is the fear of losing a valued object or relationship to a rival, which creates a complex psychological state.
Etymologically, jealous shares a lineage with 'zeal,' reflecting the intensity of the emotion. In literature, it is often depicted as a destructive force, famously described by Shakespeare as the 'green-eyed monster' that mocks the meat it feeds on.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Adjective
- Means wanting what others have
- Often used with 'of'
- Related to envy
When we talk about being jealous, we are usually describing a mix of sadness and anger. It is a very human emotion that everyone feels at some point in their life.
You might feel jealous when a friend gets a new toy that you really want, or when you feel like you aren't getting enough attention. It is important to know that while it feels uncomfortable, it is a natural part of growing up and interacting with others.
The word jealous has a fascinating history. It comes from the Old French word jalous, which traces back to the Medieval Latin zelosus, meaning 'full of zeal.'
Interestingly, the word zealous and jealous actually share the same root! While today we think of jealousy as negative, it originally referred to a passionate intensity or a protective devotion to something you cared about deeply.
In daily conversation, we often use jealous to describe a quick reaction to someone else's success. For example, saying 'I'm so jealous of your vacation!' is a common way to express admiration mixed with a little bit of envy.
However, in more serious contexts, it describes deep insecurity in relationships. Use it carefully when talking about feelings, as it can sometimes sound quite heavy or accusatory.
1. Green with envy: To be extremely jealous. 2. The green-eyed monster: A common personification of jealousy. 3. Jealousy rears its ugly head: When jealousy suddenly appears. 4. Eat your heart out: Used to show off something you have that others want. 5. Keep up with the Joneses: Trying to match the wealth or status of neighbors.
The word is an adjective, so it describes nouns. We often use it with prepositions like 'of' (e.g., 'jealous of him').
Pronunciation: In IPA, it is ˈdʒɛləs. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like zealous and sounds like the beginning of 'jelly' followed by 'us'.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'zealous'.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'JEL-us'.
Sounds like 'JEL-us'.
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'a' too clearly
- stressing the second syllable
- adding an extra sound at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
moderate
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Adjective usage
She is jealous.
Examples by Level
I am jealous of your toy.
I want your toy.
Adjective + of + noun.
She is jealous of his new car.
Don't be jealous of her success.
He felt jealous when she played with others.
I am jealous of your trip.
They were jealous of the winner.
Are you jealous of me?
It is normal to feel jealous sometimes.
She didn't want to be jealous.
His brother was jealous of his high grades.
She felt a pang of jealous rage.
Don't let yourself get jealous of others.
He was jealous of the time she spent with her friends.
The team was jealous of their rivals' victory.
It's hard not to be jealous of their lifestyle.
She tried to hide her jealous feelings.
He became jealous of the attention she received.
The green-eyed monster of jealousy can ruin friendships.
She was pathologically jealous of her partner's past.
He felt a twinge of jealous resentment.
It is a common human trait to feel jealous of others' achievements.
His jealous nature made it hard for him to trust anyone.
She was jealous of the recognition he got at work.
Don't be so jealous of what you don't have.
The story explores the dark side of a jealous mind.
His success provoked a jealous reaction from his colleagues.
She struggled to overcome her deep-seated jealous insecurities.
The atmosphere was thick with jealous tension.
He was notoriously jealous of his intellectual property.
Her jealous guarding of her secrets made her seem distant.
The article discusses the psychology behind jealous behavior.
He was consumed by a jealous desire for power.
She viewed his success with a jealous eye.
The protagonist's descent into jealous madness is chilling.
There is a fine line between healthy ambition and jealous resentment.
His jealous disposition alienated all his closest allies.
She harbored a jealous grudge for many years.
The narrative is a study in the corrosive nature of jealous love.
He was a jealous guardian of his family's reputation.
Her jealous outbursts were a symptom of her underlying fear.
The poem captures the subtle, creeping nature of jealous thoughts.
Sinônimos
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"green with envy"
very jealous
I was green with envy when I saw her new car.
casual""
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Easily Confused
Both mean wanting things.
Envy is wanting what others have; Jealousy is fearing loss.
I am envious of your car; I am jealous of her attention.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + be + jealous + of + noun
He is jealous of his friend.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
Always use 'of' after jealous.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a green monster taking your toys.
Native usage
Used often in casual 'I'm so jealous!' banter.
Cultural Insight
Shakespeare made it famous.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow with 'of'.
Say It Right
JEL-us.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say jealous to.
Did You Know?
It comes from 'zeal'.
Study Smart
Use it in a journal entry.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Jelly makes me jealous because I want it too.
Visual Association
A green monster.
Word Web
Desafio
Write one sentence about something you aren't jealous of.
Origem da palavra
Old French
Original meaning: zealous/passionate
Contexto cultural
Can be a sensitive topic in relationships.
Often used to describe romantic insecurity.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
School
- He is jealous of my grades.
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever felt jealous?"
"What makes people jealous?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt jealous.
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasThey are similar but jealousy usually involves a third party or fear of loss.
Teste-se
I am ___ of your new bike.
We use jealous of.
What does jealous mean?
It describes wanting others' things.
Jealous is a verb.
It is an adjective.
Word
Significado
They are synonyms.
Subject-verb-adjective-prep-object.
Pontuação: /5
Summary
Jealousy is a natural feeling of wanting what others have or fearing the loss of a relationship.
- Adjective
- Means wanting what others have
- Often used with 'of'
- Related to envy
Memory Palace
Imagine a green monster taking your toys.
Native usage
Used often in casual 'I'm so jealous!' banter.
Cultural Insight
Shakespeare made it famous.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow with 'of'.
Exemplo
He is jealous because his brother got a new phone for his birthday.
Related Content
Aprenda no contexto
Esta palavra em outros idiomas
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