celosa
/seh-LOH-sah/
jealous
Celosa, used as an adjective, describes the feeling of being jealous or suspicious.
celosa(Adjective)
jealous
?feeling envy or suspicion regarding a partner or rival
envious
?desiring what another person has
,vigilant
?highly watchful or protective (less common usage)
📝 In Action
Mi hermana estaba celosa de mi nuevo coche.
A2My sister was jealous of my new car.
Se puso celosa cuando vio a su novio hablando con otra chica.
B1She got jealous when she saw her boyfriend talking to another girl.
La madre es muy celosa de la seguridad de sus hijos.
B2The mother is very protective of her children's safety.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Since 'celosa' describes a female person or thing, it must end in '-a'. If you were describing a man, you would use 'celoso'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' vs. 'Estar'
Mistake: "Ella es celosa (meaning she is jealous right now)."
Correction: Use 'Ella está celosa' when describing a temporary feeling. Use 'Ella es celosa' when describing her jealous personality trait.
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional Context
This word usually carries a strong emotional charge, often referring to romantic jealousy, but can also mean envy over possessions or success.
As a noun, celosa refers to a woman characterized by jealousy.
celosa(Noun)
jealous woman
?a female person characterized by jealousy
jealous person (female)
?a woman who is prone to jealousy
📝 In Action
Mi exnovia era una celosa terrible.
B1My ex-girlfriend was a terrible jealous person.
No la invites, es una celosa y arruinará la fiesta.
B2Don't invite her, she's a jealous person and will ruin the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective to Noun
When you put a definite article ('la' or 'una') in front of 'celosa', it stops being a word that describes and starts being a word that names a type of person.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: celosa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'celosa' as a noun (naming a person)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'celosa' and 'envidiosa'?
'Celosa' (jealous) usually means you are worried about losing something you already have (like a partner's affection). 'Envidiosa' (envious) means you want something someone else has (like money or a job).
Can 'celosa' mean 'zealous' in modern Spanish?
Yes, but it's less common. When talking about being protective or highly dedicated, like 'una guardiana celosa' (a vigilant guardian), it carries the meaning of 'zealous' or 'vigilant' rather than emotional envy.