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alegre

ah-LEH-grehaˈle.ɣɾe

“alegre” means “happy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

happy, cheerful

Also: joyful
A vibrant illustration of a young child with a wide smile, wearing bright yellow clothes and jumping joyfully in the air against a simple background.

📝 In Action

Mi abuela es una persona muy alegre y siempre está sonriendo.

A1

My grandmother is a very cheerful person and is always smiling.

Estuvimos muy alegres después de recibir la buena noticia.

A2

We were very happy after receiving the good news.

¿Por qué no estás alegre hoy? ¿Pasó algo?

A1

Why aren't you happy today? Did something happen?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • feliz (happy, fortunate)
  • contento (content, pleased)
  • jovial (jovial)

Antonyms

  • triste (sad)
  • melancólico (melancholy)

Common Collocations

  • estar alegre – to be happy (temporary mood)
  • ser alegre – to be happy (permanent personality trait)

lively, bright

Also: festive, vibrant
Mexico
A colorful storybook illustration showing two simple cartoon figures dancing energetically together, with dynamic streaks of color indicating fast movement.

📝 In Action

Decoramos la sala con colores muy alegres para la fiesta.

B1

We decorated the living room with very bright colors for the party.

La música de la banda era muy alegre y nos hizo bailar.

B2

The band's music was very lively and made us dance.

Tiene un estilo de vestir muy alegre, lleno de estampados.

B1

She has a very vibrant style of dressing, full of patterns.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vivo (vivid, lively)
  • animado (animated, lively)
  • colorido (colorful)

Antonyms

  • apagado (dull, muted (colors))
  • sombrío (gloomy (atmosphere))

Common Collocations

  • colores alegres – bright/vibrant colors
  • ambiente alegre – lively atmosphere

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "alegre" in Spanish:

bright→cheerful→festive→happy→joyful→lively→vibrant→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: alegre

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'alegre' to describe a permanent personality trait?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
alegría(happiness, joy) — Noun
alegrar(to cheer up, to make happy) — Verb
alegremente(happily, cheerfully) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Old Spanish word 'alegre', which itself derived from the Latin word *alacer*, meaning 'lively' or 'quick'. This connection shows how the core meaning relates to being full of life and quick energy.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: alegreItalian: allegro

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'alegre' and 'feliz'?

'Alegre' usually describes an outward feeling—being cheerful, lively, or bubbly. 'Feliz' describes a deeper, more profound state of happiness or fortune. While similar, 'alegre' emphasizes the visible expression of joy.

Does 'alegre' change its ending for masculine and feminine?

No. Because it ends in '-e', the singular form 'alegre' is used for both masculine (el chico alegre) and feminine (la chica alegre) nouns. Only the plural form changes to 'alegres'.