Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alegría | /aleˈɡɾia/ | feminine |
| felicidad | /feliθiˈdad/ /felisiˈdad/ |
|
| júbilo | /ˈxubilo/ | |
| regocijo | /reɡoˈθixo/ /reɡoˈsixo/ |
|
| gozo | /ˈɡoθo/ /ˈɡoso/ |
masculine |
The standard way to say "joy" in Spanish is alegría. You can use the preposition de with these nouns to express the cause of an emotion, such as in the phrase de alegría (with joy or out of joy). The term felicidad is similar to "happiness" in English and carries a sense of joy.
Which one should you use?
alegría is the most common and versatile word for a feeling of joy or gladness in everyday Spanish. In contrast, felicidad is more closely related to the state of being happy (happiness) rather than a sudden burst of joy. gozo often carries a more intense, profound or spiritual connotation of bliss or delight compared to alegría. júbilo refers specifically to an outward, noisy or public expression of joy, such as cheering or shouting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
júbilo is more commonly used in Spain and some Latin American countries to convey a sense of jubilation or exultation. In some Latin American countries, regocijo is used to describe a deep and intense joy.
How does it change in a sentence?
alegría is a feminine noun, so any accompanying adjectives must be feminine, such as mucha alegría (much joy). gozo is a masculine noun, so any accompanying adjectives must be masculine, such as gran gozo (great joy).
How do you pronounce it?
/aleˈɡɾia/
Did you know?
- In colloquial Spanish, the phrase qué alegría is often used as a standalone greeting to express genuine excitement upon seeing someone, regardless of the time of day.
- The Latin root of gozo, 'gaudium', is the same source for the English word 'rejoice', making them distant linguistic cousins.
- An English speaker might use 'joy' to describe a beautiful object, but in Spanish, you would rarely use alegría for an object, preferring instead to say it 'da alegría' (gives joy).
Examples in context
- Él lloró de alegría.He cried for joy.This sentence is useful for showing how to express crying due to the emotion of alegría.Tatoeba #1392353 by marcelostockle, translation #289380 by CM
- Ella gritó de alegría.She screamed with joy.This sentence is useful for showing how to express screaming due to the emotion of alegría.Tatoeba #2661385 by Shishir, translation #9770455 by DJ_Saidez
- Estoy lleno de alegría.I'm beside myself with joy.This sentence is useful for showing how to express being full of the emotion of alegría.Tatoeba #1563061 by marcelostockle, translation #1807 by Swift
- Me llena de alegría verte felizIt fills me with joy to see you happy
- Estoy muy contento/aI'm very happy/pleased
- Me hace feliz verte asíIt makes me happy to see you like this
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking about a family visit.
- MateoMi familia viene a visitarme mañana.My family is coming to visit me tomorrow.
- María¡Qué alegría, Mateo!What joy, Mateo!
- MateoSí, hace mucho tiempo que no los veo.Yes, it has been a long time since I saw them.
- MaríaMe alegro mucho por ti.I am very happy for you.
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.
