Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| envidia | /emˈbidja/ | feminine |
| dentera | /denˈteɾa/ | feminine |
The noun envidia refers to the resentful desire for something possessed by another. In Spanish, it is very common to express this feeling using the phrase tener envidia (to have envy) rather than using a verb.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
envidia is a feminine noun, which means it must be preceded by feminine articles such as la or una. If you wish to describe a person as being envious, you can use the adjective envidioso for a masculine subject or envidiosa for a feminine subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/emˈbidja/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When using the verb envidiar to mean envying a person, do not use a preposition. Simply say envidiar a alguien.
When do people say it?
To vividly express intense envy in an informal way, you can say estar verde de envidia (to be green with envy). An even stronger informal way to convey this feeling is to use the phrase morir de envidia (to die of envy).
Did you know?
- The informal term dentera for envy is related to the word for teeth, dientes. It evokes a physical sensation similar to the shiver one feels when eating something overly sour or cold.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, there is a belief in mal de ojo or the evil eye, which is thought to be caused by envidia and can be warded off with a red amulet.
- While envidia usually means resentment, the phrase qué envidia is often used as a compliment to express admiration for someone's good fortune without any actual malice.
Examples in context
- William no envidia a Sandra.William doesn't envy Sandra.This sentence shows how to use the verb form of the concept.Tatoeba #11672497 by Seael, translation #11602167 by Amastan
- Era la envidia de sus amigos.He was the envy of his friends.This sentence shows how someone can be the object of others' envidia.Tatoeba #1012944 by Shishir, translation #304378 by CK
- Pienso que él dijo eso por envidia.I think he said that out of envy.This sentence shows using envidia to describe the motive behind an action.Tatoeba #1906221 by hayastan, translation #10141004 by DJ_Saidez
- Siento envidia por tus logros académicos.I feel envy for your academic achievements.
- Ese actor tiene una envidia cochina por el éxito de sus compañeros en la industria.That actor is envious of the success of his colleagues in the industry.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are talking about a colleague's success at work.
- Elena¿Viste el ascenso de Carlos?Did you see Carlos's promotion?
- AlejandroSí, pero su éxito despierta envidia en la oficina.Yes, but his success sparks envy in the office.
- ElenaEs cierto, hay mucha envidia entre ellos.It's true, there is a lot of envy among them.
- AlejandroEs una lástima que sientan envidia.It is a shame that they feel envy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “envy” translations and entries envidia, dentera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
