envidia
en-VEE-dya
📝 In Action
Siento mucha envidia por tu habilidad para hablar tres idiomas.
B1I feel a lot of envy for your ability to speak three languages.
Su nueva casa es la envidia del barrio.
B2Her new house is the envy of the neighborhood.
La envidia no te deja ser feliz.
A2Envy doesn't allow you to be happy.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Even though 'envidia' ends in '-a', remember that it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la envidia' or 'mucha envidia'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Envidia vs. Celos
Mistake: "Using 'celos' when you mean 'envy' for possessions."
Correction: Use 'envidia' when you want someone else's car or success. Use 'celos' (always plural) when you fear losing your partner or something you already possess.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Envy
The most common way to say you are envious is 'Tener envidia' (to have envy) or 'Sentir envidia' (to feel envy), not 'ser envidia'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: envidia
Question 1 of 2
Which phrase correctly describes feeling intense envy?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'envidia' a good thing or a bad thing?
In Spanish, 'envidia' usually refers to the painful or negative emotion of wanting what others have. However, in some regions (like Spain), the phrase '¡Qué envidia!' is often used lightly, meaning 'I wish I were you!'
How do I use the verb form of 'envidia'?
The verb is 'envidiar' (to envy). You would say 'Yo envidio tu trabajo' (I envy your job).