alegrarse
/aleɡɾaɾse/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'rejoice' is translated into Spanish as alegrarse.
Meaning: to be happy (verb)
Which one should you use?
Use the pronominal form alegrarse to express being happy about a specific event or piece of news, whereas estar alegre describes a general state of being cheerful. Additionally, the variation regocijarse conveys a deeper sense of joy and elation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the informal expression dar brincos de alegría means to jump for joy.
How does it change in a sentence?
alegrarse is a pronominal verb, which means you must use reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) when conjugating it, such as in se alegra (he/she rejoices). When specifying the reason for the joy, the verb is typically followed by the preposition de, forming alegrarse de.
How do you pronounce it?
/aleɡɾaɾse/
Did you know?
- The root alegre is a cognate of the English word 'allegro' used in music to indicate a quick, lively tempo.
- In some contexts, saying me alegro can be used ironically to express a 'schadenfreude' type of joy when something bad happens to an enemy.
- While alegrarse means to be happy, the noun alegría is so central to Spanish culture that it appears in the names of many traditional dances and festivals across Spain and Latin America.
Examples in context
- Me alegré mucho al recibir la noticia de tu éxito.I rejoiced greatly upon receiving the news of your success.
- El equipo se alegró con la victoria en el campeonato.The team rejoiced with the victory in the championship.
- Celebramos tu logro con alegría y orgullo.We rejoice in your accomplishment with joy and pride.
- Nos regocijamos al ver a la familia reunida.We rejoiced upon seeing the family reunited.
- ¡Alegrémonos todos!Let's all rejoice!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry alegrarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
