Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alegría | /aleˈɡɾia/ | feminine |
| felicidad | /feliθiˈdad/ /felisiˈdad/ |
|
| júbilo | /ˈxubilo/ | |
| regocijo | /reɡoˈθixo/ /reɡoˈsixo/ |
|
| gozo | /ˈɡoθo/ /ˈɡoso/ |
masculine |
The most common and versatile word for joy or a feeling of happiness is alegría. When expressing the cause of an emotion, Spanish speakers idiomatically use the preposition de, such as in the phrase de alegría to mean 'with joy' or 'for joy'.
Which one should you use?
While alegría is the most common and general expression, other forms exist to convey specific nuances. Felicidad is used to describe a general, long-term state of happiness, whereas alegría describes a more immediate emotion. Gozo is a more literary term that often carries intense, spiritual or profound connotations of bliss. Júbilo refers specifically to the loud, outward expression of joy or triumph, such as jubilation.
How does it change in a sentence?
alegría is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles like la or una. gozo is a masculine noun and requires masculine articles like el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/aleˈɡɾia/
Did you know?
- The term alegría is the name of a popular sweet treat made from corn and sugar in some Latin American countries.
- While alegría describes the emotion, the adjective alegre is often used to describe things that are bright or colorful, like a 'bright' piece of clothing.
- The word felicidad comes from the Latin 'felix', which originally meant 'fruitful' or 'productive' before it came to mean 'happy'.
Examples in context
- Él lloró de alegría.He cried for joy.This example shows how to express crying because of joy using alegría.Tatoeba #1392353 by marcelostockle, translation #289380 by CM
- Ella gritó de alegría.She screamed with joy.This example shows how to express screaming with joy using alegría.Tatoeba #2661385 by Shishir, translation #9770455 by DJ_Saidez
- Estoy lleno de alegría.I'm beside myself with joy.This example shows how to express being filled with joy using alegría.Tatoeba #1563061 by marcelostockle, translation #1807 by Swift
- ¡Qué alegría ver a todos aquí!What a joy to see everyone here!
- Me llena de felicidad ver tus logros.It fills me with joy to see your achievements.
- La victoria del equipo fue motivo de gran júbilo.The team's victory was a cause for great joy.
- Me alegro de verte.I'm happy to see you.
- Sentir el gozo de una vida plena es maravilloso.Feeling the joy of a fulfilled life is wonderful.
- Nos llena de regocijo celebrar este día especial contigo.It fills us with joy to celebrate this special day with you.
- ¡Me siento dichoso de teneros como amigos!I feel blessed to have you as friends!
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are talking about a family member's return.
- MaríaMi hermano vuelve mañana y siento mucha alegría.My brother returns tomorrow and I feel great joy.
- DanielQué bueno, María. Me alegro mucho por ti.That's great, María. I'm very happy for you.
- MaríaToda la familia tiene una alegría inmensa.The whole family has an immense joy.
- DanielSeguro que será un reencuentro muy especial.I'm sure it will be a very special reunion.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “joy” translations and entries alegría, felicidad, júbilo, regocijo, gozo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alegría, felicidad, gozo, júbilo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
