A brightly colored image of a child leaping joyfully into the air under a bright sun, illustrating happiness and contentment.

feliz

/feh-LEES/

AdjectiveA1

happy?general feeling of joy or contentment

Also:glad?pleased about a specific event,fortunate?lucky or blessed

📝 In Action

Estoy muy feliz hoy.

I am very happy today.

¡Feliz cumpleaños!

Happy birthday!

Ella tuvo una infancia feliz.

She had a happy childhood.

Nos sentimos felices por tus logros.

We feel happy for your achievements.

Word Connections

Synonyms

contento/a (content, pleased)
alegre (cheerful, joyful)

Antonyms

triste (sad)
infeliz (unhappy)

Common Collocations

feliz cumpleaños – happy birthday
feliz Navidad – Merry Christmas
un final feliz – a happy ending

Idioms & Expressions

más feliz que una perdiz – to be extremely happy

💡 Grammar Points

One Form for Masculine & Feminine

Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'feliz' doesn't change for men or women. It's always 'feliz'. For example: 'un hombre feliz' (a happy man) and 'una mujer feliz' (a happy woman).

Making it Plural

To talk about more than one person or thing, 'feliz' changes to 'felices'. The 'z' becomes a 'c'. For example: 'Los niños están felices' (The children are happy).

Two Ways to Be Happy: 'Ser' vs. 'Estar'

Use 'estar feliz' for a temporary feeling or mood ('I'm happy right now'). Use 'ser feliz' to describe someone's general nature or a deep, lasting state of being ('He is a happy person').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Ser' for a Temporary Feeling

Mistake: "Soy feliz porque hoy es viernes."

Correction: Estoy feliz porque hoy es viernes. (Use 'estar' for feelings caused by a specific event, like it being Friday.)

Forgetting the Plural Form

Mistake: "Mis amigos son muy feliz."

Correction: Mis amigos son muy felices. (When talking about more than one person, remember to change 'feliz' to 'felices'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

'Feliz' vs. 'Contento'

'Feliz' often implies a deeper, more profound joy. 'Contento' is more like being pleased or satisfied with a situation. Think of 'feliz' as 'happy' and 'contento' as 'content' or 'glad'.

Wishes and Celebrations

You'll see '¡Feliz...!' used all the time for holidays and special occasions. For example: '¡Feliz Año Nuevo!' (Happy New Year!) or '¡Feliz viaje!' (Have a happy trip!).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: feliz

Question 1 of 3

You just received a promotion at work. How would you tell a friend 'I'm happy'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

felicidad(happiness) - noun

felizmente(happily) - adverb

felicitar(to congratulate) - verb

infeliz(unhappy) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the real difference between 'feliz' and 'contento'?

Think of 'feliz' as a deeper, more long-lasting happiness, like the joy you feel in life. 'Contento' is more like being satisfied or pleased in the moment, like being 'content' with a good meal or 'glad' that it's sunny. Both can mean 'happy', but 'feliz' often carries more weight.

Why do people say 'Estoy feliz' sometimes and 'Soy feliz' other times?

It's all about whether the happiness is a temporary feeling or a permanent state. Use 'Estoy feliz' for a mood ('I'm happy right now because I saw a puppy'). Use 'Soy feliz' to describe your general personality or life outlook ('I am a happy person').

Does 'feliz' ever change to 'feliza' for a woman?

Nope! 'Feliz' is one of the easy ones. It stays the same for both masculine and feminine. You say 'el hombre feliz' and 'la mujer feliz'. It only changes for plural: 'felices'.