gioia
/ˈd͡ʒɔ.ja/feminine
The Italian word for joy is gioia. Wiktionary also lists allegria and felicità.
Meaning: feeling of happiness (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gioia | /ˈd͡ʒɔ.ja/ | feminine |
| allegria | /al.leˈɡri.a/ | feminine |
| felicità | /fe.li.t͡ʃiˈta/ | feminine |
| piacere | /pjaˈt͡ʃe.re/ | masculine |
All four forms refer to a feeling of happiness, but they are used in different contexts. gioia is the most common translation for joy, while piacere is used when the word refers specifically to a sense of pleasure or enjoyment rather than an emotional state of bliss. Additionally, Gioia can also serve as a female given name.
Which one should you use?
While gioia is often used to describe a sudden or intense burst of joy, felicità is the standard word for the general state of being happy.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun gioia is feminine. Its plural form is gioie. The word piacere is masculine, while allegria and felicità are feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
gioia is pronounced /ˈdʒɔ.ja/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word allegria is a direct relative of the musical term 'allegro', which instructs a performer to play a piece in a quick and cheerful manner.
- If you were to call someone 'gioia', you are using a term of endearment similar to calling someone 'sweetheart' in English.
- The Italian word felicità is built from the adjective felice, which shares its origins with the Latin word for 'fruitful' or 'productive'.
Examples in context
- È la mia gioia.She's my joy.This sentence shows how to use gioia to refer to a person.Tatoeba #11442886 by Guybrush88, translation #11406463 by ddnktr
- Era ebbro di gioia.He was drunk with joy.This sentence illustrates the use of gioia to describe an intense state of being.Tatoeba #653686 by Guybrush88, translation #653324 by darinmex
- Ero pieno di gioia.I was filled with joy.This sentence demonstrates how one can be filled with gioia.Tatoeba #2455096 by Guybrush88, translation #256760 by CM
- Ho provato una grande gioia quando ho ricevuto la tua lettera.I felt great joy when I received your letter.
- La mia felicità è vedere gli altri illuminati dalla gioia.My joy is seeing others light up with happiness.
- Rimango sempre contagiato dalla tua allegria.I always get infected by your joy.
- Che gioia vederti!What a joy to see you!
- La gioia si riflette negli occhi.Joy is reflected in the eyes.
- Oggi è una giornata di piena felicità!Today is a day of pure happiness!
- La tua allegria riscalda il mio cuore.Your joy warms my heart.
- 149 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are celebrating a promotion at work.
- FrancescoGuarda che gioia hai negli occhi!Look at the joy in your eyes!
- SofiaSono davvero felice per questa notizia.I am truly happy about this news.
- FrancescoQuesta gioia è meritata, Sofia.This joy is deserved, Sofia.
- SofiaGrazie mille, Francesco!Thank you so much, Francesco!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “joy” translations and entries gioia, allegria, felicità, piacere, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries allegria, felicità, gioia, piacere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
