envidiar

Definition & meaning

Envidiar means to envy: to want something another person has, such as their possessions, success, or qualities. It can also suggest resentment toward someone because of what they have or have achieved.

It is usually a transitive verb: the thing or person envied is the direct object. For example, envidiar su talento means “to envy their talent.”

Grammar & Word origin

Envidiar is a regular -ar verb. Its present-tense first-person form is envidio (“I envy”).

It is formed from the noun envidia (“envy”) and the verb ending -ar. Envidia ultimately comes from Latin invidia, related to invidere, “to look at with hostility or ill will.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

• sentir envidia de [?](vocabuo://word/sentir envidia de) — “to feel envy toward”; a common phrase with essentially the same meaning.
• codiciar ↗ — “to covet”; emphasizes a strong desire to possess something.
• tener celos de [?](vocabuo://word/tener celos de) — “to be jealous of”; often refers to insecurity or fear of losing someone’s affection, rather than simply wanting what someone else has.

Possible opposites

There is no exact antonym, but these express contrasting attitudes:

• alegrarse por [?](vocabuo://word/alegrarse por) — “to be happy for”; describes taking pleasure in another person’s good fortune.
• desear el bien a [?](vocabuo://word/desear el bien a) — “to wish someone well”; expresses goodwill rather than envy.
• admirar ↗ — “to admire”; focuses on respect or appreciation, though admiration and envy can sometimes coexist.

Common phrases & collocations

• envidiar a alguien [?](vocabuo://word/envidiar a alguien) — to envy someone.
• envidiar algo de alguien [?](vocabuo://word/envidiar algo de alguien) — to envy something about someone.
• envidiar el éxito de alguien [?](vocabuo://word/envidiar el éxito de alguien) — to envy someone’s success.
• no tener nada que envidiar a [?](vocabuo://word/no tener nada que envidiar a) — to have nothing to envy in someone or something; often means to be just as good as it.